EVANSTON, Ill. – Boston College contained Northwestern’s tag team quarterbacking and running back Venric Mark for most of Saturday’s non-conference game. But Northwestern found a spark in second-string running back Mike Trumpy (16 carries, 107 yards) and the Eagles self-destructed on a key third-quarter drive as the Wildcats took a 22-13 win.

BC (1-2) held the lead late in the opening half and never trailed by more than 6 points until Northwestern clinched the result on its final possession, Trumpy scoring the Wildcats’ only touchdown on a 27-yard run.

“We had a couple chances,” BC coach Frank Spaziani said. “You make mistakes, you can’t win games like that.”

The Eagles squandered their best chance to take command early in the third quarter. BC, trailing, 12-10, moved into scoring position on its second possession of the second half. But Rolandan Finch’s fumble at the Northwestern 4-yard line cost the Eagles a chance to regain the advantage.

Jeff Budzien converted five field goals for Northwestern, including 42-, 21-, 29-, and 41-yarders as the Wildcats took a two-point halftime lead, then a 19-yarder in the third quarter. Kain Colter started at quarterback for Northwestern, was relieved by Trevor Siemian late in the opening quarter, then returned for the entire second half.