Northwestern suffered it first loss of the season in heartbreaking fashion last Saturday when Syracuse’s Ryan Lichtenstein kicked a 41-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give the Orange a 37-34 victory.

“It was right down to the wire,” said Jared Carpenter, a safety for NU and a former standout at Bowling Green High School. “We played hard. We just couldn’t pull it out in the end. We had a little bump in the road last week, but we gotta get ready to get back on it (today) and get this win” over Minnesota.

The loss halted a bit of momentum the Wildcats had built with a 2-0 start after wins over Towson and Eastern Michigan. Now the Wildcats must regroup as they open Big Ten play against the visiting Golden Gophers at 11 a.m. today.

“Big Ten play is great,” said the redshirt freshman. “Each weekend, week in and week out, you’re gonna be playing a good, quality team. We’ll be ready to compete (today).”

Carpenter wore a redshirt in 2008 and he said the year off has been key to his play in 2009.

“It definitely helped me,” Carpenter said. “Physically, it got me more prepared to play at this level and I learned the system a little better. The first year without having any real responsibility football-wise, I could just focus on school and I did pretty well in the classroom.”

Carpenter has registered 4.5 tackles through the first three games.

“My role on the team right now is special teams, predominantly,” he said. “I’m second on the depth chart for safety, but right now on special teams I just fly around. I’m loving it. Playing Big Ten football - I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Carpenter and his teammates not only start Big Ten play this week, they also started class Tuesday. That creates a hectic week that Carpenter hopes to end on a positive note against the Golden Gophers.

“Hopefully, a win for the Cats,” he said of today’s game. “We’re gonna go in there and compete and give it our all. Minnesota has a pretty good football team, but we’re a good football team, too.”

Former city, county football players in college

Bowling Green High School

Tevin Barksdale has five carries for 27 yards and a TD at RB for the 1-2 Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks.

Ryan Beard playing defensive back for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Jared Carpenter has 4.5 tackles at safety for the 2-1 Northwestern Wildcats.

Russell Carter has 124 yards passing and a touchdown at QB for the 1-2 Campbellsville Tigers.

Avery Hibbitt playing defensive back for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Stuart Hines playing offensive guard for the 2-0 Kentucky Wildcats.

D.L. Moore has two catches for 10 yards at WR for the 3-1 South Carolina Gamecocks.

Brendan Nestor at defensive end for the 0-4 West Georgia Wolves.

Trent Steelman has 134 yards rushing, 94 yards passing and two TDs at QB for the 2-1 Army Black Knights.

Casey Tinius is 2-for-2 on FGs and 2-for-2 on extra points for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Elijah Young playing defensive line for the 0-2 Alcorn State Braves.

Ryan Wallace playing tight end for the 2-0 Kentucky Wildcats.

Greenwood High School

Tavis Ciochetty playing linebacker for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Brent Davis has 9.5 tackles at defensive back for the 2-1 Georgetown Tigers.

Preston King playing offensive line for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Dylan Kimbro playing wide receiver for the 1-2 Murray State Racers.

Logan Pemberton playing offensive line for the 0-3 Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers.

Caleb Stahl playing linebacker for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Luke Taylor playing defensive line for the 2-1 Georgetown Tigers.

Bradley Whittaker has one tackle at LB for the 2-0 St. Francis (Ind.) Cougars.

Warren Central HIgh School

Blake Ayers playing wide receiver for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Wes Jeffries playing offensive line for the 0-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Vedad Hazikadunic playing defensive line for the 1-2 Campbellsville Tigers.

Jeremy Heming playing offensive line for the 3-0 University of the Cumberlands Patriots.

Keaton May has 7.5 tackles playing linebacker for the 2-1 Morehead State Eagles.

Justin Meredith playing offensive line for the 1-1 Eastern Kentucky Colonels.

Tabarus Mitchell playing running back for the 1-2 Murray State Racers.

Warren East High School

Shenard Holton wearing a redshirt for the 1-1 Louisville Cardinals.

Rick Livingston signed to play offensive line for the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders starting in 2010.

Demetric Ray playing wide receiver for the 1-2 Campbellsville Tigers.

- If we’ve missed any former area athletes playing college football, contact Chad Bishop at 783-3241 or cbishop@bgdailynews.com.