EVANSTON -- As soon as Clayton Thorson broke through the line of scrimmage, galloped down Northwestern's sideline with his team knotted with No. 21 Stanford at 3-all and hit the Cardinal 30-yard line, he accelerated. The redshirt freshman turned upfield and bolted past Stanford defensive backs into the end zone, putting Northwestern up 10-3 on a 42-yard touchdown run.
"The O-line," Thorson said about the run and ensuing celebration, "they really hit your head hard when you score."
And just like that -- with a pivot of a right ankle, foot speed not commonly found in a 6-foot-4, 220-pound quarterback and a couple bruises on his head -- a new era of Northwestern football appeared to begin.