Howard Bison vs Northwestern Wildcats Box Score on Oct 07, 2023

Brendan Sullivan stepped in at quarterback for Northwestern and accounted for three total touchdowns as the Wildcats held off FCS visitors Howard 23-20 on Saturday in Evanston, Ill.

Sullivan started in place of Ben Bryant, who sustained an upper-body injury last week. Sullivan completed 13 of 18 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns and ran 15 times for 38 yards and a score for Northwestern (3-3).

Eden James took 21 carries for 177 yards and added three catches for 36 yards for Howard (2-3). Quinton Williams completed 18 of 30 passes for 169 yards.

James sprinted for a 64-yard touchdown on the first play of a Howard drive with 7:40 left in the game. The Bison could not score a two-point conversion, leaving their deficit 23-13.

Howard forced a three-and-out, and James gained 62 yards from scrimmage and converted two third downs on the ensuing drive. He set up Jarett Hunter for a 1-yard rushing score to trim the margin to three points with 2:32 to go. But Howard's onside kick did not work, and Northwestern managed to salt the game away.

Howard outgained Northwestern 352-312 but could not climb out of a 16-0 halftime hole.

Cam Porter led the Wildcats with 78 rushing yards.

On Northwestern's opening drive, Sullivan rolled right and navigated his way 35 yards for a touchdown at 12:51 of the first quarter.

The Bison were downed at their 3 to start their second possession. On third down, Williams was called for intentional grounding while standing in the end zone, giving Northwestern a safety and a 9-0 lead.

After the Wildcats stuffed James on a fourth-down run at the Northwestern 20, they embarked on a 14-play touchdown drive to end the half. Sullivan hit Bryce Kirtz for a 4-yard strike with 26 seconds left.

Howard strung together a 17-play, 74-yard drive eating up 7:49 of clock to open the second half. On fourth-and-1 at the Northwestern 2, the Wildcats gifted Howard a new set of downs by picking up a "disconcerting signals" penalty for trying to impede Howard's snap count.

Williams was hit hard on first-and-goal and briefly left the game, and backup quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins pushed in for a touchdown on the next play.

Sullivan answered when he rolled left and hit Cam Johnson in stride down the left sideline for a 35-yard touchdown, making it 23-7 with 2:46 left in the third quarter.

--Field Level Media