EVANSTON — After a 10-2 season, Northwestern football came into 2016 with a lot of optimism. A season-opening loss to Western Michigan doesn’t help.
In a back-and-forth second half, the Broncos came out on top. Northwestern’s defense gave up a late touchdown, and a questionable call on a wild goal-line fumble with just under three minutes left gave Western Michigan possession and eventually, the win. In spite of the craziness of that play, Northwestern simply got outplayed throughout.
In the first drive, Clayton Thorson was sharp. With plenty of doubts regarding Northwestern’s wide receivers and passing game as week one approached, Thorson completed his first three passes to three different receivers—Austin Carr, Andrew Scanlan and Macan Wilson—on a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that lasted 5:06.