Northwestern, Indiana Try To Recapture Seasons

EVANSTON, Ill.—So frustrated last week over his team’s difficulty running the football, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald wound up using hyperbole to make his point.

“If we have to throw 175 times in a game that’s what we’re going to do,“ Fitzgerald said following a 24-14 loss at Michigan State.

Footballs should be flying around Ryan Field on Saturday. Maybe not that many. But Indiana and Northwestern combined could end up in the 90-pass range before its over.

Northwestern’s Mike Kafka did cut loose with 47 passes last week, completing 34 of them for 291 yards. His favorite target was former walk-on Zeke Markshausen, who had 16 catches, one shy of the school record.

And in a victory over Illinois, Indiana’s Ben Chappell was 23 of 38 for a career-high 333 yards with three TD passes. He has two top receivers in Tandon Doss and Damario Belcher.

Both teams are 4-3 and 1-2 in the Big Ten. And both will be without key members of their defense Saturday.

Senior linebacker Will Patterson and defensive backs Donnell Jones and Chris Adkins have been ruled out for the Hoosiers.

Northwestern’s secondary will be shorthanded, too, with both safeties hurting. Brendan Smith is out (hand) and Brad Phillips is questionable (shoulder).

“We are not going to anything differently in terms of changing our schemes or anything,“ Indiana coach Bill Lynch said. “It does shuffle our depth chart.“

Northwestern’s top pass rusher, Corey Wootton, has also played sparingly this season because of an ankle injury and that could hurt the Wildcats against Chappell, who was voted the Big Ten co-offensive player of the week for his performance against the Illini.

“He’s playing within the system,“ Fitzgerald said of the Indiana quarterback. “They’ve been doing a lot of looking and glancing over at the sideline for some plays to they’re putting him in the right play and in the right protection.“

The Northwestern coach also pointed out that the Hoosiers employ a wildcat look, snapping the ball to wide receiver Mitchell Evans.

“When they go with Mitchell at quarterback in the wildcat it gives (Chappell) a little bit of a rest and sometimes that’s a good thing,“ Fitzgerald said. “You keep the quarterback out for a second, gives him a chance to catch his breath.“

With identical records and five games left, both the Hoosiers and Wildcats need to win to keep their postseason hopes alive. Northwestern can’t afford too many more losses, especially with Penn State, Iowa and Wisconsin still to play.

But getting to a second straight bowl game is what the Wildcats have been aiming for since they lost in the Alamo Bowl after last season.

“It’s in the back of your mind, but you can’t look ahead,“ said Northwestern defensive tackle Adam Hahn.


For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video