Michigan State beats No. 22 Michigan 26-20 in OT

October 4, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Eds: APNewsNow. Michigan State 26, No. 22 Michigan 20, OT.

AP Photo ELJ102, ELJ103

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Freshman Larry Caper ran for a 23-yard touchdown in overtime to give Michigan State a 26-20 win over No. 22 Michigan on Saturday for the Spartans’ first consecutive victories in the series since 1967.

Chris L. Rucker had intercepted Tate Forcier in the end zone on the Wolverines’ overtime possession to keep Michigan (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) from scoring.

Forcier had led the Wolverines on yet another last-minute touchdown drive to tie the game at 20-all with 2 seconds left in regulation.

Michigan State (2-3, 1-1) snapped a three-game losing streak. They won three straight over Michigan from 1965-67.

Wisconsin runs past Minnesota 31-28 to keep Axe

Eds: APNewsNow. Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 28. Axe is cq.

AP Photo MNPB102, MNPB101

By DAVE CAMPBELL

AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — John Clay rushed for three touchdowns and gained 159 of his 184 yards in the second half, helping Wisconsin hang on for a 31-28 win over Minnesota on Saturday.

The Badgers (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) beat the Gophers for the sixth straight time, picking up Paul Bunyan’s Axe and parading it around the stadium after Adam Weber lost a fumble at his own 24-yard line with 30 seconds left to kill Minnesota’s last-chance drive.

The Gophers (3-2, 1-1) have a new home, but the game had a familiar feel: They lost to their border rivals after failing to stop the run. Clay reminded the Big Ten that Wisconsin is still a run-first team, despite quarterback Scott Tolzien’s early season success.

Tolzien did his part rumbling 47 yards on a rollout to set up Clay’s third score with 3 minutes left after Marcus Sherels pulled Minnesota within 24-21 on an 88-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Northwestern hangs on to beat Purdue 27-21

Eds: APNewsNow. Northwestern 27, Purdue 21.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Joey Elliott overthrew Aaron Valentin in the end zone on fourth-and-goal in the closing seconds, allowing Northwestern to hold on and beat Purdue 27-21 Saturday.

Purdue led 21-19 in the fourth quarter, but the Boilermakers committed their sixth turnover on a sack of Elliott with 6:28 to play.

Northwestern (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) grabbed its only lead when Mike Kafka took a shotgun snap and ran for a 2-yard TD with 2:09 left. Kafka’s two-point conversion pass to Drake Dunsmore gave the Wildcats a 27-21 lead.

Purdue (1-4, 0-1) drove from its 16-yard line but couldn’t score despite getting a first-and-goal.

Purdue led 21-3 but committed five turnovers in a span of about 17 minutes to help the Wildcats get back into the game.

Elliott passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Kafka passed for 224 yards and ran for 39.