MSU too much for Cats in first Big Ten Game

Northwestern Wildcats (1981 - Pres)

EVANSTON—Michigan State was determined to get back on track following a stunning loss last week.Brian Lewerke had three touchdown passes, Elijah Collins added a rushing TD and the Spartans bounced back with a 31-10 victory over Northwestern on Saturday.Lewerke completed 18 of 31 passes for 228 yards, Collins had 76 yards rushing on 17 carries and tight end Matt Seybert had two TD receptions as Michigan State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak against the Wildcats (1-2, 0-1).
”I was very impressed with our workman-like attitude today,” coach Mark Dantonio said. ”If something negative happened, we just lined up and played.”

Michigan State lost 10-7 to Arizona State last week after an apparent game-tying field goal was negated by penalty.

”We talked about last week, refocusing and getting back down to business, and that’s what we did,” said linebacker Joe Bachie, who had 13 solo tackles and an interception.

The win was the 110th for Dantonio at Michigan State, which makes him the winningest coach in program history. Dantonio, who had been tied with Duffy Daugherty, is 110-52 in 13 seasons.

”I think those are things you sit back at a later date and say, `OK, did this, did that,”’ Dantonio said. ”It’s not an individual thing. There’s just so many people working toward it.”

Northwestern had its eight-game winning streak in Big Ten regular-season games snapped. The Wildcats had won 15 of 16 regular-season conference games.Quarterback Hunter Johnson completed 15 of 26 passes for 88 yards with an interception before being pulled in the fourth quarter.Running back Drake Anderson had 86 yards rushing on 16 carries with a touchdown.