Morning Box Score

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Oct 18, 2009 3:30PM

Stars Outshine Blackhawks
The Dallas Stars came to town and did something that other teams are having a hard time doing this year: beat the Blackhawks. Dallas edged the 'Hawks 4-3 last night at the United Center. After a scoreless first period, the dam broke in the second as the teams combined for five goals in that period alone. Dallas took a 2-0 lead before Troy Brouwer got Chicago on the board. After another Dallas goal, Jonathon Toews scored to cut the lead to 3-2. After a fluke bounce off the boards got past Huet for another Dallas goal in the third period, Niklas Hjalmarsson scored to cut the lead again, this time to 4-3 but Dallas held and came out with the win. Cristobal Huet jad 21 saves besides allowing the four goals. The 'Hawks get a few days off now until Vancouver skates into town on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., CSN).

College Football

• Notre Dame gave it as good a try as they could, but they still couldn't get the USC monkey off their back, losing to the Trojans 34-27. The Irish were down by 20 early in the fourth quarter but QB Jimmy Clausen ran for a touchdown and threw for another to close the gap. ND had a chance to score, getting into the USC redzone as the clock ticked down, but the Irish failed to score with three Clausen passes into the endzone falling incomplete.
• Despite having a 7-0 lead at halftime, Northwestern then allowed 24-straight points to Michigan State, who beat the Wildcats by a 24-14 final. Northwestern QB Mike Kafka threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns and ran for additional 42 yards, but Northwestern had two costly fumbles and couldn't stop Michigan State's offense.
• Illinois' rough season continued. Despite a good outing from QB Juice Williams - 258 yard passing, 54 yards rushing, two TDs - Illinois couldn't hold off Indiana who came away with a 27-14 win over the Illini last night. The Illini defense gave up 482 total yards of offense to the Hoosiers.
• NIU dropped a heartbreaker to Toledo, 20-19. Down 14-0, the Huskies stormed back, scoring 19 straight points, led by QB Chandler Harnish who scored two touchdowns on the ground. But a blocked extra point early proved to be costly as it allowed Toledo to edge the Huskies by one on a fourth quarter touchdown.