Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, October 28
Evanston, Ill.
2:30 p.m.
Northwestern
39
vs
31
Michigan State
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/ FootballWildcats Down #16 Michigan State in Triple Overtime Instant Classic
10/28/2017 5:31:00 PM | Football
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Northwestern pulls out victory in overtime for second straight week
EVANSTON, Ill. -- One week after grinding out a victory over Iowa at Ryan Field in a smash-mouthed overtime brawl, Northwestern (5-3, 3-2 in the Big Ten) was apart of another instant Big Ten classic on Saturday. Playing in their second consecutive overtime game, the Wildcats came away with 39-31 victory over No. 16 Michigan State (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) in a triple-overtime thriller.
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Scoring came at a premium throughout much of regulation, but ramped up once overtime started. The Wildcats scored a touchdown on all three of their overtime possessions and the defense stepped up in a big way to seal the game in the third overtime period with an interception by linebacker Nate Hall, the first of his career.
Junior quarterback Clayton Thorson finished with a career-high 33 completions for 356 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in overtime. His leading target was junior Flynn Nagel, who finished with a career-high eight receptions for 87 yards along with the game-winning touchdown.
Meanwhile, senior running back Justin Jackson tied Damien Anderson at the top of the Northwestern record book with 38 career touchdowns. Jackson scored the record-tying touchdown on a three-yard rush in the second overtime. The senior captain finished the game with 104 all-purpose yards along with two total touchdowns and also became the fifth running back in Big Ten history to reach 1,000 career rushing attempts.
On the defensive side of the ball, first-year Paddy Fisher recorded the second double-digit tackle performance of his career as he finished with 17 total tackles, including a new career-high 14 solo tackles, along with two forced fumbles.
Michigan State got on the scoreboard to start the game as the result of a six-yard connection from Brian Lewerke to Cody White to put the Spartans up 7-0 early.
The Spartans were driving again on their second drive of the game before Fisher forced back-to-back fumbles, the second of which was recovered by Brett Walsh on the Northwestern seven-yard line. Fisher now has three forced fumbles in 2017, which moves him tied for second most in a single-season in Northwestern history, trailing only Anthony Walker in 2016 with four.
Facing an important third-and-nine on the first play of the second quarter, the Northwestern defense came up with a huge stop thanks to a sack from sophomore Joe Gaziano. The sack marked the six of season (a team high) and fourth in five games of Big Ten play for Gaziano.
Michigan State extended its lead to 10-0 with a 46-yard field goal; however, the #B1GCats answered with a 13 play, 81-yard drive on the ensuing possession. Thorson put the finishing touches on the drive with a one-yard touchdown to narrow the Wildcats' deficit to 10-7. The touchdown was set up by a 10-yard reception by Jackson earlier in the drive on third-and-10 thanks to some incredible open field moves by Jackson after the catch. Four plays later, Thorson found senior Garrett Dickerson for a 21-yard completion to move the 'Cats into the red zone. Thorson's rushing touchdown marked his fifth of the season, tying his output from 2015 and 2016. It also moved him into sole possession of fourth place in program history with 15 career rushing touchdowns, passing Mike Greenfield.
After the defense came up with a stop, Northwestern's offense took over with 1:49 remaining in the first half on their own 26-yard line. Led by Thorson, the 'Cats marched 56 yards in 11 plays, finishing the drive off with a 35-yard field goal from first-year Charlie Kuhbander to tie the score 10-10 heading into halftime.
Thorson finished the first half completing 20-of-28 passes for 196 yards, finding four different receivers for completions. His leading receiver was Jackson, who totaled six receptions for 47 yards. Meanwhile, Fisher led all players with seven total tackles in the half.
Both defenses exchanged a pair of stops to start the second half, keeping the score at 10-10 heading into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Cameron Green helped spark the offense early in the fourth quarter with a career long 25-yard reception to move the 'Cats into Spartan territory. Four plays later, the Northwestern offense tricked everyone, including the Spartan secondary, when Justin Jackson attempted his first career pass that was caught by sophomore Bennett Skowronek for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give Northwestern a 17-10 lead with 10:49 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State tied the game with a 13-yard pass from Lewerke to Felton Davis to send the game into overtime.
On the first possession, the #B1GCats wasted no time finding the end zone as Thorson connected with Green for a 14-yard touchdown pass on the second play of scrimmage in overtime. However, Michigan State answered with a touchdown of its own as Lewerke found Davis for a six-yard score to send the game into a second overtime.
The Spartans took a 31-24 lead when Lewerke connected with Cody White for an 11-yard touchdown to start off the second overtime period. But the Wildcats answered on the ensuing drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Jackson to tie the score 31-31.
Facing a third-and-seven in the third overtime period, Thorson found Nagel for a 22-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats the lead. He then connected with Green on the ensuing two point conversion to make the score 39-31 and put the game in the defense's hands.
Two plays into the next possession, on second-and-10 from the Northwestern 25-yard line, Gaziano got pressure around the edge and stripped the ball loose from Lewerke. Lewerke managed to recover the fumble and threw the ball downfield into the hands of Hall to seal the game with an interception.
Saturday's win marks the third consecutive victory for Northwestern, with the last two coming in overtime. The last time Northwestern played in back-to-back overtime games was in 2007, when the Wildcats defeated Michigan State 48-41 on Oct. 6 before defeating Minnesota 49-48 on Oct. 13.
Chicago's Big Ten team will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska. The Wildcats will return to Ryan Field in two weeks when they play host to Purdue Nov. 11. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
BUY TICKETS TO NORTHWESTERN'S NEXT TWO HOME GAMES AGAINST PURDUE AND MINNESOTA!
Scoring came at a premium throughout much of regulation, but ramped up once overtime started. The Wildcats scored a touchdown on all three of their overtime possessions and the defense stepped up in a big way to seal the game in the third overtime period with an interception by linebacker Nate Hall, the first of his career.
Junior quarterback Clayton Thorson finished with a career-high 33 completions for 356 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in overtime. His leading target was junior Flynn Nagel, who finished with a career-high eight receptions for 87 yards along with the game-winning touchdown.
Meanwhile, senior running back Justin Jackson tied Damien Anderson at the top of the Northwestern record book with 38 career touchdowns. Jackson scored the record-tying touchdown on a three-yard rush in the second overtime. The senior captain finished the game with 104 all-purpose yards along with two total touchdowns and also became the fifth running back in Big Ten history to reach 1,000 career rushing attempts.
On the defensive side of the ball, first-year Paddy Fisher recorded the second double-digit tackle performance of his career as he finished with 17 total tackles, including a new career-high 14 solo tackles, along with two forced fumbles.
Michigan State got on the scoreboard to start the game as the result of a six-yard connection from Brian Lewerke to Cody White to put the Spartans up 7-0 early.
The Spartans were driving again on their second drive of the game before Fisher forced back-to-back fumbles, the second of which was recovered by Brett Walsh on the Northwestern seven-yard line. Fisher now has three forced fumbles in 2017, which moves him tied for second most in a single-season in Northwestern history, trailing only Anthony Walker in 2016 with four.
Facing an important third-and-nine on the first play of the second quarter, the Northwestern defense came up with a huge stop thanks to a sack from sophomore Joe Gaziano. The sack marked the six of season (a team high) and fourth in five games of Big Ten play for Gaziano.
Michigan State extended its lead to 10-0 with a 46-yard field goal; however, the #B1GCats answered with a 13 play, 81-yard drive on the ensuing possession. Thorson put the finishing touches on the drive with a one-yard touchdown to narrow the Wildcats' deficit to 10-7. The touchdown was set up by a 10-yard reception by Jackson earlier in the drive on third-and-10 thanks to some incredible open field moves by Jackson after the catch. Four plays later, Thorson found senior Garrett Dickerson for a 21-yard completion to move the 'Cats into the red zone. Thorson's rushing touchdown marked his fifth of the season, tying his output from 2015 and 2016. It also moved him into sole possession of fourth place in program history with 15 career rushing touchdowns, passing Mike Greenfield.
After the defense came up with a stop, Northwestern's offense took over with 1:49 remaining in the first half on their own 26-yard line. Led by Thorson, the 'Cats marched 56 yards in 11 plays, finishing the drive off with a 35-yard field goal from first-year Charlie Kuhbander to tie the score 10-10 heading into halftime.
Thorson finished the first half completing 20-of-28 passes for 196 yards, finding four different receivers for completions. His leading receiver was Jackson, who totaled six receptions for 47 yards. Meanwhile, Fisher led all players with seven total tackles in the half.
Both defenses exchanged a pair of stops to start the second half, keeping the score at 10-10 heading into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Cameron Green helped spark the offense early in the fourth quarter with a career long 25-yard reception to move the 'Cats into Spartan territory. Four plays later, the Northwestern offense tricked everyone, including the Spartan secondary, when Justin Jackson attempted his first career pass that was caught by sophomore Bennett Skowronek for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give Northwestern a 17-10 lead with 10:49 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State tied the game with a 13-yard pass from Lewerke to Felton Davis to send the game into overtime.
On the first possession, the #B1GCats wasted no time finding the end zone as Thorson connected with Green for a 14-yard touchdown pass on the second play of scrimmage in overtime. However, Michigan State answered with a touchdown of its own as Lewerke found Davis for a six-yard score to send the game into a second overtime.
The Spartans took a 31-24 lead when Lewerke connected with Cody White for an 11-yard touchdown to start off the second overtime period. But the Wildcats answered on the ensuing drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Jackson to tie the score 31-31.
Facing a third-and-seven in the third overtime period, Thorson found Nagel for a 22-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats the lead. He then connected with Green on the ensuing two point conversion to make the score 39-31 and put the game in the defense's hands.
Two plays into the next possession, on second-and-10 from the Northwestern 25-yard line, Gaziano got pressure around the edge and stripped the ball loose from Lewerke. Lewerke managed to recover the fumble and threw the ball downfield into the hands of Hall to seal the game with an interception.
Saturday's win marks the third consecutive victory for Northwestern, with the last two coming in overtime. The last time Northwestern played in back-to-back overtime games was in 2007, when the Wildcats defeated Michigan State 48-41 on Oct. 6 before defeating Minnesota 49-48 on Oct. 13.
Chicago's Big Ten team will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska. The Wildcats will return to Ryan Field in two weeks when they play host to Purdue Nov. 11. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
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