Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1038527
Game 6 vs. Nebraska < < < 19 NU 29, No. 20 MSU 19 Northwestern responded on the following drive when Thorson completed a 77-yard touchdown pass to McGowan with 18 seconds left to play in the first to give the 'Cats a 7-3 lead on their longest play from scrimmage this season. On NU's following possession, Thorson kept the momentum going when, after a seven-yard pass to Nagel, he completed a 34-yard touchdown to Jefferson at 13:58 in the second quarter, pulling Northwestern ahead, 14-3. Michigan State pulled within eight when Coghlin converted a 25-yard field goal to cap off a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive with 2:50 to play in the half. The Spartans cut Northwestern's lead to two when Felton Davis rushed for a 48-yard touchdown at 7:18 in the third quarter, completing a four-play, 80-yard scoring drive for Michigan State. After a failed two-point conversion, the score stood at 14-12. An interception by Michigan State's Mike Panasiuk gave the Spartans the ball on the Wildcats' 33-yard line. After a series of completions, Brian Lewerke threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Davis with 4:08 left in the third quarter, making it 19-14 in favor of MSU. Northwestern retook the lead when a combined series of passes to junior superback Cameron Green, sophomore wide receiver Riley Lees and an 18- yard completion to Nagel set the 'Cats up on the Michigan State 21-yard line. On the following play, Thorson threw his third touchdown pass of the day with a 21-yard throw to Green who scored his third TD of 2018 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. The Wildcats went for the two-point conversion and successfully converted when Thorson completed a pass to Solomon Vault, giving Northwestern a 22-19 lead. With just over three minutes left in the game, the Northwestern defense made a big stop when the Spartans went for it on fourth-down-and-one. Sophomore defensive back JR Pace and senior cornerback Montre Hartage combined for the tackle, forcing Michigan State to turn the ball over on downs at the Spartans' 11-yard line. After a four-yard rush by Vault, Thorson rushed for a two-yard touchdown with 2:51 left to play, giving the Wildcats a 10-point advantage that they would hold for the remainder of the game.