Game 12 vs. Illinois < < < 29
'CATS 14, IOWA 10
The Wildcats responded on the next possession with their longest drive of the game. Bowser
started the drive with three-straight carries and a nine-yard pass from Thorson to Skowronek
moved the 'Cats up to their own 48-yard line. Four plays later, Thorson split Iowa's defenders
and rushed for eight yards on third-and-seven. After a four-yard pass to Skowronek and a
five-yard rush by senior running back Chad Hanaoka, the 'Cats opted to go for it on fourth-
down-and-one. Bowser rushed for two yards to pick up the first down. Northwestern would
pick up one more first down on what would be a 19-play drive but was unable to score.
On Northwestern's second drive of the fourth quarter, senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel
returned Iowa's punt 14 yards to give the 'Cats the ball at the Hawkeyes' 46-yard line. Three
plays later, Hanaoka rushed up the middle for a career-long 13-yards on third-down-and-
nine to get the first down. On the next play, Skowronek made a diving 32-yard touchdown
catch at 9:27 to give the Wildcats a four-point lead.
With just over six minutes left in the game, Cameron Ruiz forced Mekhi Sargent to fumble
the football, giving Northwestern the ball at their own 49-yard line. On Iowa's following
possession, junior defensive end Joe Gaziano forced Ivory Kelly-Martin to fumble the ball
and give the 'Cats the football on the Iowa 42-yard line with under two minutes left in the
game. The Wildcats would convert the following first down, securing the victory over Iowa
as time expired.
