Falling Short and Exceeding Expectations
at
Northwestern Wildcats (1-1) at Syracuse Orange (1-1)
Woy's Word
A slow week finally brought Saturday to the table, where we were welcoming another Big Ten team into the Carrier Dome, Northwestern. Like it was two weeks ago against Minnesota, the dome was rocking and we were ready to go. But just like the first two games of the season, we got off to a bad start.
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"Paulus drops back, looks for Woy...it's intercepted! There's another first drive interception by the former Duke point guard!"
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Mike Kafka and the Wildcats continued to tear a hole in our defense, driving down the field for multiple touchdowns. It was 28-0 Northwestern at the end of the half and I was starting to lose faith that we would ever win another game this season. That was, until the start of the second half.
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"Here's the snap, Paulus catches it and looks right, sees Woy open downfield...it's caught! And it's a footrace! The 40, 30, 20, 10...touchdown Orange! Woy scores the second touchdown of his career, and cuts the lead within three scores!"
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After a three and out by Northwestern's offense, we took the ball right back down the field before Mike Williams dropped a pass and was slow getting up. That really got me involved with the offense, as Paulus started looking my way more and more. With seconds left in the third quarter, we had the ball around midfield when Greg finally showed some flashes of what he did during camp.
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"The snap's high, Paulus will look downfield, sees Woy...and it's caught! He's to the 30, the 20, 10...touchdown Syracuse! The former Duke point guard placed that pass perfectly!"
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Greg hit me for two more touchdowns as I could not be stopped by either Northwestern cornerback. With the game tied, the Wildcats drove down the field and hit a field goal to give them a three point lead. There was only a minute and a half on the clock when we got the ball back, and in an instant, we gave the ball away again.
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"And here's the pass...intercepted! Once again, Paulus throws a pick and kills all hope of a Syracuse comeback."
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Northwestern got another touchdown to rub it in our faces as we headed back to the lockerroom below .500 for the first time this year.
Northwestern 38
Syracuse 28
10 catches, 225 yards, 4 TD