Head coach Mark Dantonio directs the Spartans during the third quarter of the game against Northwestern on Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field in Evanston Ill. With 32,527 people in attendance, the Spartans were victorious 37-20.
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.
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.
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