Michigan State-Northwestern Post-Game Notes
9/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 29, 2001
Recap?|? Final Stats
MICHIGAN STATE vs. NORTHWESTERN
Ryan Field
September 29, 2001
A WILD FINISH - It was a wild finish to the Northwestern-Michigan State game.
Sophomore split end Charles Rogers returned a punt 64 yards to give MSU a 20-17 lead with 4:42 to play. The last time MSU returned a punt for a touchdown was a 64-yard return by Gari Scott vs. Penn State on Nov. 20, 1999.
Northwestern then drove 70 yards in 15 plays to pull in front 24-20 on a touchdown pass by Zak Kustok to Kunle Patrick.
On the ensuring kickoff, senior flanker Herb Haygood returned the kickoff 84 yards as MSU pulled ahead 26-24. However, Northwestern blocked the extra point. The last time MSU returned a kickoff for a touchdown was by Derrick Mason, a 100-yard return vs. LSU in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 29, 1995.
Northwestern's David Wasielewski kicked a 47-yard field goal to win the game at the buzzer as the Wildcats went 57 yards in three plays in just 14 seconds.
SERIES - Northwestern has now won two straight games and four of the last six. However, MSU still leads all-time series, 30-14.
OPENING DRIVES - Michigan State has scored on its opening drive the past two games. At Northwestern, junior tailback T.J. Duckett scored on a one-yard run as MSU took an early 7-0. The Spartans marched 44 yards in five plays and used 1:31 off the clock.
Last Saturday at Notre Dame, MSU scored on its opening possession - a 29-yard David Schaefer field goal. MSU's opening scoring drive was a 14-play, 68-yard drive which consumed 5:19.
DUCKETT'S DAY - Tailback T.J. Duckett finished the day with 22 carries for 104 yards. It was Duckett's ninth 100-yard rushing game of his career and his second this season.
The Kalamazoo, Mich., native also moved into 10th place on MSU's all-time rushing chart. Duckett, who now has 2,254 career rushing yards, surpassed Rich Baes (2,234, 1973-76), who previously held down 10th place. Duckett needs just 34 more yards to surpass Levi Jackson (1973-76), who closed his career with 2,287 yards.
Duckett's first rushing touchdown, the 19th of his career, moved him into a tie for 14th place on MSU's all-time rushing touchdowns chart. Duckett is tied with Scott Greene (1992-95), Hyland Hickson (1988-90) and Sonny Grandelius (1948-50). Lorenzo White (1984-87) is MSU's all-time leader with 43 rushing touchdowns.
THE STREAK CONTINUES - Senior tight end Chris Baker continued his two streaks at Northwestern. Baker has started 38 consecutive games - the longest such streak on the team. In addition, Baker has caught a pass in 15 straight games, dating back to the 2000 Citrus Bowl.
Baker finished the game with five catches for a career-high 99 yards. His previous best was eight catches for 93 yards in the 2000 season opener against Marshall.
SPREADING THE WEALTH - A total of nine different receivers caught passes from the Spartan quarterbacks today. It marked the third straight game in which at least seven different receivers caught passes. In the season opener vs. Central Michigan, nine different receivers caught passes while last week at Notre Dame, seven different players caught passes.
DOWDELL MAKES KEY PLAY - Freshman quarterback Damon Dowdell saw his first action of his career late in the second quarter. On a 4-and-2 from the Northwestern 20, Dowdell kept the option and rushed 13 yards to the NU7 for the first down. After a personal foul on Northwestern on the previous play, Dowdell kept the ball and ran 3 yards for his first career touchdown.
MORE FIRSTS - Freshman defensive end Eric Knott saw his first action of the season early in the third quarter.
Senior cornerback DeMario Suggs picked off his first pass of the season and second of his career in the first quarter.
Sophomore kicker Michael Servis saw his first action of the season.
SPARTAN QUICK HITS - MSU is 6-4-1 in Big Ten openers since 1991. The Spartans, who enter their 49th season of Big Ten play, now have an all-time mark of 25-20-4 in Big Ten openers.
The Spartan offense had six opportunities inside the Northwestern 30-yard line. MSU scored two touchdowns, but missed three field goals and threw one interception.
