Northwestern 24, Boston College 17
Share This Story
BOSTON (AP)
Backup Kain Colter threw for 197 yards and ran for 71 more with a touchdown on Saturday to lead Northwestern to a 24-17 victory over Boston College in the season opener.
Colter completed 17 of 24 passes and Northwestern won for the first time since Dan Persa ruptured his Achilles tendon last Nov. 13. Persa, who had been touted as a Heisman Trophy contender by the school, was a late scratch.
Andre Williams, who replaced the injured Montel Harris, ran 22 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Luke Kuechly had 19 tackles, two for a loss, and an interception for BC.
BC brought the ball to the Northwestern 19 with 18 seconds left before a false start moved them back and took 10 seconds off the clock. Chase Rettig was sacked by Vince Browne on the final play and remained on the field for several minutes.
Ifeanyi Momah caught eight passes for 157 yards for the Eagles, but Nate Freese missed a pair of field goals. Rettig, a sophomore who took over as the started midway through last season, completed 24 of 44 passes for 375 yards with one interception, but he couldn't find anyone open on the game's final play.
Persa led the nation in completion percentage and total offense last year before he had surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon Nov. 13; Northwestern lost its final three games, including the TicketCity Bowl. Boston College was without Harris, the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason player of the year.
Neither absence seemed like much of a setback.
Harris' replacement, Andre Williams, broke free for 69 yards on the first play from scrimmage. But BC settled for a field goal, and got nothing on its next trip inside the Northwestern 15 when Freese missed a 31-yard field goal.
The Eagles made it 10-3 when Kuechly intercepted Colter and ran it back to the Wildcats' 3 yard-line. After a penalty, Williams scored on a 6-yard run to give BC the lead.
Colter tied it when he ran it in himself from 3 yards out to complete a 10-play, 80-yard drive just before the half and then led Northwestern on another just like it to start the second. Mike Trumpy scored on a 5-yard run to give the Wildcats a 17-10 lead, and they went up 24-10 on a perfect option pitch from Colter to Adonis Smith with 9:24 left.
Rettig hit Momah for 38 yards to the 2, and two plays later Williams ran it in to make it 24-17 with 6 minutes left. But Northwestern stopped the Eagles on fourth-and-10 with under 3 minutes left, and by the time BC got the ball back there was 1:37 left and they were on their own 36.
After an intentional grounding left the Eagles with third-and-16 from their own 30, Rettig brought them to the Northwestern 19 with 18 seconds left. But there was movement before the snap on the left side of the offensive line, resulting in a 5-yard penalty and a mandatory 10 second runoff from the clock.
With 4 seconds left, Rettig rolled right but could not get rid of the ball before Browne steamrolled him to end the game.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Jeff Van Gundy slams Magic CEO?
Jeff Van Gundy lashed out at the Orlando Magic Friday, labeling the team's top execut... -
Better teamwork without Danica?
Michael Andretti's three drivers go into the Indianapolis 500 with strong chances to ... -
Joyce's slam helps lift Rays by BoSox
Matt Joyce hit his second grand slam in six games and Elliot Johnson had a two-run sh... -
End of Big Three era may be in sight
Celtics battle for survival in Game 7 unsure of Big Three's future. -
Henrique OT goal puts Devils in Final
Rookie Adam Henrique's clutch goal sends Devils to Cup final.
NCAA FB Videos
Fiutak: Remembering Bill Stewart
Posted: May 21, 2012
Pete Fiutak remembers former West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart.
Pete Fiutak remembers former West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart.
Scout.com: USC nabs top RB
Posted: May 15, 2012
Scott Kennedy on what five-star recruit Ty Isaac means to USC.
Scott Kennedy on what five-star recruit Ty Isaac means to USC.
Hundley getting comfortable
Posted: May 06, 2012
UCLA QB Brett Hundley talks about competing for the starting job.
UCLA QB Brett Hundley talks about competing for the starting job.
NCAA FB Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Florida Gators Ladies Ash Classic Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/206368/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_206000/FF_206368_xl.jpg&w=100 | 54.95 | Nike Florida Gators Ladies Ash Classic Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt |
| Nike USC Trojans Cardinal Vault Legacy 91 Swoosh Flex Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USC_Trojans/browse/featuredproduct/454858/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_454000/FF_454858_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Nike USC Trojans Cardinal Vault Legacy 91 Swoosh Flex Hat |
| adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers #94 Replica Football Jersey - Scarlet | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Nebraska_Cornhuskers/browse/featuredproduct/477038/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_477000/ff_477038_xl.jpg&w=100 | 59.95 | adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers #94 Replica Football Jersey - Scarlet |
| Nike Florida State Seminoles (FSU) Ladies My School Local T-shirt - Garnet | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Florida_State_Seminoles/browse/featuredproduct/520956/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_520000/ff_520956_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Nike Florida State Seminoles (FSU) Ladies My School Local T-shirt - Garnet |
| Nike Kansas State Wildcats Classic Logo Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Purple | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Kansas_State_Wildcats/browse/featuredproduct/681476/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_681000/ff_681476_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Nike Kansas State Wildcats Classic Logo Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Purple |
| Nike Alabama Crimson Tide #3 2012 BCS National Championship Game Replica Football Jersey - Crimson | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/771453/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_771000/ff_771453_xl.jpg&w=100 | 64.95 | Nike Alabama Crimson Tide #3 2012 BCS National Championship Game Replica Footbal.. |
| Nike Ohio State Buckeyes New Coach T-Shirt - Scarlet | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Ohio_State_Buckeyes/browse/featuredproduct/775105/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_775000/ff_775105_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike Ohio State Buckeyes New Coach T-Shirt - Scarlet |
| Nike LSU Tigers Ash 2012 BCS National Championship Target Knock Out Performance Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_LSU_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/776277/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_776000/ff_776277_xl.jpg&w=100 | 69.95 | Nike LSU Tigers Ash 2012 BCS National Championship Target Knock Out Performance.. |
| Nike Oklahoma State Cowboys 2012 Fiesta Bowl Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Charcoal | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oklahoma_State_Cowboys/browse/featuredproduct/780963/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_780000/ff_780963_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike Oklahoma State Cowboys 2012 Fiesta Bowl Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Cha.. |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.