After Kilbane’s strip sack and fumble recovery deep in MSU territory, Kleather nailed a 39-yard field goal to give Northwestern a 3-0 lead with 8:23 remaining in the first quarter.
The Spartans jumped ahead 7-3 on their ensuing drive, which Alessio Miliovojevic capped off with a 3-yard rushing touchdown.
With 11:04 to play in the first half, Komolafe provided the response on a 10-yard rushing touchdown to help the ’Cats retake the lead. Komolafe’s score bookended a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
Michigan State recaptured a 14-10 lead in the half’s final minute, with Miliovojevic tossing a 32-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Williams.
Northwestern possessed the ball for more than half the third quarter on an extended 14-play drive, which ultimately ended in Kleather’s second field goal conversion of the afternoon. Kleather’s 37-yard kick cut the MSU advantage to 14-13 with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter.
With 11:48 left in the game, Miliovojevic connected with Chrishon McCray for a 53-yard touchdown, extending the Spartan lead to 21-13.
Chiles led the Wildcat offense on a methodical drive to tie the game at 21-21 with 7:24 remaining. The quarterback first punched in his seventh rushing touchdown of the season before finding Alex Honig for the two-point conversion.
While Michigan State had the ball in the red zone with less than two minutes to play, Brendan Flakes blocked the Spartans’ field goal attempt, keeping the score tied.
“Before the play, I [knew] I had to make a play,” Flakes said. “I just had a feeling. It was like slow motion. It went right into my hand.”
Taking over with just 65 seconds on the clock, the NU offense drove down the field to set up Kleather’s game-winner.
