Justin, not Reggie – shines at Yankee Stadium as Northwestern wins

Northwestern’s Justin Jackson dives in for a score during the Pinstripe Bowl against Pittsburgh at Yankee Stadium. Not only did the Panthers beat the Big Ten champ (Penn State) and the ACC champ (Clemson), they boasted one the nation’s most explosive offenses.

After another impressive stop on defense, Pitt took over at its own 23 and again moved the ball downfield easily, but failed to put up any points.

Northwestern University’s football players will have Craig Sager on their minds as they conclude their season.

In the running game, Jackson – already only the second runner in school history to top 4,000 career yards – will enjoy what should be a much-improved offensive line blocking for him.

Foster Farms Bowl • Joe Williams ran for 222 yards and a touchdown and Andy Phillips kicked a 27-yard field goal with 1:24 to play to lead Utah to a 26-24 victory over IN in the Foster Farms Bowl IN Santa Clara, Calif.

Jackson rushed for 91 yards, the most in a quarter in his career, but Northwestern trailed 3-0 after the first quarter thanks to a 46-yard field from Chris Blewitt.

Northwestern needed Jackson to dominate the way he did because the rest of the offense was vanilla. The running back would go on to score the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the day to conclude that drive which gave Northwestern the 7-3 lead.

Both defenses would tighten up the rest of the third quarter, though special teams would play an integral role.

Pitt’s biggest defensive feat was holding Jackson and Northwestern to negative yardage on the ensuing drive before Chawntez Moss blocked the punt to set up the offense on the Wildcats’ 23-yard line.

When running back James Conner takes the field at Yankee Stadium in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl for the last time as a member of the Pittsburgh Panthers, a range of emotions will be swirling. He is now on the Pitt sideline without a helmet, a sign that he may well be done for the game. Macan Wilson made the key play on the drive with a five-yard reception on 4th-and-3 to keep the Wildcats moving down the field.

The fact that the Wildcats held the high-scoring Panthers to a mere 10 points through two quarters was, along with Jackson’s play, the story of the first half.

Just before the two minute warning, Pitt scored on their first and only play of the drive as Peterman hit Jester Weah for 69-yard touchdown. Scott Orndoff failed to hang on to backup quarterback Ben DiNucci’s strike in the end zone on third down.

As for DiNucci, he threw 3/9 completed passes for a meager 16 yards.

Northwestern is seeking its first postseason victory since 2012.

The Cats won a bowl game for the third time in their history, against a favored opponent with the crowd advantage on their side and a national television audience watching at home, by fielding a 22-man lineup that included just three seniors. Overall, Pitt scored 17 points on seven red-zone trips.