Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, October 6
East Lansing, Mich.
11 a.m.
Northwestern
2-3 , 1-2
29
at
19
Michigan State
3-2 , 1-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northwestern
7
7
8
7
29
Michigan State
3
3
13
0
19
Photo by: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Thorson Leads 'Cats to Road Win at No. 20 Michigan State, 29-19
10/6/2018 2:52:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson threw for three touchdowns and rushed for one more to lead Northwestern (2-3, 2-1 Big Ten) to its third straight win over No. 20 Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The victory marked the first win over a ranked opponent since the Wildcats defeated then No. 16 Michigan State on Oct. 28 of last season. The victory also gave Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald his 50th career Big Ten victory as the 'Cats improved to 2-0 on the road in 2018.
Thorson threw a career-long 77-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, surpassing his previous career best of 66 yards against Ball State on Sept. 26, 2015. He finished the day 31-for-47 for 373 yards with three touchdown passes, marking the ninth time in his career and the second time this season that Thorson has thrown for three touchdown passes in a single game. His 373 yards on the day also mark the second time during the 2018 campaign that Thorson has thrown for over 300 yards as he threw for 383 yards versus Akron on Sept. 15.
The 'Cats saw three different receivers score a touchdown in the game. Senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel has now caught a pass in 23 consecutive games as he led the team with 10 receptions for 111 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Kyric McGowan made a career-long 77-yard touchdown reception – the first of his career. First year wide receiver JJ Jefferson also hauled in his first career touchdown reception at the start of the second quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior safety Jared McGee picked up his first interception of the season and the fourth of his career. Sophomore linebackers Chris Bergin and Blake Gallagher combined for 19 tackles on the day. Bergin tied his career high with eight tackles, including three solo and Gallagher led the team with 11 tackles and seven solo. Junior defensive lineman Trent Goens led the team and tied his career high with two tackles for loss, marking the third time in his career he has finished with two TFL's in a game.
Michigan State opened the scoring when an interception by Khari Willis gave the Spartans the ball at the NU 49-yard line. Matt Coghlin completed a nine-play, 30-yard scoring drive with a 27-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the first quarter to put Michigan State up, 3-0.
Northwestern responded on the following drive when Thorson completed a 77-yard touchdown pass to McGowan with 18 seconds left to play in the first to give the 'Cats a 7-3 lead on their longest play from scrimmage this season.
On NU's following possession, Thorson kept the momentum going when, after a seven-yard pass to Nagel, he completed a 34-yard touchdown to Jefferson at 13:58 in the second quarter, pulling Northwestern ahead, 14-3.
Michigan State pulled within eight when Coghlin converted a 25-yard field goal to cap off a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive with 2:50 to play in the half.
The Spartans cut Northwestern's lead to two when Felton Davis rushed for a 48-yard touchdown at 7:18 in the third quarter, completing a four-play, 80-yard scoring drive for Michigan State. After a failed two-point conversion, the score stood at 14-12.
An interception by Michigan State's Mike Panasiuk gave the Spartans the ball on the Wildcats' 33-yard line. After a series of completions, Brian Lewerke threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 4:08 left in the third quarter, making it 19-14 in favor of MSU.
Northwestern retook the lead when a combined series of passes to junior superback Cameron Green, sophomore wide receiver Riley Lees and an 18-yard completion to Nagel set the 'Cats up on the Michigan State 21-yard line. On the following play, Thorson threw his third touchdown pass of the day with a 21-yard throw to Green who scored his third TD of 2018 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. The Wildcats went for the two-point conversion and successfully converted when Thorson completed a pass to Solomon Vault, giving Northwestern a 22-19 lead.
With just over three minutes left in the game, the Northwestern defense made a big stop when the Spartans went for it on fourth-down-and-one. Sophomore defensive back JR Pace and senior cornerback Montre Hartage combined for the tackle, forcing Michigan State to turn the ball over on downs at the Spartans' 11-yard line. After a four-yard rush by Vault, Thorson rushed for a two-yard touchdown with 2:51 left to play, giving the Wildcats a 10-point advantage that they would hold for the remainder of the game.
Chicago's Big Ten Team returns to action when it hosts Nebraska for Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kick is set for 11 a.m. CT at Ryan Field.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
The victory marked the first win over a ranked opponent since the Wildcats defeated then No. 16 Michigan State on Oct. 28 of last season. The victory also gave Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald his 50th career Big Ten victory as the 'Cats improved to 2-0 on the road in 2018.
Thorson threw a career-long 77-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, surpassing his previous career best of 66 yards against Ball State on Sept. 26, 2015. He finished the day 31-for-47 for 373 yards with three touchdown passes, marking the ninth time in his career and the second time this season that Thorson has thrown for three touchdown passes in a single game. His 373 yards on the day also mark the second time during the 2018 campaign that Thorson has thrown for over 300 yards as he threw for 383 yards versus Akron on Sept. 15.
The 'Cats saw three different receivers score a touchdown in the game. Senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel has now caught a pass in 23 consecutive games as he led the team with 10 receptions for 111 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Kyric McGowan made a career-long 77-yard touchdown reception – the first of his career. First year wide receiver JJ Jefferson also hauled in his first career touchdown reception at the start of the second quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior safety Jared McGee picked up his first interception of the season and the fourth of his career. Sophomore linebackers Chris Bergin and Blake Gallagher combined for 19 tackles on the day. Bergin tied his career high with eight tackles, including three solo and Gallagher led the team with 11 tackles and seven solo. Junior defensive lineman Trent Goens led the team and tied his career high with two tackles for loss, marking the third time in his career he has finished with two TFL's in a game.
Michigan State opened the scoring when an interception by Khari Willis gave the Spartans the ball at the NU 49-yard line. Matt Coghlin completed a nine-play, 30-yard scoring drive with a 27-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the first quarter to put Michigan State up, 3-0.
Northwestern responded on the following drive when Thorson completed a 77-yard touchdown pass to McGowan with 18 seconds left to play in the first to give the 'Cats a 7-3 lead on their longest play from scrimmage this season.
On NU's following possession, Thorson kept the momentum going when, after a seven-yard pass to Nagel, he completed a 34-yard touchdown to Jefferson at 13:58 in the second quarter, pulling Northwestern ahead, 14-3.
Michigan State pulled within eight when Coghlin converted a 25-yard field goal to cap off a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive with 2:50 to play in the half.
The Spartans cut Northwestern's lead to two when Felton Davis rushed for a 48-yard touchdown at 7:18 in the third quarter, completing a four-play, 80-yard scoring drive for Michigan State. After a failed two-point conversion, the score stood at 14-12.
An interception by Michigan State's Mike Panasiuk gave the Spartans the ball on the Wildcats' 33-yard line. After a series of completions, Brian Lewerke threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 4:08 left in the third quarter, making it 19-14 in favor of MSU.
Northwestern retook the lead when a combined series of passes to junior superback Cameron Green, sophomore wide receiver Riley Lees and an 18-yard completion to Nagel set the 'Cats up on the Michigan State 21-yard line. On the following play, Thorson threw his third touchdown pass of the day with a 21-yard throw to Green who scored his third TD of 2018 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. The Wildcats went for the two-point conversion and successfully converted when Thorson completed a pass to Solomon Vault, giving Northwestern a 22-19 lead.
With just over three minutes left in the game, the Northwestern defense made a big stop when the Spartans went for it on fourth-down-and-one. Sophomore defensive back JR Pace and senior cornerback Montre Hartage combined for the tackle, forcing Michigan State to turn the ball over on downs at the Spartans' 11-yard line. After a four-yard rush by Vault, Thorson rushed for a two-yard touchdown with 2:51 left to play, giving the Wildcats a 10-point advantage that they would hold for the remainder of the game.
Chicago's Big Ten Team returns to action when it hosts Nebraska for Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kick is set for 11 a.m. CT at Ryan Field.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Team Stats
NU
MSU
Total Yards
381
425
Pass Yards
373
329
Rushing Yards
8
96
Penalty Yards
35
49
1st Downs
19
22
3rd Downs
5
4
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
26:19
33:41
1st Quarter
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
2nd Quarter
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
3rd Quarter
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
4th Quarter
NU 29, MSU 19
NU - Thorson, C. 2 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 3 plays, 11 yards, TOP 0:18
Game Leaders
CMP
31
TD
3
YDS
373
INT
2
Players Mentioned
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LB
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SB
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CB
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WR
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WR
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QB
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