Written by Jeff Schmidt
(The Bronx, New York City, New York) There were home runs being hit at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, but ironically none came from players wearing pinstripe uniforms. Known as “New York’s Bowl Game” the seventh edition of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl was filled with fireworks as the Northwestern Wildcats defeated the Pitt Panthers, 31-24.
Pitt had an opportunity to tie the game late with a drive that started on their 34-yard line, but Northwestern safety Kyle Queiro iced the game with an interception on third down. Northwestern finished the 2016 season with a record of 7-6 while Pitt dropped to 8-5. The Wildcats concluded the season winning six of their last nine games after losing three of their first four.
Pitt controlled the early portion of the contest holding Northwestern to just one first down on their first two possessions, but momentum began to swing in the Wildcats’ favor after running back Justin Jackson picked up 68 yards on a big play during the teams’ third possession of the game. The running back would go on to score the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the day to conclude that drive which gave Northwestern the 7-3 lead. Jackson, who was named the game’s MVP, finished with 224 yards on 32 carries and 3 touchdowns.
Northwestern would fumble on their next possession, but the defense held Pitt to a three-and-out. That stop set up Jackson’s second score and allowed Northwestern to take a commanding 14-3 lead. It was the 5th time this year and 8th time in his career that Jackson had a multi-touchdown game. Pitt would answer back quickly, however, as Nathan Peterman connected with Jester Weah on a 69-yard score on the first play of the drive. Northwestern took the 14-10 lead going into the half, but Pat Narduzzi’s bunch came out swinging to start the third quarter. A 4-play, 68-yard drive was capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nathan Peterman to give the Panthers the lead. The Panthers quarterback finished the game going 13 of 18 for 253 yards and a touchdown, but was forced to leave the game early with an apparent head injury.
Pitt would regain the lead one final time in the game after backup quarterback Ben DiNucci connected with fullback George Alston early in the 4th quarter, but a 21-yard touchdown pass from Wildcat quarterback Clayton Thorson to Garrett Dickerson clinched the victory for Northwestern. Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald couldn’t be more proud of the way his players performed and had a special thank you note for a few members of the media. “I’d like to give an extra special shout out to Danny Kanell and the ESPN crew that told us that we would just be happy to be here”, Fitzgerald said. “Our video crew put that together and it was the last thing we saw video wise today and I greatly appreciate the extra motivation”.
NFL Draft prospect and Pitt running back James Conner excited the game at halftime, and Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke about why Conner exited the game: "He took a hit to the head without the ball, “ said Narduzzi. “I guess [the defender] went after him instead." Conner finished his Pitt career with 3,701 yards and 52 rushing touchdowns.
Pitt had an opportunity to tie the game late with a drive that started on their 34-yard line, but Northwestern safety Kyle Queiro iced the game with an interception on third down. Northwestern finished the 2016 season with a record of 7-6 while Pitt dropped to 8-5. The Wildcats concluded the season winning six of their last nine games after losing three of their first four.
Pitt controlled the early portion of the contest holding Northwestern to just one first down on their first two possessions, but momentum began to swing in the Wildcats’ favor after running back Justin Jackson picked up 68 yards on a big play during the teams’ third possession of the game. The running back would go on to score the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the day to conclude that drive which gave Northwestern the 7-3 lead. Jackson, who was named the game’s MVP, finished with 224 yards on 32 carries and 3 touchdowns.
Northwestern would fumble on their next possession, but the defense held Pitt to a three-and-out. That stop set up Jackson’s second score and allowed Northwestern to take a commanding 14-3 lead. It was the 5th time this year and 8th time in his career that Jackson had a multi-touchdown game. Pitt would answer back quickly, however, as Nathan Peterman connected with Jester Weah on a 69-yard score on the first play of the drive. Northwestern took the 14-10 lead going into the half, but Pat Narduzzi’s bunch came out swinging to start the third quarter. A 4-play, 68-yard drive was capped off by a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nathan Peterman to give the Panthers the lead. The Panthers quarterback finished the game going 13 of 18 for 253 yards and a touchdown, but was forced to leave the game early with an apparent head injury.
Pitt would regain the lead one final time in the game after backup quarterback Ben DiNucci connected with fullback George Alston early in the 4th quarter, but a 21-yard touchdown pass from Wildcat quarterback Clayton Thorson to Garrett Dickerson clinched the victory for Northwestern. Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald couldn’t be more proud of the way his players performed and had a special thank you note for a few members of the media. “I’d like to give an extra special shout out to Danny Kanell and the ESPN crew that told us that we would just be happy to be here”, Fitzgerald said. “Our video crew put that together and it was the last thing we saw video wise today and I greatly appreciate the extra motivation”.
NFL Draft prospect and Pitt running back James Conner excited the game at halftime, and Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke about why Conner exited the game: "He took a hit to the head without the ball, “ said Narduzzi. “I guess [the defender] went after him instead." Conner finished his Pitt career with 3,701 yards and 52 rushing touchdowns.