By Steve SilverThe Daily Northwestern
Just 363 days ago, Northwestern upset then-No. 22 Michigan State 49-14 in East Lansing, Mich. to improve to a 5-2 overall record.
NU’s defense picked off quarterback Drew Stanton three times and the Wildcats posted more than 500 yards of total offense.
But this year’s contest looks to bear almost no resemblance to last year’s rout.
Both teams are winless in the Big Ten and NU’s once-potent offense has plummeted to last in the conference – and No. 103 nationally.
Perhaps the best evidence of this lack of offensive productivity is that the Cats have scored just 47 total points in their last four games, yet they recorded 49 points in a span of less than four quarters against Michigan State last season.
“Last year is irrelevant,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Last year’s game is last year. We made plays and that was the difference. When you make plays, you give yourself a chance to win … Will Michigan State be motivated because of what happened last year? Yeah, and so will we. We need to win. Both teams need to win. But we need to win more than anything. You feel a lot better, you sleep a lot better when you win.”
Stanton, a three-year starter, remains the one constant in a match-up between two former perennial bowl contenders that have struggled to produce victories this season.
Stanton has completed 109 of 179 passes for 1,241 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions this year.
In Michigan State’s 38-7 loss to Ohio State last week, Stanton injured his back and neck. The week prior, Stanton had to have a hole drilled in his right thumb to drain blood and reduce swelling from an injury that occurred during practice on his throwing hand.
But Stanton is expected to lead Michigan State’s 33rd-ranked offense Saturday against NU’s 92nd-ranked defense.
“When you prepare for somebody you have to prepare for them at their best,” said senior linebacker Nick Roach, who leads the Cats in tackles (59). “Knowing Drew Stanton from his past performances, he is a great quarterback. So we can’t assume that anything is going to be wrong with him or that he is going to be playing any less than at the high level he has played at in the past.”
Redshirt freshman Andrew Brewer will be under center for the Cats for the fourth week in a row. Brewer has yet to throw a touchdown pass this season and he has rushed nearly as much as he has thrown the ball.
Brewer has completed just 37 of 73 passes for 344 yards with three interceptions. He also has rushed 66 times for 184 yards.
NU’s offense, ranked No. 113 in passing efficiency, will have another week to hone its skills – this time against a porous Spartans secondary. Michigan State has the No. 82 pass defense in the nation, allowing an average of 214.0 passing yards per game.
“That’s a good defense to throw the ball on,” said sophomore receiver Eric Peterman, who has caught 10 passes for 121 yards. “So hopefully we’ll be able to put the ball down the field. But that’s always up to the coaches and their game plan.”
NU has yet to score a second-half touchdown in Big Ten competition. And they will have to find a way to do so against a Spartan offense that averages 27.7 points per game.
The Cats will host the Spartans at 11 a.m. in their last home game until Nov. 11 in front of a homecoming crowd.
“(The homecoming) atmosphere that is created and that kind of electricity is just exciting,” Fitzgerald said. “(Michigan State) is going to come down here and give us their best game of the year. I know that. I know the character of coach (John L.) Smith. He is a former Idaho Vandal just like I was. I know what he’s got in his soul.”
Reach Steve Silver at [email protected].
