“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.
Saturday’s 48-41 overtime loss to Northwestern was particularly bittersweet for junior running back Javon Ringer.
On the positive side, Ringer ran for 185 yards on 12 carries — a 15.4 yard average — and three touchdowns. That total put him at more than 2,000 yards rushing in his MSU career, the 13th player to join that list. Ringer also led the team with six receptions, accounting for 54 yards.
It was Ringer’s third straight 100-yard rushing game — it was also his third straight season marred by consecutive losses after a hot start.
“My effort, I gave 100 percent, but I just wish it could have been more so we could have gotten the win,” Ringer said. “A couple people in the locker room said ‘Good game, Javon. Good game, Javon,’ but that’s nothing. I wanted to win.”
Despite his performance, Ringer didn’t get a carry in overtime as the Spartans elected to pass on all four downs.
Ringer, though, didn’t question his coaches’ play calling.
“We all have 100 percent confidence in the coaches,” Ringer said. “We hear the play and we run with it. There’s no complaining, there’s no disagreeing.”
Spread offense
With an already injury-depleted secondary, the last thing the MSU defense wanted to face was a spread offense — but that’s exactly what they got Saturday.
Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher picked apart the Spartans defense for 520 yards and five touchdowns Saturday. MSU, which came into the game ranked second in the Big Ten in sacks, registered one in the loss.
Whether it was a third-and-long play or a short screen pass, Bacher’s progress wasn’t impeded.
“We didn’t come up with the plays,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “He moved well in the pocket, he scrambled one time and I think we got him, but for the most part, he was able to step up in the pocket too many times and deliver the football.”
Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer — who threw for 194 yards and a touchdown – paid close attention to his counterpart.
Hoyer’s observations left him certain as to why Bacher was successful.
“He got the ball out quick, he really didn’t let our (defensive) line affect him,” Hoyer said. “That’s the key to the spread.”
Cha, cha, cha, changes
Dantonio made several starting lineup adjustments prior to Saturday’s game, most notably with the defense.
Senior free safety Travis Key — who usually plays strong safety — started instead of junior free safety Otis Wiley because MSU “wanted to play our two best safeties at this point,” defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said.
Freshman nose tackle Oren Wilson replaced injured senior nose tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo and freshman linebacker Greg Jones started instead of freshman linebacker Eric Gordon.
Offensively, junior right guard Roland Martin returned for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against Notre Dame.
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