When the final whistle blew, signaling then to Northwestern's 24-19 victory over Ball State, Clayton Thorson could hold his head high. The freshman quarterback, now 4-0 for his career, went 18-31 for 256 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 54 yards and lost two fumbles
But Thorson's game against Ball State and, most notably, its up-and-down nature are a microcosm of what Northwestern has gotten out of the young signal-caller this season. That is to say that against Ball State, Thorson showed both his immense talent and a few maddening mistakes.
First Quarter: Northwestern 0, Ball State 3
Thorson's night got off to a rough start with a fumble on Northwestern's first possession.