Back to square one
After loss to Michigan State, Wildcats need to regroup to win division
A comeback appeared to be coming together for Northwestern.
It always does, right? The Wildcats had created a championship aspirations with comebacks and close wins this season.
So when the Wildcats overcame a 17-0 deficit to lowly Michigan State with a fourth-quarter field goal and linebacker Paddy Fisher followed with a interception, the familiar story finally seemed to be forming.
“Guys were pretty confident,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
But on the next play, Kyric McGowan fumbled, and the Spartans recovered and went on to hit a field goal to tie it. “One of those self-inflicted wounds,” Fitzgerald said.
Therewere plenty of those as the game unraveled for No. 8 Northwestern in a 29-20 loss Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.— the Wildcats' defeat of the season.
They committed three of their four turnovers in the fourth quarter, but Northwestern (5-10 never seemed truly in control in this one.
The Wildcats will have to refocus to achieve their goal of winning the Big Ten West and playing in the conference championship game.
“We're keeping our mindset on an attack perspective,” Fisher said. “Keep our heads up and get back to work. (We'll) get through this and get over this and back to work. We're still in the driver's seat and still in control.”
The loss, in all likelihood, knocked Northwestern out of any chance for a spot in the the College Football Playoff.
Thatwas all cast aside in a frightening moment as wide receiver Berkeley Holman was carted off the field after several minutes prone on the field following a crushing hit from Michigan State's Shakur Brown. Fitzgerald said Holman was alert, moving his extremities and talking as he was taken off the field and to a local hospital for a precautionary examination.
Fitzgerald said he immediately prayed. He and Michigan State coach Mel Tucker stood together near Holman on the field. Players looked on in silent concern, and teammates circled around him on the cart, wishing himwell.
Fitzgerald huddled his team at midfield to let them know Holman was alert and to regroup them before the game restarted after a long delay.
“Think about him for amoment, and when it's time to go play football, we have to go play football and lift him up in their spirits,” Fitzgerald said. “It's tough.”
Aweek ago, Northwestern reached a pinnacle with a 17-7 victory against West Division foe Wisconsin. Fitzgerald said he thought the Wildcats were wellprepared and focused for Michigan State (2-3), which had only won one game before Saturday.
The Wildcats struggled with turnovers, containing Spartans quarterback Rocky Lombardi and getting their running game going.
Northwestern had turned the ball over only six times this season. The Spartans were almost last in the nation with a minus-9 turnover margin, giving away 14 this season.
Quarterback Peyton Ramsey threw two picks and no touchdownpasses while connecting on 21 of 43 passes for 210 yards. He forced throws that could have resulted in a couple of other interceptions too.
“We have to make plays when we have opportunity to make plays,” Ramsey said. “Therewere plenty out there, especially on third down. We have to execute better and that's what it comes down to.”
Ramsey said the Wildcats became one-dimensional after trailing, but the Wildcats in other games were able to cover up for an underperforming rushing