NCAA Game Summary - Northwestern at Illinois

Champaign, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Trevor Siemian threw for 414 yards and four touchdowns to carry the Northwestern Wildcats to a 37-34 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini in Big Ten action at Memorial Stadium.

Siemian completed 31-of-44 pass attempts for Northwestern (5-7, 1-7 Big Ten). Christian Jones had 13 receptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns and Rashad Lawrence finished with 112 yards and a score on five receptions. Treyvon Green added 69 yards on 21 carries.

Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 307 yards and rushed for 55 more for Illinois (4-8, 1-7). Scheelhaase completed 31-of-45 pass attempts and had two scores through the air while setting the program record for career yards during the contest. Josh Ferguson rushed for 110 yards and two scores and Steve Hull (13 receptions, 155 yards, TD) and Miles Osei (eight receptions, 93 yards, TD) each had big games through the air.

Northwestern jumped out to a 10-0 lead thanks to a 19-yard field goal and a 27-yard touchdown pass from Siemian to Jones in the first quarter.

Illinois responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Scheelhaase to Hull and a one-yard rushing score from Ferguson early in the second frame.

Dan Vitale hauled in Siemian's second touchdown pass of the game on an 11-yard strike midway through the second period.

Taylor Zalewski nailed a 51-yard field goal less than two minutes later but Jeff Budzien gave the Wildcats the edge at halftime with a 26-yard field goal.

Ferguson broke away for a 55-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to push Illinois back ahead.

Budzien and Zalewski would trade field goals during the period to set up the fourth quarter with Illinois leading, 27-23.

Siemian threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Lawrence early in the fourth quarter and added a seven-yard scoring strike to Jones midway through the period.

The Fighting Illini pulled closer with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Scheelhaase to Osei but the Wildcats ran out the clock on their next possession.