Michigan State University
Northwestern
Spartans Open Up Big Ten Play With A Bang
9/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 28, 2002
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Charles Rogers set an NCAA record by catching a touchdown pass in his 13th straight regular-season game as Michigan State defeated Northwestern 39-24 Saturday.
The Spartans (3-2) scored 16 straight points over a span of 5:44 during the third and fourth quarters to pull away from Northwestern (2-3) in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Rogers broke the record shared by Marshall's Randy Moss, Michigan's Desmond Howard and Pacific's Aaron Turner. He set the mark midway through the second quarter on a 21-catch from Jeff Smoker, over two defenders. The touchdown gave Michigan State a 17-10 lead.
Despite the record, Rogers was overshadowed statistically by teammate Dawan Moss, who ran for a career-high 191 yards on 26 carries. His 22-yard TD in the second quarter was Michigan State's first rushing score in 13 quarters.
Rogers was held to just three catches for 53 yards, ending his school-record streak of eight 100-yard games.
Including last year's Silicon Valley Bowl, the junior has caught TD passes in 14 consecutive games, surpassing the Big Ten mark set by Howard. The NCAA does not count postseason games toward national records.
Smoker was 15-of-24 for 263 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
Northwestern's Jason Wright ran for 134 yards.
Dave Rayner made a career-high four field goals - on four attempts - including a career-long 53-yarder to put the Spartans ahead 39-17 with 5:08 left.
Northwestern's Raheem Covington intercepted two poorly thrown passes intended for Rogers on consecutive drives in the third quarter to give the Wildcats a chance.
Covington's first pick was in the end zone, after Northwestern had cut the deficit to 20-17 on Noah Herron's 6-yard run midway through the third quarter.
His second interception was at Northwestern's 23, but the Wildcats were forced to punt, and Ziehl Kavanaght's 88-yard punt return for a TD gave Michigan State a 27-17 lead with 1:24 left in the third.
Rayner's 21-yard kick and Smoker's 31-yard pass to Jason Randall put the Spartans ahead 36-17 with 10:40 to go.
Brett Basanez was 15-of-36 for 178 yards and a TD for Northwestern, while Jon Schweighardt caught six passes for 74 yards and a TD.
