What a difference a month can make.
Four weeks ago at Ohio State, Northwestern managed just 11 first downs and gained a mere 120 yards as it failed to score a touchdown. But in the wake of that disaster, against Michigan, Michigan State and Minnesota, the Northwestern offense has rolled up 79 first downs, gained an astounding 1,617 yards and scored 15 touchdowns as it heads into Friday night’s contest against Eastern Michigan (2-5) in Detroit.
“It’s incredible. It’s just, it’s unbelievable,” left tackle Dylan Thiry says when asked what it’s like to be part of such an efficient machine. “You go out there, they kick the ball in the end zone, or they pin you back on the 15, you’re like, ‘OK, more yards for us.’ You really do. You drive 85, 90 yards, you get a score.”
His line, so anonymous, has contributed hugely to that efficiency, opening huge swaths for running backs to traipse through and diligently protecting quarterback C.J. Bacher from ill-intentioned defenders. Two weeks in a row now the coaches have named the line the Wildcats’ offensive player of the game, so their names should start to become known.
At center, there is senior Trevor Rees.
“Phenomenal,” Thiry says when asked to play the old word-association game to describe his mates. “He’s the key to our line, getting our checks the right way, getting everybody on the right page. So, yeah. Phenomenal.”
At right guard, there is junior Joel Belding.
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“Much improved, much improved,” Thiry says. “You look at film from last year, he struggled with his footwork, getting his second step down, getting off the ball. His word is improvement.”
At right tackle, there is sophomore Kurt Mattes.
“Growth with him,” Thiry says. “He has been asked to mature fast.”
At left guard, there is senior Adam Crum.
“Hard worker, very hard worker, very disciplined in what he does,” Thiry says. “He leads our line in championship performances.”
Then there is Thiry himself.
“I’d say lucky,” he says with a smile. “I feel lucky being able to have a senior year with the guys we have.”
The prime beneficiary of those guys has been Bacher, who in the last two weeks has put up numbers usually posted only in a video game: 79 of 106 passing for 990 yards and nine touchdowns. Thirteen of his completions have been to running backs Omar Conteh or Brandon Roberson, who themselves have emerged from the shadow of the injured Tyrell Sutton.
But the vast majority of them have been to six receivers who have taken turns frolicking in the spotlight.
One is junior Jeff Yarbrough, who had a 78-yard touchdown catch against Michigan State.
“Speed,” Bacher says when asked to play the old word-association game to describe his own beneficiaries.
Another is senior Kim Thompson, who had five catches against Minnesota.
“Speed,” Bacher says again.
A third is junior Eric Peterman, who had a 70-yard touchdown catch against Michigan State and a dozen catches against Minnesota.
“A very smart player,” Bacher says.
Another is senior Tonjua Jones, who had a 28-yard touchdown catch against Minnesota.
“Explosive,” Bacher says.
Yet another is junior Rasheed Ward, who had eight catches against Michigan State.
“Quick,” Bacher says.
The last is junior Ross Lane, who had two touchdown catches against both Minnesota and Michigan State.
“Playmaker,” Bacher says.
“It’s just a blast,” Lane says. “You know, you just know you’re going to go straight down the field. When there’s a minute left and the game’s on the line, it doesn’t matter. You just know you’re going to get there. You don’t have to worry about it.”
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