The injury bug continues to bite Northwestern.

The victim of the latest sting? Running back Omar Conteh.

The senior had season-ending knee surgery Friday to repair a ligament he injured in a non-contact drill at Wednesday’s practice. The ailment kept him out of Saturday’s loss to Ohio State. Continue reading »

A new season means a world of change.

Last October, Northwestern fell behind 35-14 to Minnesota in its fourth Big Ten game of the season. With 17 minutes remaining in the game, then-junior linebacker Malcolm Arrington intercepted an errant throw by freshman quarterback Adam Weber and returned the ball 27 yards to the 8-yard line, leading to an NU touchdown.

Arrington’s interception was one of Weber’s two picks on the day and 19 of the season. NU rallied from that play to eke out a 49-48 double-overtime victory on Homecoming at Ryan Field. As the Wildcats head to Minneapolis for the Gophers’ homecoming, they will look to rally without Arrington, and star running back Tyrell Sutton.

While falling behind early was an anomaly for NU last year, it has been a consistent trend this season. The Cats have been outscored by opponents 33-3 in the first quarter in Big Ten play. NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said his team just has to keep playing, which he believes it has done.
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Every team has a talented wide receiver. Most have multiple weapons in the passing game, and it is not uncommon for a team to have four or five scoring threats.

How about eight?

That is how many players have scored at least one touchdown for Northwestern through just seven games this season — and that does not include quarterback C.J. Bachér.

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A week made all the difference in the world.

In Northwestern’s 37-20 loss to Michigan State a week ago, the Spartans’ average starting field position was the NU 49-yard line. The Wildcats’ average start was their own 18.

In Saturday’s 48-26 victory over Purdue, the Cats won the field position battle. Aided by five Boilermaker turnovers, NU scored on drives that started at the Purdue 10-, 12-, 1- and 19-yard lines.

“Field position is huge,” senior quarterback C.J. Bachér said. “Being able to start with good field position means everything. You don’t have to get quite as many first downs, and it’s a real momentum boost.”

A week after turning the ball over three times and forcing no turnovers, NU went plus-two in the turnover battle Saturday.

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Take heart, Northwestern faithful. Rumors of Tyrell Sutton’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

The Wildcats’ star running back participated fully in practice Wednesday, four days after leaving NU’s 16-8 win over Ohio with a left leg injury.

Sutton clarified Wednesday that the injury was to his left hamstring but added it no longer bothered him.

“I worked with the trainers today, and it felt good,” he said. “It felt loose.”

The senior tailback left Satuday’s win near the end of the second quarter after breaking a 33-yard run, his longest of the day. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the injury, Sutton was his usual joking self.

“You know, I’m so fast, I think I kind of hurt it that way,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Trying to go from first to fifth all at one time.”

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At first, it looked like just another one of Tyrell Sutton’s sensational runs. The senior tailback broke through the line, spun past another defender, and sped down the field for 31 yards.

That run quickly turned into Northwestern’s worst nightmare.

Favoring his left leg, Sutton limped off the field. When the Wildcats came out for the second half, their superstar stayed in the locker room, receiving treatment on an unknown “left leg injury.”

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald did not reveal any specifics.

“I don’t talk about injuries until I have a report, so I have no idea,” he said. “I think he’ll be OK, I hope, but we’ll see.”

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For the first time in 46 years, the Wildcats are 4-0.

And yet there were points when Northwestern looked defeated in Saturday’s 16-8 victory over Ohio.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald’s thoughts were centered on his team getting the win. But he acknowledged that NU did not play its best.

“I’m happy we’re finding a way to win,” Fitzgerald said. “But obviously there is a lot of room for improvement. We just didn’t execute the way we’re capable of… When you don’t play your best, your leaders are challenged.”

Those challenges began to surface once the offense lost one of its key leaders.

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