D’Wayne Bates’ leg injury hurts more all the time.
Without him Saturday, Northwestern couldn’t find its offense. Bates, the Wildcats’ leading receiver last year, underwent surgery last week to repair a torn ligament he suffered in the victory over Oklahoma on Aug. 23. He also has a fractured fibula and is out for the season.
If there is such a thing as sympathy pains, Northwestern must have them, because its offense had a certain limp to it in a 27-20 loss to Wake Forest. Two of the Wildcats’ three longest plays came on a fake punt and a trick play.
“We’re not used to playing without him,” wide receiver Brian Musso said. “It’s going to take time for us to figure out where we can make up for him not being there. I think we have the weapons to do it. I’d like to say that because I’m one of the guys who can step in and do that.”
Musso had five catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback derby: Coach Gary Barnett stuck with his quarterback rotation, which he didn’t do in the Oklahoma game. Tim Hughes played most of the game, and Chris Hamdorf played the first series of the second and fourth quarters.
Hughes completed 14 of 31 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Hamdorf was 7 for 8 for 41 yards. The quarterbacks, Barnett said, weren’t the problem. “That isn’t what kept us from winning,” he said. “It’s probably the last of my priorities.”
Injury report: It was not a good day for ankles. Tight end Jay Tant reinjured his. Cornerback Fred Wilkerson and linebacker Josh Kolar both sprained theirs. Wide receiver John Burden had back spasms and missed most of the game.
Bad moment: Barnett was upset with his decision to have Wake Forest repunt after an illegal procedure penalty in the fourth quarter. The Demon Deacons ended up taking 9 seconds off the clock and putting the Wildcats in worse field position on the second punt.
“I’m not happy with myself,” he said. “Obviously, that’s one I’d do over. I don’t know what it looked like on television. I’m sure (the announcers) got me pretty good. You don’t give the ball back to them and let them punt, especially when you’re fightng the clock. At the same time, I thought we had a chance to get ourselves in better field position.”
