Oct. 11, 2008

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Postgame Video
Full press conference archive
Fitzgerald opening statement
Fitzgerald on field position
Fitzgerald on trying to contain MSU running game
Fitzgerald on the play of Tyrell Sutton
Smith's postgame comments
Bachér's postgame comments
Sutton's postgame comments

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton won the tailback battle with Michigan State's Javon Ringer, but it was the Spartans who won the game, thanks to three Northwestern turnovers and some excellent MSU special teams play.

In a battle involving two top-25 teams (USA Today Coaches' poll), No. 19 Michigan State scored the first 17 points en route to a 37-20 victory over No. 22 Northwestern in the Wildcats' Big Ten home opener. The defeat halted Northwestern's five-game winning streak while extending Spartans' victory string to six.

Sutton ran for a game-high 139 yards and averaged a game-best 6.0 yards per carry while Ringer, a Heisman Trophy candidate, was limited to 124 yards (on 35 carries) for 3.5 ypc. He did score a pair of TD's, however. Sutton also finished with a game-high 183 all-purpose yards.

Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer added two short touchdown passes as the Spartans never trailed. Michigan State (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten) scored 17 straight points in the first quarter with the help of a pair of Northwestern turnovers.

The 5-foot-9, 202-pound Ringer had his fifth straight 100-yard game and went over 1,000 yards for the second straight season.

Both teams came in undefeated in the Big Ten. Michigan State left tied for first with Ohio State and Penn State, which played Saturday night at Wisconsin. Northwestern (5-1, 1-1) had been off to its best start since 1962.

Already leading 7-0 on Hoyer's 3-yard scoring pass to Garrett Celek, the Spartans started their next two possessions in Northwestern territory thanks to turnovers. After Sherrick McManis fumbled a kickoff at his 25-yard line, Michigan State got a 26-yard field goal from Brett Swenson.

Michigan State safety Dan Fortener picked off C.J. Bachér on the Wildcats' next drive, returning it 21 yards to Northwestern's 34. Four plays later, Ringer bounced outside and scored from 13 yards out to make it 17-0 with 2:34 to play in the quarter.

Hoyer completed 14 of 20 passes for 169 yards.

Sutton ripped off a career-high 66-yard run in Northwestern's first drive of the second half. Bachér then hit Rasheed Ward for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-14.

The Wildcats tried an onside kick, but were penalized for interference. That gave the Spartans good field position, which they didn't waste. Ringer ended the quick drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to keep Michigan State's lead safe.

Swenson set a school record with the second of his three field goals. His 42-yard kick in the third was his 14th consecutive field goal, breaking Paul Edinger's 1997 record.

Bachér went 34-for-61 for 283 yards, a TD and two interceptions.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)