Northwestern
0-1 , 0-1
Michigan State
1-0 , 1-0
Wildcats Drop Season Opener to Michigan State
9/4/2021 12:02:00 AM | Football
Senior Hunter Johnson turned in a strong performance in his return to the starting quarterback role, posting career highs with 283 yards, three touchdowns, and 30 completions on 43 attempts for a 69.8% completion percentage. However, it was not enough to overcome Michigan State's potent rushing attack.
Johnson became the first Wildcat with three or more touchdown passes in the season-opener since Dan Persa in 2010, and the first 'Cat with 250+ passing yards and no interceptions in the opener in the Pat Fitzgerald era (2006-present).
Johnson connected on three passes of 25+ yards, after previously completing one such pass in his Northwestern career. One was a 41-yarder on the opening drive caught by Bryce Kirtz, who hauled in seven passes for 80 yards in his first-career start.
Stephon Robinson Jr., a graduate transfer from Kansas, caught a 47-yard bomb from Johnson for his first Northwestern reception in the first quarter, then scored on a 14-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Robinson finished with 79 yards and five catches on the day.
Fifth-year senior Trey Pugh operated as the Wildcats' red zone threat, hauling in two of Johnson's touchdown passes for the first two scores of his career. Pugh became the first Northwestern tight end with a multi-touchdown game since Garrett Dickerson in 2017, and the first Wildcat with two touchdown receptions in the season-opener since at least 2000.
Six Wildcats made their first-career starts – true first-year Anthony Tyus III, sophomores Bryce Kirtz and Josh Priebe, juniors Khalid Jones and Malik Washington and senior Peter McIntyre. Tyus III became the first true first-year running back to start the season-opener in the Pat Fitzgerald Era (2006-present).
Defensive end Samdup Miller returned to the field for the first time since 2019, collecting half a sack and half a tackle for loss.
Chris Bergin turned in his eighth-career double-digit tackle game, collecting 10 total tackles, including half a sack.
The Wildcats will look to bounce back next week as they welcome Indiana State to Ryan Field on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.
Team Stats
MSU 7, NU 0
MSU - Walker III,Kenneth 75 yd run (Coghlin,Matt kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:13
MSU 14, NU 0
MSU - Walker III,Kenneth 3 yd run (Coghlin,Matt kick), 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 04:12
MSU 21, NU 0
MSU - Simmons,Jordon 14 yd pass from Thorne,Payton (Coghlin,Matt kick) 4 plays, 66 yards, TOP 01:28
MSU 21, NU 7
NU - Pugh,Trey 1 yd pass from Johnson,Hunter (Kuhbander,Charlie kick) 15 plays, 62 yards, TOP 06:44
MSU 28, NU 7
MSU - Walker III,Kenneth 5 yd run (Coghlin,Matt kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:20
MSU 28, NU 14
NU - Pugh,Trey 5 yd pass from Johnson,Hunter (Kuhbander,Charlie kick) 16 plays, 69 yards, TOP 07:52
MSU 31, NU 14
MSU - Coghlin,Matt 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 59 yards, TOP 05:06
MSU 31, NU 21
NU - Robinson, Jr.,Stephon 14 yd pass from Johnson,Hunter (Kuhbander,Charlie kick) 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:20
MSU 38, NU 21
MSU - Walker III,Kenneth 6 yd run (Coghlin,Matt kick), 4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 00:57
