Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1038527
18 > > > Northwestern Digital Program THE OFFICIAL RECAP EAST LANSING, Mich. – Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson threw for three touchdowns and rushed for one more to lead Northwestern (2-3, 2-1 Big Ten) to its third straight win over No. 20 Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The victory marked the first win over a ranked opponent since the Wildcats defeated then No. 16 Michigan State on Oct. 28 of last season. The victory also gave Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald his 50th career Big Ten victory as the 'Cats improved to 2-0 on the road in 2018. Thorson threw a career-long 77-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, surpassing his previous career best of 66 yards against Ball State on Sept. 26, 2015. He finished the day 31-for-47 for 373 yards with three touchdown passes, marking the ninth time in his career and the second time this season that Thorson has thrown for three touchdown passes in a single game. His 373 yards on the day also mark the second time during the 2018 campaign that Thorson has thrown for over 300 yards as he threw for 383 yards versus Akron on Sept. 15. The 'Cats saw three different receivers score a touchdown in the game. Senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel has now caught a pass in 23 consecutive games as he led the team with 10 receptions for 111 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Kyric McGowan made a career-long 77-yard touchdown reception – the first of his career. First year wide receiver JJ Jefferson also hauled in his first career touchdown reception at the start of the second quarter. On the defensive side of the ball, senior safety Jared McGee picked up his first interception of the season and the fourth of his career. Sophomore linebackers Chris Bergin and Blake Gallagher combined for 19 tackles on the day. Bergin tied his career high with eight tackles, including three solo and Gallagher led the team with 11 tackles and seven solo. Junior defensive lineman Trent Goens led the team and tied his career high with two tackles for loss, marking the third time in his career he has finished with two TFL's in a game. Michigan State opened the scoring when an interception by Khari Willis gave the Spartans the ball at the NU 49-yard line. Matt Coghlin completed a nine- play, 30-yard scoring drive with a 27-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the first quarter to put Michigan State up, 3-0.