After a surprisingly early bye week, Northwestern didn’t miss a beat in opposition to Colorado on Saturday, burying the Buffaloes by 34 factors, driving Joe Himon II’s three landing catches, Aidan Chiles dominance as a dual-threat quarterback, and a takeaway-heavy protection that led to a lopsided win within the final recreation held at Martin Stadium.
Inventory Up
Joe Himon II
Himon II couldn’t be stopped Saturday. The graduate pupil compiled 74 yards in opposition to Colorado, with 46 of these coming off three catches. Himon completed the night time with three touchdowns, all within the air, together with a 25-yard streak the place he had nothing however inexperienced grass round him. Himon had simply 28 yards speeding on 4 carries, regardless of operating 79 yards for a landing, solely to be known as again for holding.
Aidan Chiles
Merely put, Chiles was unimaginable in his second-ever recreation with Northwestern. The switch did it each within the air and on the bottom, throwing for 241 passing yards on 17-for-21 passing (71%) and three passing touchdowns. He was additionally sturdy together with his legs, selecting up two extra touchdowns on the bottom. Chiles was marketed as a dual-threat quarterback coming into Evanston, and after two video games, you actually can’t argue in opposition to that.
Forcing Turnovers
Northwestern’s protection was at it once more, forcing some essential turnovers that led to Wildcat factors. The ‘Cats compelled 4 turnovers within the first half through two recovered fumbles and an interception, resulting in 17 of Northwestern’s 41 factors. The protection additionally held sturdy as Colorado tried each angle to search out life, going for it on 4th down thrice and getting stopped quick every time. Much more spectacular, the Buffaloes led the Wildcats in complete internet yards for a lot of the sport, however turnovers proved to be Colorado’s undoing on Saturday.
Honorable Mentions: Crimson zone effectivity, Griffin Wilde
Inventory Down
Run Protection
As a lot as issues went proper for the protection, the run protection didn’t. The ‘Cats allowed 180 speeding yards on Saturday. Fortunately, a whole lot of the Wildcat errors that allowed for giant positive aspects on the bottom had been undone by Colorado themselves, with two fumbles falling into the palms of a Wildcat, together with when the Buffaloes had been knocking on the door of a landing within the first quarter earlier than LB Braydon Brus scooped it up on the Northwestern 17-yard line.
Penalty Self-discipline
Regardless of the lopsided rating, Northwestern didn’t do itself any favors with the flags. The Wildcats dedicated eight penalties that gave Colorado an additional 60 yards. Probably the most excruciating got here within the first quarter, when Himon ran almost 80 yards to the top zone and was known as again for holding on WR Ricky Ahumaraeze. Whereas not an important mistake in the long run, it’s one thing to look at shifting ahead.
Ezomo Oratokhai Harm
For the second recreation in a row, Northwestern suffered one more devastating harm on their offensive line. After lacking the season debut in opposition to South Dakota State resulting from harm, redshirt sophomore Ezomo Oratokhai exited the sport within the first quarter after touchdown on his ankle. Oratokhai was visibly distraught as he left the sphere. David Braun stated after the sport that “we’ll know extra within the coming days” concerning the way it will have an effect on Oratokhai’s availability.
Honorable Mentions:The climate, false begins