Spartans unleash historic rally

EVANSTON, Ill. – Michigan State staged the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history Saturday, rallying from a 35-point third-quarter deficit to beat Northwestern 41-38 behind a blocked punt and the play of Drew Stanton.

Brett Swenson kicked the winning 28-yard field goal with 13 seconds left following a key interception by Travis Key. The result dramatically ended a four-game losing streak for the Spartans (4-4, 1-3 Big Ten) and took some of the heat off coach John L. Smith.

Until the riveting game, the biggest comeback in major NCAA football was 31 points – when Maryland beat Miami 42-40 on Nov. 10, 1984, and when Ohio State defeated Minnesota 41-37 on Oct. 28, 1989.

The Wildcats (2-6, 0-4) led 24-3 at the half.

Michigan State trailed 38-3 with 9:54 left in the third quarter after Northwestern’s C.J. Bacher threw a 5-yard TD to Shaun Herbert.

Stanton tossed a TD pass of 18 yards to Jehuu Caulcrick with 7:03 left in the third. A.J. Jimmerson’s 4-yard run, after a 19-yard pass from Stanton to Kerry Reed, made it 38-17.

Stanton moments later was knocked to the sideline on a late hit by Corey Wootton and replaced by Brian Hoyer for a series.

Michigan State made it 38-24 early in the final period when Devin Thomas blocked a Northwestern punt and Ashton Henderson returned it 33 yards for a TD.

Stanton returned on the next series and immediately drove the Spartans 60 yards, carrying 12 yards for the TD with 7:54 left, making it 38-31.

Stanton completed six straight passes in a six-play, 58-yard drive, capping it with a 9-yard TD pass to T.J. Williams for a tie with 3:43 left.

Key then intercepted Bacher at the 30 with 2:59 left and State moved in position for Swenson’s field goal.