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10/10 17:12 CDT Aidan Chiles throws for 3 TDs, runs for another: Northwestern
rips Ball State 45-14
Aidan Chiles throws for 3 TDs, runs for another: Northwestern rips Ball State
45-14
By MATT CARLSON
Associated Press
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) --- Aidan Chiles passed for three touchdowns for the second
time this season and ran for another as Northwestern routed Ball State 45-14 in
a non-conference matchup on Saturday.
Chiles threw for 272 yards on a 17 for 23 afternoon in Northwestern's second
game at its swanky new Ryan Field. The 6-foot-4 senior transfer from Michigan
State upped his season totals to nine passing TD's and six on the ground.
Chiles' athleticism was on display not just with his arm. So was his ability to
scramble and adapt --- even recover the ball after mishandling, then dashing
for a first down to keep a first-quarter scoring drive rolling.
"Aidan's ability, when things break down, to extend things with his feet is a
critical piece of what we're doing," Wildcats coach David Braun said. "You
don't necessarily want that, but not everything is going to be perfect. That's
really hard to defend."
Chiles described his style as "just playing football" and feeling "happy" on
the field.
"Just being able to get away from people and you know just staying on my feet
and being able to make a play," he said. "It's nothing to it. It's just being
an athlete."
Griffin Wilde pulled in a touchdown, his third, and finished with 144 receiving
yards on eight catches. Drew Wagner and Alex Honig also caught passes for
scores.
Wilde, a senior wideout, leads the Wildcats with 425 receiving yards.
"It's an equal-opportunity offense and the guys who are open are going to get
the ball," Chiles said. "Griff gets open."
Caleb Komolafe rushed for a TD and Robert Fitzgerald returned an interception
for a 15-yard score as the Wildcats (4-1) raced ahead early, stumbled briefly
in the second quarter, then took charge in the second half. Jackson Kleather
added a 52-yard field goal.
Ball State's Keldric Luster passed for 209 yards (27 for 41) and a 2-yard
touchdown to Jamarion McDougle as time ran out in the first half. TJ Horton
punched in a TD from the 1 midway through the second quarter for the Cardinals'
(1-5) first score.
Northwestern scored on its first four drives, then added a touchdown off
Fitzgerald's pick to build a 31-14 lead at the half.
Northwestern stopped Ball State's punt formation sneak from its 36 5:29 into
the third quarter. Two plays later, Chiles tossed a 12-yard TD to Wagner, and
Northwestern led 38-14.
Wagner's apparent 92-year punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter
was nullified by a series of penalties. A final infraction, sideline
interference against Northwestern, put the Wildcats back at their 1 to start a
drive with 4:34 left in the third.
After the odd call, Chiles engineered a 10-play, 99-yard drive that culminated
in 32-yard TD pass to Honig and a 45-14 Northwestern lead.
Smaller house Northwestern packed 35,000-seat Ryan Field for its grand opening on Oct. 2 and a 34-13 win over Penn State. On Saturday, fewer than half of the stadium's purple seats were occupied, even though attendance was announced as 25,629.
The takeaway Ball State: Ball State and Luster showed signs of making a game of it in their second meeting with a Big Ten opponent this season. The Cardinals were pounded 56-3 in a season-opening loss at Ohio State Northwestern: Chiles pounced on opportunities and got Northwestern out of a bit of trouble.
Up next Ball State: at Mid-American Conference rival Bowling Green next Saturday. Northwestern: The Wildcats return to Big Ten play at Michigan State next Saturday. ---- Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
Smaller house Northwestern packed 35,000-seat Ryan Field for its grand opening on Oct. 2 and a 34-13 win over Penn State. On Saturday, fewer than half of the stadium's purple seats were occupied, even though attendance was announced as 25,629.
The takeaway Ball State: Ball State and Luster showed signs of making a game of it in their second meeting with a Big Ten opponent this season. The Cardinals were pounded 56-3 in a season-opening loss at Ohio State Northwestern: Chiles pounced on opportunities and got Northwestern out of a bit of trouble.
Up next Ball State: at Mid-American Conference rival Bowling Green next Saturday. Northwestern: The Wildcats return to Big Ten play at Michigan State next Saturday. ---- Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
