Michigan State University
Northwestern (Homecoming)
Michigan State Falls in Shootout with Northwestern, 54-40
10/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Justin Jackson rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and Northwestern moved the ball almost at will after a slow start, beating Michigan State 54-40 on Saturday night.
Clayton Thorson threw for 281 yards and three TDs for the Wildcats, who rallied from an early 14-0 deficit.
Northwestern held Michigan State to 3 yards of offense in the second quarter.
The Spartans made a change at quarterback for this game, starting redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke instead of Tyler O'Connor.
The Spartans went back to O'Connor in the third quarter, and he threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, but Michigan State couldn't stop Northwestern (3-3, 2-1) with any consistency.
Solomon Vault returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter to put the Wildcats up 40-31, and the Spartans never made it closer after that.
UP NEXT
Northwestern: The Wildcats host Indiana next weekend.
Michigan State: The Spartans play at Maryland on Saturday night.
