Ada-grad Dysert sacked 7 times in 16-6 RedHawks loss
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Northwestern's Brian Peters made the most
of increased playing time Saturday when starting safety Brendan
Smith was forced from the game with a hand injury.
Peters had an impressive third quarter, first intercepting a
pass and later returning a fumble to set up a touchdown as
Northwestern relied on its defense to keep Miami of Ohio winless by
beating the RedHawks 16-6.
"Anyone you get is a blessing," Peters said after Northwestern
came up with four turnovers to go with seven sacks of Miami
quarterback Zac Dysert. "When the rush can get to him and we cover
well, it's a deadly thing," Peters added.
Northwestern (4-2) got two touchdown runs from quarterback Mike
Kafka, but for the most part the Wildcats were sluggish on offense.
Kafka was the leading rusher with 53 net yards on 15 carries.
"We have to run the football better," Northwestern coach Pat
Fitzgerald said. "Right now, that's not happening."
After Peters returned Dysert's fumble 27 yards to the Miami 27,
Kafka hit fullback Jacob Schmidt with a 25-yard pass to the 2.
Kafka sneaked in for the score three plays later, putting the
Wildcats ahead 16-0.
Miami (0-6) got in the end zone with 1:19 left when Dysert
completed a 23-yard TD pass to Andy Cruse to cap a 62-yard drive.
The two-point conversion pass failed.
"A shutout would have been awesome," Peters said. "We'll take
the win."
Dysert, who was sacked 10 times last week by Cincinnati, played
tough, but mistakes hurt the RedHawks, who are still looking for a
win under first-year coach Michael Haywood.
Dysert carried 22 times for 63 yards, while completing 17 of 36
passes for 176 yards. He often ended up hanging onto the football
when he couldn't find someone open.
"It's a combination of a number of things. We called a quick
passing game and the receiver doesn't get off the line," Haywood
said.
"That's not the offensive line and that's not on the
quarterback. But he ends up getting the sack."
Kafka completed three passes to Zeke Markshausen, one for 25
yards, during a 72-yard scoring drive at the end of the first
quarter. After a personal foul penalty on the RedHawks, Kafka
carried the final six yards for the TD with five seconds left in
the opening quarter, making it 10-0.
Miami drove to the Northwestern 28 late in the first quarter but
safety Brad Phillips blitzed and sacked Dysert for a seven-yard
loss. The RedHawks went for it on fourth-and-17, but Phillips hit
Dysert again as he was passing. The ball was tipped by Kevin Watt
and intercepted by Nate Williams to end the drive.
Miami reached the Northwestern 16 in the closing seconds of the
half when Dysert hit Brayden Coombs with a 23-yard pass. But with
11 seconds to go, Dysert couldn't find a receiver, had to scramble,
didn't get out of bounds and was hit down by Phillips and Williams
on the 11 as time expired.
"I was trying to make a play, but I just lost track of what I
was doing. Should have thrown it in the end zone to see if
something could happen. Just a mistake on my part," Dysert said.
"I knew what I needed to do. I just didn't do it."
Northwestern's Stefan Demos hit his ninth straight field goal
without a miss this season, a 46-yarder, for an early 3-0 lead. His
streak ended in the second quarter when Miami's Austin Brown
blocked his 40-yard attempt.
Demos did make a tackle. After a high snap on his attempted
point after following Northwestern's second TD, he picked up the
ball and threw into the end zone where Miami defensive lineman
Anthony Shoemaker intercepted. But after a short return, Demos
jumped on the 264-pound Shoemaker and brought him down.
Miami's starting tailback Andre Bratton injured his ankle in the
first half. And Northwestern got its seven sacks, even though star
defensive end Corey Wootton played very little because of a sore
ankle.