After a slow start, Northwestern took control and dominated.
After a sluggish first quarter, the ‘Cats flipped the script and dominated Central Michigan, closing the season with a winning record. The performance served as a feel-good finish, as Northwestern found its rhythm and ended the year on a high note.
Stock Up
Defensive Takeaways
Northwestern entered the game against Central Michigan facing a team that had been strong in taking care of the football, coming in with a plus-eight turnover differential. That trend flipped starting in the middle of the second quarter when Braden Turner made a terrific play to come down with an interception on what initially looked like a harmless throwaway. The momentum continued on CMU’s next possession, when Aidan Hubbard came off the edge for a strip sack to force another turnover. Northwestern quickly capitalized by scoring a touchdown, then immediately forced yet another fumble on Central Michigan’s very next offensive snap.
The defense was not finished after halftime. Early in the second half, Robert Fitzgerald forced another turnover that was recovered by Turner, who took it all the way back for a touchdown to extend the ‘Cats’ advantage. The sequence marked a dominant stretch for Northwestern’s defense, completely reversing Central Michigan’s usual turnover success and turning takeaways directly into points.
Defensive Line
Northwestern’s defensive line had an outstanding performance and set the tone throughout the game. The unit consistently applied pressure and disrupted Central Michigan’s offense from the opening drive. The line recorded three sacks in the first half and directly forced two turnovers, including a strip sack by Aidan Hubbard and a second fumble that occurred when CMU’s quarterback pulled the ball on a run and knocked it loose off his running back, leading to a recovery by Michael Kilbane. Just as importantly, the defensive line limited Central Michigan to only 26 rushing yards in the first half, a major accomplishment against a team that relies heavily on the run game.
The ‘Cats carried their momentum into the second half as Hubbard recorded his third sack of the game, putting an exclamation point on his season and Northwestern career. Northwestern’s defensive line remained a major strength throughout the game. While the unit allowed a few more rushing yards after backups rotated in, the group as a whole showed clear improvement and continued to control the line of scrimmage.
Griffin Wilde
Wilde continued his terrific season for Northwestern and served as a steady anchor for the offense. The junior finished the game with 10 catches, 97 yards and two touchdowns, consistently providing a reliable option in the passing game. After briefly heading to the injury tent following a high throw from Preston Stone that left him exposed to a hit from behind, Wilde returned quickly and showed no lingering effects. He finished the first half with six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, production that could have been even higher if he had secured a second potential score in the second quarter.
Wilde built on that performance in the third quarter, adding 39 more receiving yards and hauling in a 23-yard touchdown pass for his second score of the game. Throughout the game, he consistently found ways to get open despite facing frequent double teams, further underscoring why he has been such a valuable and reliable part of Northwestern’s offense all season.
Honorable Mentions: Aidan Hubbard (Three sacks), Braden Turner (INT, FR, TD), Robert Fitzgerald (FF and five tackles), Preston Stone
Stock Down
Questionable Game-Management Decisions
This has been an issue for the team all season. On the opening drive, Coach Braun showed a rare burst of aggression by going for it on fourth down at Northwestern’s own 33-yard line. The ‘Cats failed to convert but were spared when Central Michigan missed the ensuing field goal. After Northwestern finally put together its first respectable offensive drive, Braun returned to his more familiar approach, electing to punt from CMU’s 37-yard line on 4th-and-7. That decision was difficult to justify given how much Central Michigan had struggled offensively and with alternatives available like attempting a 54-yard field goal or going for it.
Northwestern later took another risk by going for it on fourth down at CMU’s two-yard line, a call that paid off with a touchdown. Late in the first half, the ‘Cats opted to punt rather than attempt a 55-yard field goal, a choice that was probably reasonable given the situation and time remaining. Still, a confusing screen pass on the final drive resulted in a five-yard loss and likely took a field goal attempt off the table altogether.
It also did not end up mattering much, but Northwestern repeatedly passed on field goal opportunities, opting to go for it on fourth down multiple times when a kick was available in the fourth quarter.
Altogether, the game-management decisions reflected a season-long pattern in which Northwestern leans heavily toward conservatism, punctuated by occasional moments of aggression that feel misaligned with the flow of the game.
First Quarter Offense
The ‘Cats really struggled offensively in the first quarter. The team totaled just 23 yards despite 26 coming through the air to Wilde and finishing with negative three rushing yards after accounting for the sack yardage taken by Stone. Drives stalled quickly and Northwestern had difficulty sustaining any rhythm or tempo. The offensive line was surprisingly overmatched in both the run game and the passing game as Central Michigan loaded the box and consistently applied pressure, forcing rushed decisions and limiting any chance to establish balance early.
Several Minor Injuries
Northwestern dealt with several injuries over the course of the game, though none appeared to be serious. Wilde was shaken up early but returned quickly and continued to contribute. First-year Caden O’Rourke also went down, adding to the list of players banged up for the ‘Cats. Braden Turner was briefly forced out after an injury before returning, while Robert Fitzgerald also left the game momentarily but was able to come back shortly after.
Honorable Mentions: Weather canceling my flight, three failed fourth-down conversions, missed DPI calls
Category: General Sports
