DECISIVE

After years of experiencing NU games involving last second field goals, goal line stands, and dramatic comebacks, I had a very strange experience watching the Cats Saturday afternoon: boredom. Watching the game at a local restaurant with 30 other purple passionates, I'll admit that most of us spent the better part of the second half talking amongst ourselves...more or less not paying attention to the action unfolding on the screen.

Ladies and gentlemen, we've finally arrived.

Despite a very respectable performance in conference over the past 15 years, (one of) Northwestern's archilles heel has been playing down to their opponents in the out of conference schedule. Losses to Duke, New Hampshire and Syracuse are just a few of the painful moments 'Cats fans have lived through recently. Thus, NU fans were understandably anxious going into a game against a 1-AA team with a apparently potent offense.

By the end of the first quarter, it was clear those fears were misplaced.

The 'Cats first team offense looked simply unstoppable, scoring on their first three possessions and leading 30-3 at the half. Persa picked up right where left off last week, going 19/23 with 3 TDs, and keeping his quarterback rating higher than Snoop Dogg at an after-party.

While the defense gave up yards early to the Redbirds, they too clamped down and held a solid offense to just 3 points, and virtually nothing in the second half. In addition, the D stepped up and had 3 interceptions, giving nervous NU fans some hope that the Vanderbilt performance was not indicative of what to expect this year.

However, despite all of the positives in one of the Cats most dominating wins of late, the biggest concern remains: the Northwestern running continues to flounder. The Cats had 163 yards on the ground, but averaged only 3.3 yards per carry. Northwestern has proven it can win games with a pass-only offensive attack, but the difference between making a bowl and contending for a Big11Ten championship (in any year) is having a solid run game to compliment the passing attack.

Overall though, the complaints were few as the Cats came to play and ran circles around an inferior opponent. Heading down to Rice for another out of conference road contest, fans can only hope this current roll continues.