Michigan State Football: 3 takeaways from Northwestern loss in Week 9
By Shawn Ekwall
2. Clayton Thorson and Justin Jackson are among the Big Ten’s best
Although Jackson was limited to just 41 yards rushing on 17 carries, the senior caught seven passes for 51 yards. His 3-yard rushing touchdown in the second overtime period tied the game 31-31. He added a 12-yard touchdown pass in the first half to his offensive arsenal.
Jackson is tough to tackle. He is elusive and draws attention from the defense. He’s been a warrior for Pat Fitzgerald’s team for several years. Without him, Northwestern would not be 5-3 on the year.
Thorson continues to be among the Big Ten’s elite at quarterback. Though not a strong conference for quarterback play, a case could be made for Thorson at the top. He is completing 60.1 percent of his throws and has 10 touchdown passes on the year. His dual-threat ability makes the Wildcats difficult to defend.
Heart-stopping win for Northwestern, making it OT wins two weeks in a row. The Spartan party is over.
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) October 28, 2017
Thorson is coming off a 2016 season in which he threw for 3,182 yards and 22 touchdowns. Although it will be hard for him to match those numbers in 2017, he is playing like a crafty veteran and was a major reason why the Wildcats were able to knock the Spartans from their perch atop the Big Ten East.