EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) – Freshman Tyrell Sutton ran for 244 yards and three touchdowns, and Reggie McPherson’s interception sealed Northwestern’s 51-48 win over No. 14 Wisconsin on Saturday.

Northwestern scored on seven straight possessions and finished with 674 yards of total offense against a Wisconsin defense that had allowed an average of 336.8.

Brett Basanez completed 26 of 36 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats, coming off a 34-29 loss to Penn State two weeks ago. Sutton’s 1-yard run in the third quarter put Northwestern (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) ahead for good, 23-17, and his 62-yarder late in the fourth made it 51-34. From there, the Wildcats hung on.

After recovering a fumble by Sutton near midfield, Wisconsin’s John Stocco completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Orr to pull the Badgers (5-1, 2-1) to 51-48 with 2:48 remaining.

After a punt by Northwestern’s Ryan Pederson rolled out at the 3 with 1:23 remaining, Wisconsin had a final chance. But on the next play, McPherson intercepted Stocco.

Wisconsin’s Brian Calhoun became the first Badger player with more than 100 yards rushing and receiving in a game, carrying 23 times for 122 and catching 11 passes for 128. Stocco was 24-of-31 for 326 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions.

Northwestern’s scoring streak started when Joel Howell kicked a 21-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in the first half and ended when Sutton fumbled with 3:31 left in the game. In between, the Wildcats scored six touchdowns.

Even though Northwestern scored touchdowns on all four of its possessions in the third quarter, Wisconsin stayed in the game.

Northwestern drove 80 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter. A 45-yard run by Sutton put the ball on the Wisconsin 24. Basanez then had a clear path to the end zone when he tripped at the 4, but he connected with Mark Philmore on the next play to pull to 17-16.

Wisconsin blocked the extra point, but the lead disappeared on Northwestern’s next possession. Sutton ran for a 1-yard score, capping a 73-yard drive that put the Wildcats ahead 23-17.

The teams combined for three touchdowns in the final 2:22 of the quarter, starting with Basanez’s 52-yard touchdown pass to Kim Thompson that made it 30-20.

Calhoun answered with a 1-yard touchdown run that pulled Wisconsin to within three.

After a 60-yard kickoff return by Gerard Hamlett, Sutton ran it in from the 14 to make it 37-27.

The teams continued to move at will.

A 9-yard scoring pass from Basanez to Sutton made it 44-34 early in the fourth, and Wisconsin punted on its next possession. The teams had combined to score on seven consecutive drives.

After punting on the game’s opening drive, Wisconsin scored on three of its next four possessions to take a 17-10 halftime lead.

AP-ES-10-08-05 1628EDT

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