Northwestern entered Ford Field in Detroit feeling disrespected.
Disrespected by the Big Ten media and coaches for a series of snubs when the all-conference teams were released in early December. Disrespected by the bowl
committee for arguably the least prestigious postseason placement in the Big Ten. And disrespected by anyone and everyone who picked this year’s side to finish well under the 7-6 record the ‘Cats secured on Friday afternoon.
Northwestern took its anger out on an overmatched Central Michigan (7-6, 5-3 MAC) side in a 34-7 rout to win the GameAbove Sports Bowl. Head coach David Braun’s side dominated every facet of the game, forcing four turnovers in the blowout victory.
Griffin Wilde had perhaps his best game as a Wildcat to secure game MVP, finishing with 10 catches for 97 yards and two scores. Preston Stone put a bow on his five year collegiate career with a near perfect final game, completing 19-of-31 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Caleb Komolafe paced Northwestern on the ground with 15 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown of his own. On defense, senior edge rusher Aidan Hubbard tied his career-high with three sacks and a forced fumble.
For Central Michigan, quarterback Joe Labas put together a respectable stat line despite the scoreline, completing 21 of 25 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. Trey Cornist led the way on the ground with 11 carries for 66 yards.
And perhaps most impressively, Northwestern did not have a single player – senior or otherwise – opt-out of the bowl game. Seniors Aidan Hubbard, Mac Uihlein and Carmine Bastone all made big plays on defense to end their storied careers in purple and white. Northwestern’s vaunted offensive line – led by four seniors, including NFL draft darling Caleb Tiernan – surrendered just one total pressure. Graduate student tight end Lawson Albright caught his first career touchdown.
Northwestern extended its bowl-game winning streak to six with the win. It was a dream send off in Detroit.
The Chippewas won the toss and elected to defer to Preston Stone and the Wildcats. Some good open field tackling from Central Michigan forced a fourth-and-one for the Northwestern offense and an early decision. Braun, who has grown increasingly aggressive in his third year at the helm, opted to leave the offense out on the Northwestern 34-yard line, and the Chippewas stuffed Komolafe at the line to force a turnover on downs.
The Wildcat defense bailed out their head coach on the ensuing drive. The Chippewas picked up a quick first down after two completions to wideout Tommy McIntosh, but a third-and-six sack from Aidan Hubbard forced Central Michigan to trot out its field goal unit. Kicker Cade Graham missed wide left from 43-yards out to keep things knotted at zero.
Following the missed kick, Northwestern again failed to pick up a first down on offense. Stone threw behind an open Hayden Eligon on third down to again bring out Luke Akers.
Backup quarterback Angel Flores saw his first action of the contest for the Chips after the punt, picking up a first down on a nifty three-yard carry, but the Chippewas’ quarterback-by-committee quickly showed its shortcomings. Flores was sacked on the next snap, and Central Michigan was called for a delay-of-game penalty as Labas was slow to the line for second down. The Chippewas punted back to NU two plays later.
CMU defensive coordinator Sean Cronin dialed up some pressure on first down, and Keshawn Hayden chased down Stone for an 11-yard sack. Stone bounced back to hit Wilde on a pretty out route for 12 yards on second down to set up a manageable 3rd-and-9.
However, the carnage continued for the dormant Wildcat offense on third as Wilde took a brutal hit on a Stone hospital ball to bring out Akers yet again. Wilde headed to the medical tent after the play, but he would return to the field on the next Northwestern drive.
Taking over at the CMU 38-yard line, the Chippewas brought out quarterback number three – junior Marcus Beamen – in the hopes of generating some offense. Mac Uihlein stuffed Beamon at the line on third down to force the games’ fourth punt.
Northwestern showed its first signs of life on offense to end the first quarter. After a three-yard scamper from Komolafe, Stone hit Wilde for seven to pick up the first Wildcat first down of the afternoon. Robby Preckel was subsequently stuffed for a two-yard loss on first down to end an overall frustrating first quarter for the ‘Cats.
Caleb Komolafe woke up a sleepy Ford Field with a 13-yard run to open quarter two, slipping through the left side of the line before linebacker Caleb Spann wrangled him down at the NU 45. Stone kept the momentum rolling with a beautiful lofted pass to tight end Hunter Welcing, bringing Northwestern into Chippewa territory for the first time of the game.
The Wildcat offense would soon sputter to a standstill at the CMU 36. Braun opted against sending out kicker Jack Olsen to attempt a 53-yard field goal on 4th-and-7, and Ore Adeyi downed a 30-yard punt at the CMU six-yard line.
After a first down throw from Labas connected with Tyson Davis on third down for 12 yards to give the Chippewas some breathing room. Flores took over under center on second down, and the junior backup promptly committed the first turnover of the game. Hubbard got to Flores early, and Braden Turner made an acrobatic interception on a throwaway pass to set the ‘Cats up at the CMU 26 with 8:06 left in the half.
Northwestern wasted no time making Central Michigan pay. Two plays after Turner’s interception, Stone found Wilde in the left corner of the end zone on a perfectly drawn-up route for the first score of the game. Just like that, it was 7-0, ‘Cats.
CMU head coach Matt Drinkall went back to Labas after the turnover, but his starter proved no better at taking care of the football. Hubbard continued his blistering final game as a Wildcat with a strip sack of the Chippewa quarterback. Bastone jumped on the loose football, and Northwestern took over at the CMU 18.
The ‘Cats again found paydirt off a turnover, this time thanks to a two-yard burst up the middle from Caleb Komolafe on fourth down. After a first down incompletion intended for Wilde at the CMU 5-yard line, Lujan drew up three consecutive runs to extend the Northwestern lead to 14.
The Komolafe touchdown was the straw that broke the camel’s back in this one. Labas fumbled the snap on the first offensive play following the Wildcat touchdown, and Michael Kilbane secured the ball to again set up the Northwestern offense deep in Chippewa territory.
Stone found a wide-open Lawson Albright in the end zone for Northwestern’s second touchdown in just 10 seconds of gametime, giving the ‘Cats a 21-0 lead with 3:37 remaining in the first half.
The Chippewa offense finally took care of the football after three straight turnovers, but three consecutive tackles from Kilbane forced a quick three-and-out.
The Northwestern offense was unable to add to its lead before the break as Eligon was unable to secure a Stone moonball on third down, but Central Michigan had no time for a response, keeping it 21-0 ‘Cats at the half.
Stone finished the first half 13-of-21 with 145 yards and two touchdowns. Wilde led all pass catchers with six receptions for 58 yards and a score, and Komolafe paced the running backs with 41 yards and a touchdown of his own.
The beatdown continued into the third quarter. Mac Uihlein forced a fumble on a third down run from Angel Flores, and Braden Turner took the loose ball 47-yards to the house. Central Michigan could only take some solace in a missed extra-point from Jack Olsen.
Robert Fitzgerald appeared to go down with a shoulder injury on the ensuing Chippewa drive in a scary moment for the recently christened All-Big Ten safety, but he returned to the field after a quick stint in the medical tent. Hubbard snuffed out any Central Michigan momentum with a sack – his third of the day – inside Wildcat territory.
Stone and Co. took the field for the first time in the second half with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter. The fifth-year senior continued his banner swan song with a symphony of a 10-play, 92-yard touchdown drive. Stone added the exclamation point with a beautiful 11-yard touchdown float pass to Wilde slotted between two Chippewa defenders. This time around, Olsen made the kick to cap off the drive and extend Northwestern’s lead to 34-0.
Central Michigan got on the board midway through the fourth quarter on a three-yard touchdown pass from Labas to running back Brock Townsend to end the shutout.
Northwestern put in the reserves, including redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Boe, after the score. Boe’s first drive ended unceremoniously with an interception on a fourth down throw into double coverage intended for tight end Carson Grove. The Northwestern backup finished 1-of-4 for 10 yards.
Central Michigan ran out of time to capitalize on the turnover, and Northwestern hoisted the GameAbove Sports Bowl trophy with a 34-7 victory.
The ‘Cats finished strong.
