The State News
Junior safety Otis Wiley chases Northwestern wide receiver Eric Peterman in the fourth quarter on Saturday. Peterman ran for a touchdown, giving the Wildcats a seven-point lead with 11:32 left in the quarter. Northwestern beat MSU, 48-41.
The State News
Animal science freshman Derek Dalman looks upon the field after Northwestern scores a touchdown. The Wildcats won in overtime, 48-41.
The State News
“One, two, three! First down …” chants business freshman, John Noonan, right, and political science freshman Kyle Warwick, left, as the whole student section celebrates a Spartan first down. There have been many critics that have claimed some student chants are inappropriate.
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Fall flashback
In a shoot-out that featured 13 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards of offense, Northwestern fired the last bullet — killing MSU 48-41 in overtime Saturday. Wildcats quarterback C.J. Bacher brought the biggest gun, throwing for a career-high 520 yards on 38-of-48 passing, and scoring five touchdowns.
The Spartans’ inability to thwart Northwestern’s aerial attack had MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi questioning his team’s fortitude — in a big way.
“I don’t know if we would have stopped East Lansing High School today,” Narduzzi said at the post-game press conference.
Northwestern scored a touchdown on its first possession, and the Spartans answered with one on the next drive. Stop. Rewind. Repeat.
The teams would trade touchdowns for the rest of the game, with the Wildcats never leading by more than seven, and the Spartans never leading, period.
“It was crazy,” junior quarterback Brian Hoyer said. “They would get a long touchdown pass, and then Javon breaks a long run. I’m just laughing on the sideline, thinking how far is this going to go on.”
Junior running back Javon Ringer had the biggest day offensively for the Spartans, rushing for 185 yards and scoring three touchdowns on a mere 12 carries. He also had six receptions for 54 yards.
“I don’t care how many yards or touchdowns I had,” Ringer said. “I would have been fine with none of this as long as we got the win.”
Northwestern stuck to its guns in overtime, and it only took Bacher three passes to get into the end zone when he connected with running back Omar Conteh for a 12-yard touchdown.
Defensively, the Spartans had their worst performance of the season.
They missed tackles left and right. They dropped four potential interceptions. They weren’t prepared mentally or physically, Narduzzi said.
Now, the Spartans have to face the fact that they are looking very similar to how they looked when they collapsed the past two seasons – a hot start with a cold finish.
“We’re going to see where we’re at now,” Hoyer said.
“We’re going to see who steps up and becomes leaders on this team, and doesn’t allow the falter that happened the past couple of years.”
Published on Sunday, October 7, 2007
Comments
Jason
10/08/07 @ 9:23am
Anyone else confused as to why we ran for about 300 yards on Saturday, but refused to run the ball even once in overtime? Arrogance or stupidity? Unbelieveable…today is going to be a tough day.
Steve
10/08/07 @ 9:48am
“We’re going to see where we’re at now,” Hoyer said.
I heard that last week, several times the year before and even more the year before that. When we will finally know where we’re at!!!!
I am trying not to get emotional. Dantonia is making emotional. I felt like I was at the Notre Dame game last year yelling “run the ball, run the ball”. Are John L and Dantonio the same people? When one averages 15 yards per carry, why don’t you use them more than 12 times a game.
SeenitallB4
10/08/07 @ 11:12am
Stern talk does not a coach make. Narduzzi’s defense embarrassed themselves, their coach and their school. The Wildcats couldn’t help but win this game with vintage Bobby & John L. play-calling. Another 5-win season may be out of reach for these “same-old-Spartans.
Ford
10/08/07 @ 11:21am
I think Bacher’s career day was also a Northwestern record. Which is mind blowing, because he’s nowhere as good as the previous QB was.
JR
10/08/07 @ 12:23pm
Well, not to get off topic, but I couldn’t watch the game since Comcast is so stubborn and would only be willing to have the Big Ten Network in the Sports and Entertainment package. I have to pay for soap opera channels, HGTV, Home shopping crap, but can’t get the Spartans on TV. Comcast needs a slap in the face by the FCC because they’re not looking out for consumers and are in violation of a state approved monopoly.
Now for the game, yeah it’s disappointing to say the least. The Spartans better get back on track with Indiana though. Otherwise everyone will just see this season as a repeat of the past few. Hot at first, and then freeze out. Come on guys, we played non-conference teams for the first few games, we should have beaten them. Now it’s time to see what you’re made of.
Sparticus
10/08/07 @ 4:27pm
Give Dantonio a chance. Wait awhile before we start another “fire him” website. Yeah the dfense stunk. So do most of you!
dogbreath
10/08/07 @ 4:31pm
Ok so we lost football game, we have a great hockey team. Use them to teach dfense to football players. Set up the hockey rink at the football stadium again. IF they can cover on the ice they can cover anywhere.
hermann
10/09/07 @ 8:10am
Sparticus:
The website already exists. Grow up! Nice comeback in your last line – THAT’S why we should tolerate poor performance.