Michigan State University
3-2 , 1-1
Northwestern
2-3 , 1-2
Northwestern Tops Michigan State 29-19
10/6/2018 3:59:00 PM | Football
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Clayton Thorson threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns, and Northwestern recovered from another second-half slip, beating No. 20 Michigan State 29-19 on Saturday.
The Spartans (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) entered with the nation's top-ranked run defense and held Northwestern (2-3, 2-1) to 8 yards on the ground, but it didn't matter. The Wildcats moved the ball consistently well through the air, and Michigan State's offense was mostly inept except for a brief stretch in the third quarter.
Thorson threw a 21-yard scoring pass to Cameron Green with 15 seconds left in the third, and a 2-point conversion gave Northwestern a 22-19 lead.
The Wildcats missed a field goal with 6:41 to play, but Michigan State went 15 yards backward on the ensuing possession and had to punt. The Spartans held again defensively, and on the next possession, they had second-and-1 from their own 11. After two near-sacks, running back Connor Heyward was stopped on fourth down. Thorson scored on a 2-yard run to make it a 10-point game with 2:51 left.
The Spartans took advantage of a first-quarter interception and led 3-0, but Thorson connected with Kyric McGowan for a 77-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left in the period. Thorson found JJ Jefferson for a 34-yard TD in the second, and Northwestern led 14-6 at halftime.
The Wildcats blew a 21-3 halftime lead in a loss to Akron and were up 17-0 in the first half in last weekend's loss to Michigan. They also gave away the lead against Michigan State in a quick sequence during the third quarter.
Felton Davis scored for the Spartans on a 48-yard reverse, and although a 2-point conversion attempt failed, Michigan State got the ball back on an interception and took a 19-14 lead on Brian Lewerke's 3-yard touchdown pass to Davis.
UP NEXT
Northwestern: The Wildcats host Nebraska next Saturday.
Michigan State: The Spartans play at Penn State next Saturday.
Team Stats
NU 0, MSU 3
MSU - Coghlin, Matt 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 30 yards, TOP 4:32
NU 7, MSU 3
NU - McGowan, Kyric 77 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:41
NU 14, MSU 3
NU - Jefferson, JJ 34 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 2 plays, 51 yards, TOP 0:39
NU 14, MSU 6
MSU - Coghlin, Matt 25 yd field goal 10 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:19
NU 14, MSU 12
MSU - Davis, Felton 48 yd run (Lewerke, Brian passfailed), 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:21
NU 14, MSU 19
MSU - Davis, Felton 3 yd pass from Lewerke, Brian (Coghlin, Matt kick) 6 plays, 33 yards, TOP 2:31
NU 22, MSU 19
NU - Green, Cameron 21 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Vault, Solomon pass) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:53
NU 29, MSU 19
NU - Thorson, C. 2 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 3 plays, 11 yards, TOP 0:18
