PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Bennett Skowronek had three catches for a team-high 45 yards in the Wildcats’ 14-10 win at Iowa, including a spectacular one-handed grab for the 32-yard go-ahead score with 9:27 remaining. Skowronek’s circus catch was perhaps the most acrobatic play of his career.
–S Travis Whillock has seen an increase in playing time thanks to a number of injuries to Northwestern’s secondary and has capitalized on the opportunity. Whillock led the Wildcats with nine tackles against Iowa and has 19 tackles in his last two games after recording just five in his previous eight contests.
–RB Isaiah Bowser has been an X-factor for the Wildcats in the latter half of the season after flying under the radar as a potential redshirt candidate prior to Jeremy Larkin’s sudden medical retirement. Bowser has given Northwestern’s run game life, accounting for 483 rushing yards and four touchdowns over the last four games and is now the team’s leading rusher.
–DE Joe Gaziano made his presence felt at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield in last Saturday’s win at Iowa, matching his season-high of six tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and a half sack while also recording his first forced fumble of the season. Gaziano has been the most consistent player on Northwestern’s defensive line.
SERIES HISTORY: Minnesota leads Northwestern 53-35-5. The Wildcats won the most recent matchup, 39-0, on Nov. 18, 2017 in Evanston.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “That catch was unbelievable. I don’t know how he did it. My angle was I was looking right down the sideline and there was the defender between him and Bennett, and I couldn’t see where the ball went. I saw it go over him, but I couldn’t see where the ball went, so I thought it was overthrown because my eyes then went to the officials and they were looking like each other like they were getting ready to order pizza or something, like ‘what do you want?’ And then they went ‘touchdown’ and I’m like ‘great!’ … That was a big-time play.” –Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald on Bennett Skowronek’s acrobatic catch on the Wildcats’ go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter against Iowa.
