Fitzgerald owns late-game decision as Michigan State lets another victory slip away

EAST LANSING – Northwestern had just taken an enormous gamble, and Michigan State appeared ready to make the Wildcats pay for it.

With the game tied at 21 late in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, Northwestern coach David Braun called for a fake punt on fourth-and-eight from his own 28-yard line. The Wildcats needed a first down to extend the possession, but Michigan State recognized the formation, anticipated the fake, and broke up the pass.

The Spartans took possession with 3:29 remaining, already within realistic field-goal range, and with an opportunity to do something that had eluded them throughout the opening half of the Big Ten season.

Finish.

For Pat Fitzgerald, the circumstances were particularly compelling.

Michigan State had squandered an eight-point fourth-quarter lead, but now had another opportunity to defeat his former program, the school where he had starred as a player, built his coaching career, and recruited many of the players standing on the opposite sideline.

The Spartans had lost a 38-37 overtime heartbreaker to Illinois a week earlier, and Saturday appeared to offer an opportunity to finally turn competitiveness into a conference victory.

All Michigan State needed was a couple first downs, a successful field goal, and enough clock management to keep Northwestern from responding.

Fitzgerald had a specific strategy in mind, explaining afterward that Michigan State was operating in what he called a "barrier situation," attempting to gain another first down while avoiding the possibility of scoring too quickly and giving Northwestern an extended opportunity to respond.

The Spartans wanted to force Northwestern to use its remaining timeouts, control the football, and position themselves to score the winning points with as little time remaining as possible.