Now that is how you reward faithful homecoming fans. Trailing by 25 points in the first half, Northwestern rallied to beat Indiana 29-28 last week at Ryan Field in Evanston, recording the biggest comeback in program history. “It was not a Picasso, but we’ll take it,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said after the game.
Close finishes have been a recurring theme for the Wildcats (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten), who host No. 12 Penn State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in a game to be broadcast on ESPN. RedEye looks back at some of Northwestern’s white-knucklegames this season.
Wildcats 27, Eastern Michigan 24
Sept. 12 at Evanston
Big ‘Cat: Stefan Demos, kicker, who booted the winning 49-yard field goal with 6 seconds left.
What it meant: The Wildcats were 2-0 and had a pretty good kicker, whom they just might need in a pinch again this season.
Syracuse 37, Wildcats 34
Sept. 19 at Syracuse, N.Y.
Big ‘Cat: Mike Kafka, quarterback, who set school records for consecutive completed passes (16) and completion percentage (83.3).
What it meant: The season’s first loss would send Northwestern into Big Ten play at 2-1.
Wildcats 27, Purdue 21
Oct. 3 at West Lafayette, Ind.
Big ‘Cat: Brad Phillips, safety, who forced two second-half fumbles.
What it meant: It was a solid conference win that looked even better two weeks later, when the Boilermakers upset Ohio State.
Wildcats 29, Indiana 28
Oct. 24 at Evanston
Big ‘Cat: Demos, who tallied another game-winning kick, this one from 19 yards out with 21 seconds left.
What it meant: Northwestern needs only one win in its final four games to become eligible for a bowl game.
Watch dog
By Whizzer
Here’s what I’m watching this weekend.
WORLD SERIES
N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia
Game 3: 7 p.m.
Saturday, Fox
Game 4: 7:20 p.m.
Sunday, Fox
NFL
Bears vs. Cleveland
Noon Sunday, CBS
MLS PLAYOFFS
Fire at New England
Game 1: 1 p.m. Sunday, Fox Soccer
NBA
Bulls at Miami
5 p.m. Sunday, CSN
– – –
five on one
Every week is homecoming for this panel. Sign up for weekday Five on Five at redeyechicago.com/facebookfives.
The topic: Big Ten football is in the homestretch. Who’s your conference champion?
Tracy Swartz: Penn State — a retch, err, stretch, I know.
Phillip Thompson: I would say Iowa but that just sounds wrong.
Supriya Doshi: Damn you, Illinois. Just once, I’d like to say it’s you!
Brian Moore: Iowa, because the state deserves more than cornfields and the World’s Largest Truckstop.
Ernest Wilkins: The Iowa Hawkeyes, a.k.a. Stanzi “The Manzi” and his Merry Men.
