Spartans win sixth straight, 37-20
MSU becomes bowl eligible for second straight year
Senior safety Otis Wiley, right, and sophomore linebacker Eric Gordon take down Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton in the first quarter Saturday at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill.
Tweet
Evanston, Ill. — MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi stepped up to speak after MSU’s 37-20 win Saturday, let out a short sigh, as if to remember last year’s 48 points surrendered to the Northwestern offense, and finally appreciated his team’s defensive turnaround against the Wildcats.
“It’s a lot better from last year, that’s for sure,” Narduzzi said in an ode to his team’s defensive success.
The No. 23 Spartans rode three turnovers, an opportunistic defense, superb special teams play and a balanced offense to their sixth win of the season, which makes MSU bowl eligible for the second straight season.
MSU (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) jumped out to an early 17-0 lead on the road against Northwestern and never looked back Saturday en route to its 17-point win against the formerly unbeaten Wildcats (5-1, 1-1).
The MSU defense held Northwestern’s no-huddle spread offense to 20 points despite giving up 459 yards of total offense on an incredibly high 93 total plays.
Photo: Wide receiver Blair ...
Photo: Head coach Mark ...
One season after giving up 520 passing yards against Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bachér last season at Spartan Stadium, the MSU defense kept him in check Saturday. Bachér completed 34-of-61 passes for 283 yards and one touchdown, but threw two interceptions that led to 14 MSU points. On the season, MSU holds a plus-9 turnover margin through seven games.
Senior running back Javon Ringer continued his record-setting season with 127 yards on 35 carries while eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive year. Senior quarterback Brian Hoyer played his best game this year with four mistake-free quarters. He threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-20 passing for the most balanced offensive output this season.
“It kind of started at Indiana and has carried on for us,” Hoyer said. “Whether it’s me making a pass play or Javon running the ball for a first down, it starts with the guys up front and they’ve been doing a great job.”
The Spartans committed their fewest number of mental mistakes of the season by not turning the ball over and limiting themselves to five penalties, a credit to the team’s mental makeup in its first game as a ranked team this season, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said.
“We talk about it all the time, just how we respond when things go bad and how we’re going to respond when things go well for us too,” Dantonio said. “You’re only as good as your last game and you’ve got to have tremendous focus in this conference.”
Following a 20-yard punt return in the first quarter by senior safety Otis Wiley to Northwestern’s 42-yard line, the Spartans capped off the first touchdown drive of the game with a 3-yard pass from Hoyer to redshirt freshman tight end Garrett Celek. The touchdown catch was the first of Celek’s career.
On the ensuing kickoff, MSU freshman linebacker David Rolf caused and recovered a fumble that led to a 26-yard Brett Swenson field goal.
The Spartans’ defense continued their habit of forcing turnovers by intercepting Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bachér on the next drive and turning it into six points on a 13-yard run by Ringer.
Trailing 17-0 early in a much-hyped home game for Northwestern, the Wildcats responded with a 13-play, 60-yard touchdown drive early in the second quarter that ended with a 4-yard scamper by Bachér.
After three straight punts, Northwestern was in position to bring the game back into contention, driving inside the MSU 25-yard line midway through the second quarter. But Bachér was intercepted in the endzone by freshman cornerback Johnny Adams, which turned into an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped off by 7-yard pass from Hoyer to fullback Andrew Hawken to end the half at 24-7.
To start the second half, Northwestern fought back with a touchdown drive highlighted by a 66-yard rush from running back Tyrell Sutton, closing the gap to 24-14.
Trying to continue the offensive momentum, Northwestern attempted an onside kick on the next play and recovered, but a penalty for fair catch interference gave the Spartans the ball at the Wildcats’ 32-yard line. A 21-yard connection from Hoyer to Hawken keyed a touchdown drive finished off by a 1-yard Ringer touchdown plunge with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
Following a pair of field goals by both teams in the next 13 minutes, neither team would score again, ending the game at 37-20.
Saturday’s win sets up a colossal game next weekend against Ohio State, who is also unbeaten in the Big Ten after its 16-3 victory over Purdue this week. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Spartan Stadium.
Commentary
Add your $0.02, go to the comment form or follow the comment feed
Pat
(10/11/08 8:59pm)Report
Go Spartans!
I met another Spartan alum down here in Blacksburg, VA today by random chnace.
What a great day: meet another Spartan, we beat Northwestern and become bowl eligble, and the scUM make complete asses of themselves in the big house.
Ahhhhhhhh, I’m enjoying the hard times for “little sister” down there in Whoretown.
Spartalum
(10/11/08 10:16pm)Report
I generally don’t like to post insults, but Pat’s “little sister” comment made me lol. I wonder where all of the Wolverine fans, who are often “running their mouth” with posts on the State News, went. Not that I miss them.
Wow! I sure hope we can keep it going! We have some tough games coming up.
SoCal Spartan
(10/11/08 10:51pm)Report
Today the Spartan’s showed some of their good stuff, for sure!
Hoyer- played well
Ringer- played well
Receivers- played well
Defense- played well
Here is hoping we can bring this A game plus some into the Spartan Stadium and serve up the Buckeyes. Additionally, I was very pleased we beat Northwestern, but I expected that. U of M becoming the biggest pack of sissy’s in the Big Ten in a WHILE, PRICELESS! I just wonder where we’ll be ranked after the upset glory of this weekend. Question, will U of M win another game this season? Let’s hope not! And hopefully we demolish them harder then Illinois did!
Go Green!
samsneed
(10/11/08 11:21pm)Report
This team is very unselfish and very well coached. You can tell by their demeanor on the field and on the sidelines that they will not roll over like Spartan teams of the recent past. Dantonio is Big Ten coach of year and you heard it here first…..MSU 27 OSU 21…. GO STATE!!!!!
GoSpartans
(10/11/08 11:23pm)Report
The only thing sweeter than this win is Toledo beating the Wolverines today. All in all, a highly satisfying Saturday.
SoCal Spartan
(10/12/08 11:38am)Report
All of the out of towner Spartans out there, watch this
It gives a great break down on the Spartan victory, but highlights the lil’ sisters dramatic loss and show’s their coach that hopefully turns out worse then Bobby Williams and John L. Smith, hail to the losers la la hail to the losers la la
Pat
(10/12/08 12:09pm)Report
Sorry about my spelling, I was into the beer a little last night. Anyway, in regards to little sister and her misery: It’s great to see so many Michigan Stadium records being set this year (first loss to a MAC school, # of yards by one individual – Juice, longest interception return for a touchdown- Toledo).
Regardless, we won’t really be able to enjoy this unless we beat the scUM this year. A loss to them and all is lost. In fact, now that we are going bowling, I would rather beat the scUM than win any other game this year. In fact, I’d rather lose every remaining game than lose that game. We HAVE to beat them, no excuses, for this season to be a true success.
That said – so far, so good. Great job Spartans.
3rd&one
(10/12/08 12:29pm)Report
I saw many good things in a football team yesterday, opponents QB getting smacked after an interception (Sweet), more than I saw the week before and the week before that. Well coached skilled athletes playing excellent away game football. OMG I am happy! Keep it rollin Spartans! This alum is proud.
David
(10/12/08 1:35pm)Report
Who misses all the penalties from the old days? Certainly not me. The self-discipline, on both sides of the ball, is the foundation on which all this success rests. No bonehead acts means that when the boys do drop a ball…blow a coverage…miss a tackle…there is a a margin to recover. In the old days, those normal events in a game (who plays perfect football? No one.) would get compounded by a late hit…15 yard facemask…shoving match and take points off our tally and put them on ‘theirs.’ If they keep the penalties down, and hold on to the ball…they can play with anybody. Go Green! Go White!
SoCal Spartan
(10/12/08 2:14pm)Report
Go Green!
Julius Holmes
(10/12/08 9:51pm)Report
Well…all i can say is wisconsin is choking, michigan is about dead, and ohio state and penn state are hitting their stride. NO MATTER HOW we look at it we are going to be playing some really really really tough games coming up. This Terrell Pryor kid and Beanie wells scare me! LOL We have to come to hit and Hit hard if we expect to beat THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!!
2xsparty
(10/13/08 8:22am)Report
There are several of us in Blacksburg VA… This may be home to Va Tech, but local TV still carries Sparty football.
Publius
(10/13/08 11:20am)Report
It’s great to see this team play. I’ve been a lifelong Spartan through the good and not so great.
As long as the a-team shows up for the rest of the season, we’re golden.
almhuss
(10/13/08 11:49am)Report
It’s the disciplined mindset that D’Antonio has brought to the team that impresses me most. Few penalties, and almost none of the stupid blocks in the back or personal fouls that derailed good drives under JLS. Defenders generally staying home and maintaining contain. Whatever happens next week (MSU by 3), it’s been accomplishment that we haven’t had since Sabin.
Lee
(10/13/08 2:52pm)Report
There is no apostrophe – it is spelled Dantonio. Also, it is Saban.
I agree with Pat. The Michigan game is a MUST WIN.
GO STATE!!!
Proud Alum
(10/13/08 6:53pm)Report
If there there is one thing that I think needs to NOT happen this weekend against OSU, PLEASE PLEASE fill the stands with green, don’t let the red take over the stadium this year! I agree we have no reason to start getting cocky considering the past years, we need to keep things in perspective this year and really try to win some “backloaded” big games at the end of the season! I must admit though, it is nice to see “smart play” return to MSU football! GO STATE!
PA Spartan
(10/14/08 9:55am)Report
I think we out-numbered NU fans in their own stadium! Good job Spartan Football and good job to all the Spartans that ran the Chicago Marathon last Saturday.