MSU rallies to 8-0 with win over Northwestern

This may have been one of the scariest Michigan State games all season.

Grey hairs appeared on the heads of many Spartan fans today, but in the end their team make the right plays at the right time. They traveled outside of Michigan for the first time this season and will return home unblemished, beating Northwestern 35-27.

Northwestern was quite pesky early on, scoring 17 unanswered points. The weather didn’t help either team, but the Wildcats did not looked phased. Quarterback Dan Persa ran in for a touchdown halfway through the first quarter, then the offense would get Stefan Demos in range for a field goal to put Northwestern up 10.

The Wildcats weren’t done there, either.

Northwestern held on defense again and they marched all the way down the field again for another short touchdown from Persa. But MSU wasn’t giving in, quarterback Kirk Cousins going all the way to Northwestern’s half of the field to hit Mark Dell in the end zone for a seven yard touchdown.

Did I mention Michigan State kicker Dan Conroy’s first missed field goal of the year? The wind was blowing toward them, throwing the ball in all manner of weird ways.

The second half would prove to be more kind to the Spartans. Forcing a Northwestern three and out, Michigan State scored a rushing touchdown on their opening drive in the third quarter, then immediately forced another Northwestern three and out.

But the Wildcats weren’t done yet. Marching down the field on a couple of completions by Persa, he once again picked up the slack of his receivers and running backs, sliding in for a six-yard touchdown to put Northwestern up 10 once more. Their backs against the wall for the second time all afternoon, the Spartans brought it all full circle in the fourth quarter.

Cousins would find Mark Dell in the end zone again for a 15 yard touchdown. Northwestern was only able to respond with a field goal, and Michigan State made them pay. Heading down field, Cousins would hit junior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham who tipped the ball in his own hands over a defender then caught it before it hit the ground for a nine yard touchdown. The Spartans were ahead for the first time all afternoon.

Michigan State’s defense held again, and the ground game finally got something going. Sophomore running back Edwin Baker rushed 25 yards for a touchdown with less than 90 seconds remaining. The extra point would put Michigan State ahead for good. To seal the win, senior linebacker Eric Gordon intercepted Persa on their last offensive play and MSU took a knee with 0:44 left.

Kirk Cousins was the undisputed man of the hour for Michigan State, completed 29-43 passes for 329 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Wide receivers Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham would combine for 220 yards, 17 catches and three touchdowns. Edwin Baker led the Spartans’ running game with 10 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Dan Persa carried the ball himself 22 times, rushing for 46 yards. He would finish 18-29 for 187 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Wide receivers Sidney Stewart and Rashad Lawrence would combine for 10 receptions, 149 yards and no touchdowns.

With this win, Michigan State inches ever closer to a Big Ten Championship, remaining the only unbeaten team in the conference. Wisconsin beat Iowa in Iowa City right after Michigan State’s win (another victim of Sparty), and the Spartans remain in control of their own destiny. The Hawkeyes and Spartans will kick off at 3:30pm next Saturday, and with a win MSU could put themselves in excellent position to win the conference title outright and secure a BCS bowl game.

Good luck stopping the Green Machine.