Oct. 15, 2007

NU Football Game Notes (vs. Eastern Michigan)
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Midway through its Big Ten season, Northwestern is taking a one-week break from conference action, heading to Detroit and Ford Field to take part in the fourth annual Collegiate Clash vs. Eastern Michigan University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT this Friday, Oct. 19. ESPNU is televising the game to a national audience.

Eastern Michigan, the host school for the Collegiate Clash, has played Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Navy the previous three years at Ford Field, home of the NFL's Detroit Lions and site of Super Bowl XL. The Eagles, coached by former NU assistant Jeff Genyk, are 1-2 in Collegiate Clash games, having defeated Central Michigan 61-58 in 4OT in 2004.

EMU started 2-2 (wins over Northern Illinois and Howard) this year, but since then, has dropped three straight road games. The Eagles, who lost at Vandy and Michigan, are coming off a 48-42 defeat at Ohio. Eastern Michigan fell behind 28-0 on Saturday, but came storming back, only to lose by six to the Bobcats.

Quarterback Andy Schmitt has thrown for 1,093 yards this year and is completing 62.9 percent of his passes (110-of-175). He has a 2-to-1 TD/interception ratio of 10-to-5. Schmitt is also the Eagles' second-leading rusher, averaging 21.0 ypg. EMU is averaging 288.0 ypg of total offense this season.

Defensively, three-year starting linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw is leading the Eagles with 81 tackles and ranks first in the MAC and sixth nationally with his 11.6 tpg average. Senior tackle Jason Jones has 45 tackles and a team-leading 14 TFL's. That figure (2.0 pg) also leads the MAC and is fifth nationally. Punter Zach Johnson is a dangerous weapon as well for the Eagles, who rank sixth nationally in net punting. Johnson averages 42.6 yards per boot.

Northwestern, powered by its offense and quarterback C.J. Bachér (Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit), has averaged 48.5 points and 600 yards of offense the past two games. The Wildcats needed every point and yard, however, as both victories required overtime. With its 49-48 2OT victory against Minnesota on Saturday, NU remained unbeaten (7-0) in extra sessions vs. Big Ten teams.

Once again, the Northwestern offensive line provided the protection for Bachér, who followed up his national offensive player of the week performance with a 470-yard, 4-TD effort against the Gophers. His third TD pass of the day--a 4-yard strike to Eric Peterman (Sherman, Ill./Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin)--tied the game at 35-35 with eight seconds remaining.

The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) is carrying the game live. The radio broadcast also can be heard via the internet at wgnradio.com. The broadcast begins at 5:30 p.m. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student radio station, also will carry the game live. The contest is also available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Channels 196-199).

Television -- ESPNU is televising the game to a national audience. Gary Williams (play-by-play) and Jay Taylor (analyst) call the action.

Television Plans Announced for Oct. 27 Game at Purdue
Northwestern and Purdue will kick off at 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 27 in West Lafayette, Ind. The Big Ten Network is televising the game.

(For a complete set of game notes, download the PDF above.)