Saluki Smackdown: Northwestern Dominates Southern Illinois During a Monsoon

Emptying out the notebook from Northwestern’s 33-7 win over Southern Illinois.  As usual, these are my…

(Wild)Cat Nips

• Saluki running back Larry Warner looks like a replica of Maurice Jones-Drew.  SIU uses him the same way the Jacksonville Jaguars do Jones-Drew, as a running back and a kick returner.  He had a 40-yard kick return in the first quarter and later scored on a 19-yard run.  On his touchdown, Warner changed directions four times, yet went untouched as he reached the right corner of the end zone.  If he was on any major conference team, he would be getting national recognition.

• Head coach Pat Fitzgerald on Warner:  "I knew we were going to have to stop Larry Warner, and for the most part, I think we did that. He only broke out for a couple of runs.  He's a dynamic football player.”
• SIU quarterback Chris Dieker was a perfect 5-for-5 until the 11:54 mark in the second quarter.  By the end of the game, he was 14-for-22 for only 115 yards.
• Dieker left the game in the third quarter after getting sandwiched by defensive tackle John Gill and linebacker Malcolm Arrington.
• The Northwestern defense recorded six sacks, the most by a Wildcat team in seven years.  They also added 13 tackles for loss.
• Northwestern place-kicker Amado Villarreal tied a career high with four field goals.
• The rain never let up and was coming down in sheets for a majority of the game.
• Said Villarreal of kicking in the rain: “My foot was soaked but that prepped me well for this game.  I was talking to Kyle (Daley, the holder) and he said it was extremely difficult for him. I didn't notice it, which is a testament to how well he did but ultimately it wasn't really much of a difference from what I normally do." 
• Wildcat running back Tyrell Sutton once again demonstrated that as he goes, so goes the offense.  He was shut out in the first quarter, rushing for a mere six yards on four carries.  By the end of the game, Sutton had 101 yards on 17 carries, while plunging into the end zone three times.  He is currently third in school history in total rushing yards (3,307) and total yards from scrimmage (4,311).  In my Primer, I predicted Sutton would have no trouble reaching the end zone.
• The Northwestern linebackers struggled with their tackling, a testament to both the elusiveness of Warner as well as the slippery weather conditions.
• Junior quarterback Mike Kafka saw his first action of the season as he and running back Omar Conteh replaced Bacher and Sutton to begin the second quarter.  The offense went three-and-out and Kafka returned to the bench.
• Bacher and wide receiver Eric Peterman finally seemed on the same page, hooking up four times for 53 yards.
• For the second straight game, Bacher didn’t turn the ball over.
• Hats off to Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz for containing Warner by blitzing his linebackers directly at him. 
• Punter Stephon Demos set a career high with a 57-yard punt.
• On the flip side, Saluki punter Scott Ravanesi had the first punt blocked of his career by running back and special-teams player Jacob Schmidt, who recovered the ball himself after racing another defender for it.
• After catching his first career pass last weekend, Bacher lined up at receiver again, with Conteh taking a direct snap.
• Safety Brendan Smith is a play-maker.  He led the team in tackles with seven and deflected three passes, a career high.
• Defensive linemen Corey Wootton (two sacks) and Gill (one sack) are unstoppable at times.  They make each other better when the other commands the double team.  I'll expand on them in the coming week…
• The Wildcats face Ohio next weekend (11:00 AM) before beginning their Big Ten conference schedule.