Kain Colter filled in ably for the injured Dan Persa, passing for 199 yards and rushing for 71 more to lead visiting Northwestern to a 24-17 victory over Boston College.

Mike Trumpy rushed for 85 yards and a score on 15 carries and Adonis Smith added a rushing touchdown for the Wildcats, who rolled up 213 yards on the ground.

Persa, still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last season, did not even dress, leaving the dual-threat Colter under center. The sophomore found a groove in the second quarter, passing for 50 yards and rushing for 16 on a 99-yard touchdown drive. Colter capped it with a 4-yard burst to knot it 10-10 going into the half.

Boston College lost defensive tackle Kaleb Ramsey to a foot injury in the first quarter, opening up the middle for Northwestern’s rushing attack. Trumpy’s 5-yard burst early in the third gave the Wildcats their first lead, and Smith’s 1-yard score made it 24-10 with 9:24 left in the fourth.

The Eagles made it a one-score game on Andre Williams’ second touchdown with 6:00 to play. Boston College had two more chances in the final minutes but could not find the end zone.

Williams, filling in for the injured Montel Harris, finished with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Eagles quarterback Chase Rettig completed 24-of-45 passes for 350 yards.