Fourth Quarter
Michigan State's chances of completing the comeback appeared to be finished early in the fourth quarter, when backup quarterback Brian Hoyer had his 6th pass of the drive intercepted by the Wildcats a minute into the period. However, after being unable to convert a short third down at midfield, the Wildcats had their punt blocked by Devin Thomas and returned for a touchdown by Ashton Henderson. This play is generally credited as the definitive momentum swinger.
The next two Northwestern drives would end in punts, and each ensuing Spartan drive would result in a touchdown. With the score tied at 38, the Wildcats had the ball on their own 15 yard line with 3:32 remaining in regulation. On the first play of the series, Bacher was intercepted by the Spartans' Travis Key at the Northwestern 40. The interception was returned for 10 yards to the 30 yard line. The Spartans ran the ball for the duration of the drive, advancing the ball to the Northwestern 11 yard line with 18 seconds left on the clock. MSU kicker Swenson would convert a 28 yard field goal to give the Spartans the lead.
The Wildcats would get the ball one more time, returning the ensuing kickoff to their own 37 yard line. Following an offsides penalty which moved the ball to the 42 yard line, Northwestern's final play for the end zone was unsuccessful and the Spartans finished the game as the winners, 41-38.
Read more about this topic: 2006 Michigan State Vs. Northwestern Football Game
Famous quotes containing the words fourth and/or quarter:
“The fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Four colly birds,”
—Unknown. The Twelve Days of Christmas (l. 13–15)
“A quarter of an hour is worth a thousand pieces of gold.”
—Chinese proverb.