SB Nation Chicago - Northwestern vs. Minnesota: Wildcats hold on to beat Gophers 21-13https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2012-10-15T07:30:13-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/32422092012-10-15T07:30:13-05:002012-10-15T07:30:13-05:00Venric Mark carries load in Northwestern win
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<figcaption>US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Northwestern running back came through with a big performance against the Gophers. </p> <p>Northwestern defeated Minnesota 21-13 on Saturday, and while offensive cohesion was a bit of an issue for the Wildcats, they got a great effort from running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114071/venric-mark">Venric Mark</a>. Mark finished the day with 182 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries, and that made him a big factor in Northwestern's victory. SB Nation's <a href="http://sippinonpuple.com">Sippin' On Purple</a> <a href="http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2012/10/14/3501236/northwestern-minnesota-recap-venric-mark-kain-colter/in/3251943">heaped plenty of praise on Mark</a> after the game was over:</p>
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<p>Hoo boy, that Venric Mark. He only ran for 182 yards because the field has end zones instead of just being endless planes, continuing to the waterfalls that encircle this flat planet we live on. He only broke loose a few times, but when he did, he broke loose in ways no Northwestern running back has in a while.</p>
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<p>Mark's production paced a Northwestern offense that managed just 67 yards passing and 275 total yards. The Wildcats scored all three of their touchdowns against Minnesota on the ground -- quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114053/kain-colter">Kain Colter</a> was responsible for the other.</p>
<p>With the victory, Northwestern improved to 2-1 in Big Ten play and 6-1 overall -- the Wildcats are now bowl eligible, and they are in third place in the Legends Division behind Michigan and Iowa. Both the Wolverines and Hawkeyes are 2-0 in league play.</p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/15/3505064/northwestern-vs-minnesota-venric-markSteven Muma2012-10-14T10:14:33-05:002012-10-14T10:14:33-05:00Wildcats are bowl eligible with win over Minnesota
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/northwestern-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Northwestern Wildcats</a> got back on track with a 21-13 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> this week after suffering their first loss of the season last week against Penn State.</p>
<p>More importantly, though, the Wildcats improved to 6-1, which makes them bowl eligible. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2012/10/14/3501236/northwestern-minnesota-recap-venric-mark-kain-colter/in/3251943">Northwestern blog Sippin' on Purple points out</a> running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114071/venric-mark" class="sbn-auto-link">Venric Mark</a> was the main reason the Wildcats held on:</p>
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<p>Hoo boy, that Venric Mark. He only ran for 182 yards because the field has end zones instead of just being endless planes, continuing to the waterfalls that encircle this flat planet we live on. He only broke loose a few times, but when he did, he broke loose in ways no Northwestern running back has in a while. Much credit must be given to the offensive line for opening up holes big enough to four or five Venric Marks, and Minnesota for opting to play without safeties.</p>
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<p>Mark got his 182 yards on just 20 carries, helping Northwestern win despite being out-gained by the Minnesota offense.</p>
<p>The Wildcats are 2-1 in the Big Ten Legends Division standings, a half game behind Michigan and Iowa. Northwestern has a big test next week, hosting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a>. The Cornhuskers are currently 1-1 in the Legends Division.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/14/3501502/minnesota-northwestern-2012-reactionPatrick Hayes2012-10-13T14:21:37-05:002012-10-13T14:21:37-05:00Northwestern beats Minnesota 21-13
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<figcaption>Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Northwestern Wildcats moved to 6-1 after defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers 21-13 in Big Ten play. </p> <p>After a fast start, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/northwestern-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Northwestern Wildcats</a> had to hang on late to defeat the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> 21-13 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Northwestern's now bowl eligible for the fifth year in a row, extending the longest streak (by far) in program history.</p>
<p>Trailing 21-13 and without starting quarterback MarQueis Gray due to injury, backup <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/132001/max-shortell" class="sbn-auto-link">Max Shortell</a> led Minnesota 81 yards down to the Northwestern seven-yard line before turning it over on downs with just over two minutes left. After the Wildcats went three-and-out, a last ditch Gopher effort failed.</p>
<p>Northwestern got on the board on their first offensive play of the game after a Minnesota fumble on the opening kickoff gave the Wildcats the ball deep in Gopher territory. Wildcats running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114071/venric-mark" class="sbn-auto-link">Venric Mark</a> scored from 26 yards out to grab a quick 7-0 lead just 11 seconds in.</p>
<p>Northwestern took a 21-10 lead into the half, but their offense was stymied by a stout Minnesota defense in the second half. Luckily for the Wildcats, their defense held strong and secured the win.</p>
<p>With the victory, Northwestern moved to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Minnesota fell to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference.</p>
<p><b>Box Score Hero:</b> Mark was the clear star of the game with his 182 yards and two scores. Those 182 yards marked a career high.</p>
<p><b>Rankings Ramifications:</b> Neither team was ranked heading into Saturday's action, and that's unlikely to change in the next poll.</p>
<p><b>But Did They Cover?:</b> Northwestern was a 3.5-point favorite, so they covered. The over/under was set at 54, so this game went under.</p>
<p><b>For More On This Game:</b> Check out the Northwestern blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sippinonpurple.com/">Sippin' On Purple</a>. For more on the Golden Gophers, head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thedailygopher.com/">The Daily Gopher</a>.</p>
<p><b>Next Week's Schedule: </b>The Wildcats will host the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers" class="sbn-auto-link">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a>. The Golden Gophers will travel to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers.</p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/13/3498496/northwestern-vs-minnesota-final-score-recapJason Patt2012-10-13T13:25:25-05:002012-10-13T13:25:25-05:00Wildcats take 8-point lead into 4th quarter
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/northwestern-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Northwestern Wildcats</a> cling to 21-13 lead over the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> after three quarters of play.</p>
<p>Northwestern's normally explosive offense ground to a halt in the third quarter, gaining just 37 yards of offense. Running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114071/venric-mark" class="sbn-auto-link">Venric Mark</a>, who had 151 yards rushing in the first half, rushed for just 10 in the quarter.</p>
<p>Minnesota was the only team to score in the third, getting on the board on a 38-yard field goal by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113976/jordan-wettstein" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Wettstein</a>. The field goal capped off a nine-play, 30-yard drive for the Gophers that spanned 4:27.</p>
<p>Minnesota suffered an injury scare late in the third when quarterback MarQueis Gray went down with an apparent foot issue. Gray has done a lot of damage on the ground against the Northwestern defense, rushing for 86 yards and one score on eight carries. It's unclear what his status is for the rest of the game.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/13/3498182/northwestern-vs-minnesota-game-score-updateJason Patt2012-10-13T12:32:59-05:002012-10-13T12:32:59-05:00Wildcats RB Mark powers NW to halftime lead
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/northwestern-wildcats">Northwestern Wildcats</a> running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114071/venric-mark">Venric Mark</a> has carried the Wildcats to a 21-10 halftime lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a>. </p>
<p>Mark finished the half with 151 yards on 11 carries and two scores. With those 151 first half yards, he has already set a career high in rushing yards in a game. </p>
<p>Minnesota cut into a 14-3 deficit early in the second quarter after quarterback MarQueis Gray's 25-yard score. But Northwestern answered right back, with Mark's 48-yard touchdown run extending the Wildcats' lead to 21-10. </p>
<p>Besides Mark, there has not been much else going on for the Northwestern offense. Quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114053/kain-colter">Kain Colter</a> was 4-of-4 passing for 32 yards in the half while also adding 13 yards rushing. Backup quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114052/trevor-siemian">Trevor Siemian</a> was just 1-of-4 passing for four yards. </p>
<p>Thanks to the big rushing plays, Northwestern has almost has many yards of offense as Minnesota despite having the ball half as long. The Wildcats have racked up 198 total yards, while the Gophers have gained 210. </p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/13/3498012/northwestern-vs-minnesota-game-score-updateJason Patt2012-10-13T11:43:13-05:002012-10-13T11:43:13-05:00Wildcats jump on Golden Gophers early
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<p>An early gaffe by the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> helped propel the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/northwestern-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Northwestern Wildcats</a> to a 14-3 lead after the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.</p>
<p>Northwestern recovered a Minnesota fumble on the opening kickoff, giving them the ball deep in Gopher territory. The Wildcats immediately cashed in, scoring on a 26-yard run by running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114071/venric-mark" class="sbn-auto-link">Venric Mark</a> just 11 seconds into the game.</p>
<p>After the Gophers responded with a 12-play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a field goal, the Wildcats struck back with a 75-yard touchdown drive. Mark had a 47-yard scamper on the drive, and quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114053/kain-colter" class="sbn-auto-link">Kain Colter</a> capped it off with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Wildcats up 14-3.</p>
<p>Mark finished the first quarter with 77 yards on five carries. To go along with his touchdown run, Colter went 3-for-3 passing for 20 yards. The Wildcats racked up 99 yards of total offense in the quarter despite having the ball for only 4:11.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/13/3497808/northwestern-vs-minnesota-game-score-updateJason Patt2012-10-13T07:00:48-05:002012-10-13T07:00:48-05:00Northwestern Vs. Minnesota 2012: TV, time and more
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<figcaption>Benny Sieu-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Northwestern Wildcats will look to bounce back after their first loss of the season last Saturday when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2 this Saturday. </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/northwestern-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Northwestern Wildcats</a> will look to bounce back after their first loss of the season when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 this Saturday.</p>
<p>The Wildcats are favored by 3.5 over the Golden Gophers on the road after falling to Penn State, 39-28, last Saturday. With the loss, Northwestern fell to 5-1 on the season and 1-1 in Big 10 play and third in the Legends Division behind Iowa and Michigan. Northwestern was ranked 24th in the country before its road loss.</p>
<p>Minnesota is coming off of a 31-13 loss at Iowa on Sept. 29. The Golden Gophers had a bye last Saturday.</p>
<p>Northwestern's ground attack is averaging 231.8 yards a game, which ranks 16th in the nation, but the Wildcats managed just 112 yards on 25 carries versus Penn State.</p>
<p>The Wildcats defeated the Golden Gophers at home, 28-13, in 2011</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/13/3484768/minnesota-northwestern-2012-game-time-schedule-oddspardeeptoor2012-10-12T13:55:33-05:002012-10-12T13:55:33-05:00Northwestern preps for Minnesota on Saturday
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<p>The Northwestern Wildcats (5-1) take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-1) on Saturday.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/northwestern-wildcats">Northwestern Wildcats</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> are both coming off tough conference losses last week, and now the onus is on the Wildcats to make sure they aren't the team to leave Saturday's game with a sub-.500 Big Ten record. Over at SB Nation's Northwestern blog, Sippin' on Purple, the staff has put forth <a href="http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2012/10/12/3493276/northwestern-wildcats-minnesota-preview-prediction-football" target="_blank">predictions for the game</a>, and most people agree the Cats will emerge with a win.</p>
<p>Will Northwestern be able to<a href="http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2012/10/12/3493276/northwestern-wildcats-minnesota-preview-prediction-football" target="_blank"> stop the short passing attack on Saturday</a>? That's the big question over at Sippin' on Purple:</p>
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<p>I really don't think the Gophers have what it takes defensively to stop Northwestern's offense. Pat Fitzgerald knows there are about a dozen right ways to use <a style="background-color: #eeeeee;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114053/kain-colter">Kain Colter</a>, and that he didn't pick any of them Saturday against Penn State. I think he'll be a little multifaceted, but this game will remind us of the Indiana matchup more then PSU. For me, the question is whether Northwestern can stop the dink-and-dunk that killed them against Penn State. </p>
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<p>Northwestern and Minnesota are scheduled to clash on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT at TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota. The Wildcats will then round out their Big Ten slate with games vs. Nebraska, vs. Iowa, at Michigan, at Michigan State and vs. Illinois.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/northwestern-wildcats/2012/10/12/3494570/northwestern-football-big-ten-minnesotaSteve von Horn