NCAA Game Summary - Michigan State at Wisconsin
(Saturday, October 27)
Final Score: Michigan State 16, Wisconsin 13 (OT)
Madison, WI (Sports Network) - Bennie Fowler reeled in the game-winning
touchdown grab in overtime to lift the Michigan State Spartans to a 16-13
victory in a Big Ten thriller at Camp Randall Stadium.
Andrew Maxwell was on the other end of the game-winning touchdown play and
finished with 216 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-39 passing for Michigan
State (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten), which had not won at Camp Randall since 2001. Le'Veon
Bell gained 77 yards on 21 carries and made a clutch touchdown grab late in
regulation to help force overtime. Despite being held under 100 yards for the
second game in a row, Bell eclipsed the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the season
for the first time in his career. Keith Mumphery made an impact with six
catches for 48 yards while MSU's defense held its opponent to season-lows of
190 total yards and 19 rushing yards.
As its offense was shut down, Wisconsin (6-3, 3-2) had its 21-game home winning
streak snapped. Joel Stave went 9-of-11 for 127 yards and a touchdown, but he
left the game after being sacked on the opening play of the second half and did
not return. Danny O'Brien completed only 5-of-11 passes for 44 yards and was
sacked three times after coming in to relieve the injured Stave. Montee Ball,
who came in averaging 122.8 rushing yards per game, was held to 46 yards on 22
carries. Jacob Pedersen made an impact in the aerial attack with three
receptions for 65 yards and a score. Wisconsin's defense forced three fumbles,
but failed to recover any of MSU's miscues.
After a scoreless opening period, Wisconsin took a 7-0 lead with 13:44 left
before halftime as Stave completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Pedersen.
The Spartans managed to respond with an 11-play, 55-yard drive which was
finished off by a successful field goal by Dan Conroy. Neither side managed to
score again before the end of the half which sent MSU into the intermission
trailing, 7-3.
Neither side managed to score in the second half until Kyle French made a 39-
yard field goal with 6:06 left in regulation to put Wisconsin on top, 10-3.
Michigan State's offense stepped up when it mattered the most by producing a
12-play, 75-yard drive which was punctuated by a five-yard touchdown pass from
Maxwell to Bell.
Wisconsin was unable to get anything going in the first overtime, but managed
to walk away with three points after French drilled a 43-yard field goal.
When MSU took over it looked like it would have a similar fate until a crucial
third down play when Maxwell launched a pass to Fowler in the end zone. Fowler
reeled in the pass despite solid defensive coverage to give the Spartans the
thrilling overtime victory.
Neither team could establish the running game as MSU averaged 2.2 yards per
carry and Wisconsin gained 0.5 yards per rush.
10/27 20:40:55 ET
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