By Philip Rossman-ReichThe Daily Northwestern
Tyrell Sutton took the handoff and ran up the middle.
He was met by a group of Illinois defenders, but pushed forward to gain four yards before being dragged down.
His second effort on this otherwise ordinary play to the Illinois 5-yard line not only set up a Joel Howells’ field goal that gave Northwestern a 27-16 lead over Illinois with 2:17 remaining in the game. The run also gave him exactly 1,000 yards for the season – on his final carry.
Reaching 1,000 yards was a milestone for the sophomore running back, who struggled to match the success he had as a freshman.
Sutton rushed for 1,474 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
“With success comes a lot of people looking at you,” Sutton said. “You’re never going to repeat the same thing, especially when you come out of nowhere and then you lose the starting quarterback that’s been there for four years. All they have to key on is you.”
Without Northwestern’s all-time passing leader Brett Basanez under center, Sutton was the focus of opposing defense’s attention and struggled to match his first year’s output.
During his freshman year, he reached 1,000 yards in NU’s eighth game and ran for more than 100 yards six times. He reached 200 yards rushing in three games.
This season, Sutton finished with 1,000 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 yards four times. His season high was 172 in NU’s 41-38 loss to Michigan State.
He entered the game needing 110 yards to reach 1,000. The running back rushed for 110 yards on 34 carries Saturday against the Illini.
“Tyrell is a special player,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “He’s been banged up the last month. He keeps going out and battling each week. It’s the mark of a champion. I’m really excited about the future of having him back now for two more years.”
He could have had a highlight-earning run to gain his 1,000th yard when he ran for 26 yards late in the fourth quarter. But the play was called back on holding by offensive lineman Joe Tripodi.
Instead, Sutton had to continue fighting to reach the goal.
“That probably would have (driven) me even more next year to get a thousand yards,” Sutton said of possibly ending up short of the mark. “That just goes to show the determination of our entire offense. (The) offensive line, they’ve done a great job all year. (The) wide receivers have done a great job blocking out on the perimeter. You can’t even say what (Erryn) Cobb has done. He’s out there on a messed-up ankle and still trying to block for us.”
Whether earning it on a long first down run or a short run that helped move the clock closer to zero, Sutton earned 1,000 yards and is a bright spot for the team’s future.
Sutton said he learned a lot from this season’s struggles, gaining patience and the ability to set his mind for success.
“You have to roll with the punches,” Sutton said. “You just have to go out there with the perfect mindset and know that you aren’t going to be denied.”
Reach Philip Rossman-Reich at [email protected].
