Sept. 13, 1997

Wildcats Slip by Duke

EVANSTON, Ill. - Adrian Autry ran for 116 yards and two scores, including the go-ahead one-yard touchdown with 3:43 remaining, as Northwestern avoided its second straight upset loss, squeaking out a 24-20 victory over Duke.

Trailing 20-17 late in the fourth quarter, Northwestern drove into Duke territory and Tim Hughes found Brian Musso for a 32-yard hookup that put the Wildcats at the 1. Autry put them on top, plunging into the end zone for a 24-20 edge.

Musso tied a career high with 10 receptions for a career-best 183 yards for Northwestern (2-1), which has won a school-record 12 straight home games. Hughes completed 16-of-26 passes for 245 yards for the Wildcats, who dropped out of the Top 25 following last week's loss at Wake Forest.

Duke (1-1) had taken a 20-17 lead with 6:45 to go on a four-yard run by Letavious Wilks.

A pair of first-quarter field goals by Sims Lenhardt and David Green's 21-yard touchdown pass to Scott Montgomery late in the second quarter staked Duke to a 13-3 halftime lead.

The Wildcats woke up after the break, taking the lead with a pair of touchdowns early in the third quarter. Autry capped Northwestern's first drive with a seven-yard TD run just four minutes into the second half. Just 3:39 later, Hughes hit Musso with a 74-yard bomb, giving the Wildcats a 17-13 lead.

The Blue Devils have lost two in a row to the Wildcats after winning the first six meetings.

The Wildcats played their home opener in the first-ever game at newly renovated Ryan Field, formerly known as Dyche Stadium.