First, congratulations to Mark Dantonio on his 110th career win, passing Duffy Daughtery as Michigan State’s most successful coach. He was not soaked with Gatorade in celebration, however, the victory being a dry one.
The word ‘winningest’ will not be used to describe Dantonio’s record because it is not a word. The lesson here? You do not soak Michigan State’s coach or Microsoft Word spellcheck, for that matter.
In stark contrast to their previous, scoreless slog of a first half against Arizona (3-1), the Spartans (3-1) decided that this was Sparta after all. Elijah Collins, squirming like the toad of the Doors song, erupted from Northwestern’s line to score a 5-yard touchdown for Michigan State at 11:42.
Cody White fumbled at 9:51. Wildcat Travis Whillock recovered the ball. The initiative passed to Northwestern (1-2). A series of rushes by the Wildcat trio of Drake Anderson, Hunter Johnson, and Isaiah Bowser managed to whittle Spartan territory down to the 1-yd line. But Northwestern could not punch through the Spartans, even losing two yards.
The first half ended with Michigan State leading, 7-0.
Wildcat Charlie Kuhbander kicked a 39-yd field at 14:13 during the second half, bringing the score to 7-3.
Both teams ground gears against each other for nearly 13 scoreless minutes. Then a pass by Hunter was intercepted by Spartan Josiah Scott at 1:39. Wildcat Joe Gaziano sacked Spartan Brian Lewerke at 0:45 for a 6-yd loss by the Spartans—one of two quarterback sacks during the game. With 0:24 on the clock Lewerke threw a pass to Cody White for an 11-yd touchdown, ending the score at 14-3, Spartans leading.
Spartan Matt Seybert scored an 8-yd touchdown off a Lewerke pass at 4:41 in the third quarter, putting the score at 21-3, Spartans ahead.
Third quarter opened with Matt Coghlin apparently laboring under the 0-3 curse cast by the Sun Devils. The Spartan kicker missed a 40-yd field goal at 9:20. Coghlin later kicked a 26-yd field goal at 0:03, however, ending his losing streak at 0-4.
Is the curse lifted? Let’s hope.
With the Spartans now ahead 24-3, the pressure was very much on Northwestern during the fourth quarter. Lewerke then threw a pass to Seybert for a Spartan touchdown at 12:34, likely sealing the Wildcats’ fate. Northwestern would not claw its way back from the brink like Arizona had earlier.
Wildcat Anderson scored a touchdown at 2:41, bringing the score to 31-10, Spartans winning.
While the Spartans continue to have a middling-to-decent offense, their defense remains a waking nightmare for opposing teams.
Michigan State plays Indiana next on 9/28.