Spartans finally get win at UM

October 26, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Michigan State’s 35-21 win over Michigan was its first since 2001.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan State finally beat Michigan.

And the Spartans had to overcome a blown call to do it.

Javon Ringer’s second touchdown broke a tie midway through the fourth quarter and Brian Hoyer’s third touchdown pass padded the lead, lifting the Spartans to a 35-21 win over the Wolverines on Saturday.

“I’ll go on the record as saying this one counts as more than one,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said.

Michigan State (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) had not knocked off its rival since 2001, when T.J. Duckett scored with a disputed second on the clock, and was winless at the Big House since 1990, when Desmond Howard was tripped in the end zone and no penalty was called.

No. 25 Minnesota 17, Purdue 6

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Adam Weber passed for a touchdown and ran for another but Minnesota lost star quarterback Curtis Painter to injury in the first half.

Weber passed for 212 yards and ran for 60, and Brandon Green caught five passes for 100 yards for the Golden Gophers (7-1, 3-1).

Indiana 21, Northwestern 19

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Quarterback Ben Chappell, who started in place of the injured Kellen Lewis, had 219 yards passing and a touchdown and rushed for another score as the Hoosiers snapped their longest winless streak since 2005.

The Hoosiers (3-5, 1-4) should have less pressure this week as they prepare for Central Michigan.

“It’s like a monkey off your back,” Evans said. “I think everybody is pretty relieved right now.”

Wisconsin 27, Illinois 17

MADISON, Wis. — Dustin Sherer threw two touchdowns to David Gilreath and ran for another, rallying Wisconsin and snapping the Badgers’ longest losing streak in 12 years.

Wisconsin (4-4, 1-4) finally got its first conference win with a solid effort defensively too, intercepting Juice Williams three times, including two long returns that set up points as Illinois (4-4, 2-3) squandered its chance to give coach Ron Zook his first win here.