Michigan 32, Michigan State 23
[Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog]
You reap what you sow.
Facing a fourth-and-goal down 20 points in the fourth quarter, Mark Dantonio went the James Franklin route and called for a field goal. The football gods did not look kindly upon this act of cowardice; Michael Geiger missed the 34-yard attempt.
Dantonio almost certainly regretted that decision when the Spartans cut it to a two-score game midway through the fourth. Instead of having a shot at a miracle, they ran out of time—a Donnie Corley touchdown catch with a second remaining on the clock only brought the deficit to seven. To keep up appearances, or something like that, Dantonio called for a two-point conversion.
This also backfired, and in spectacular fashion. Jabrill Peppers capped a game worthy of a Heisman contender by returning an MSU fumble 98 yards for two points. The subsequent onside kick that didn't matter bounced harmlessly out of bounds, and Peppers got one final opportunity to display his athleticism when, perhaps as an homage to Braylon Edwards, he backflipped following the victory-formation kneeldown.
[Fuller]
While it wasn't the blowout most expected, it wasn't as close as the final score indicates, either. Michigan absorbed MSU's best shot on the opening drive, a 12-play, 75-yard march featuring 11 LJ Scott touches capped by a five-yard TD run. The Wolverines hit back by going 80 yards in eight plays with Eddie McDoom's 20-yard jet sweep setting up a three-yard Jabrill Peppers keeper to even the score. They gained the upper hand on the ensuing possession when Maurice Hurst slashed into the backfield to force Gerald Holmes into the unforgiving grasp of Peppers on a fourth-and-one.
From that point forward, Michigan was in command. Two De'Veon Smith touchdowns—one featuring a delighful smashing of Riley Bullough at the goal line—and a Kenny Allen field goal were the result of the next three Wolverine possessions, and MSU could only muster a field goal in the interim; Smith's second score gave M a 24-10 lead with 33 seconds left in the half, and it seemed safe to assume that would be the halftime score.
Tyler O'Connor had other plans, which quickly went awry. Instead of running out the clock, O'Connor heaved a pass towards RJ Shelton while under heavy duress from Taco Charlton, and Jourdan Lewis got his hands under it for the pick. Michigan got off four plays in 27 seconds; Amara Darboh, who had a career-high 165 yards in his best game as a Wolverine, drew a pass interference in the end zone to set up a chip shot Allen field goal as the half came to a close. Suddenly, it was a three-score game.
[Patrick Barron/MGoBlog]
The 27-10 halftime margin would hold for the entire third quarter due to the goal-line heroics of the defense. In an otherwise stellar game, Wilton Speight made a significant error to open the second half, failing to see MSU corner Darian Hicks while targeting Karan Higdon on a wheel route. Hicks cut off the throw for an interception, and within two plays the Spartans had a first-and-goal.
Michigan State ran seven plays inside Michigan's ten-yard line on that possession, getting second life when Peppers was hit with a pass interference flag on third down. On play seven, Lewis crashed down on a fourth-down pitch to Scott and upended him in the backfield, ending the drive with authority.
After Kenny Allen struck a 45-yarder true to begin the fourth quarter, MSU went into desperation mode, inserting Damion Terry at quarterback on the ill-fated field goal drive, then switching to Brian Lewerke after a Michigan punt. The offense couldn't quite put the Spartans away, however, and Lewerke had a chance to make it a one-score game on fourth down with a little under two minutes on the clock.
The defensive line got serious heat on Lewerke, however, and Peppers cleaned up with a crushing sack. Michigan wore down some clock before MSU's desultory final drive while Jon Falk brought the Paul Bunyan trophy back to its rightful place in the Wolverine locker room.
Michigan State has lost six in a row. Michigan is 8-0 with one rival in the clear and three games to get through before a potential Big Ten East title game. While it took one year longer than any of us wanted, the in-state rivalry is, at long last, as it should be.
October 30th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
that Morris play was the pits. Its the same exact play every time and it was called at an all too critical moment. Make that 3rd and we're having a different discussion.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:05 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:08 PM ^
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October 30th, 2016 at 2:41 AM ^
It's also as if the Michigan team had no negative things happen to them that they would like to change throughout the game. Things happen in games, that's why they play them.
October 30th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
Yes, changes of events change other events.
If Jabril Peppers flaps his wings . . .
October 29th, 2016 at 5:10 PM ^
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October 29th, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^
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October 29th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
Obviously just a thought of mine but perhaps he didn't want to give Coach Dantonio ammo for next year; he does do that 'Chip on the shoulder' thing quite well as we all know. Coach Harbaugh knows he has the best D in the nation so he decided to ease off the gas. From our point of view it was hard to watch - that last 30 or so seconds lasted 20 minutes - but we did get the win. Next!
October 29th, 2016 at 6:29 PM ^
Coach Harbaugh NEVER eases off the gas. On the other hand, he may have wanted to save whatever surprises he had ginned up for another day when they were needed.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:11 PM ^
I definitely got the sense that Harbaugh was looking at the bigger picture and looking to manage the rest of the season by easing up in the second half.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^
but I meant to add that had MSU scored more, the complexion of the game would have changed and it's not to say that Michigan couldn't have scored more. But, I was getting nervous at the end. Go Blue.
October 29th, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^
Well, no shit! If MSU had scored more, the game would have been different? You don't say?? Well, that just changes everything, then...
Wait.
What if Michigan had scored more? Would the game have been different then?
October 29th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
October 30th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
October 30th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
Now that's preventable.
You can't do that shit against Ohio State.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^
October 30th, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
That single "play" kept them in it more than anything else.
The Refs thought the game was over in the 4th quarter and packed it in too.
October 30th, 2016 at 12:47 AM ^
TDs with conservative playcalling on every drive on which we didn't score a TD.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:07 PM ^
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October 30th, 2016 at 12:48 AM ^
regular games. You want to win rivalry games with cruelty, especially when you can.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:08 PM ^
All that will matter is the win.
Nobody talks about the Sparty loss in OT from a few years back.
It is what it is. Good teams that are supposed to win just win.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
Michigan is very fortunate to win against a below average team. MSU was tougher on both sides of the ball. They rushed for more run and pass yardage. They blew several scoring chances inside the redzone. Meanwhile Michigan had dffculty getting one yard up the middle. Michigan's offense in the second half score only three points.
To put it another way, the 9 point differntial doesn't show how close the game was.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:10 PM ^
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October 29th, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^
The second half was completely different. UM lost intensity on both sides of the ball and the play reflected. I think they expected MSU to fold as that is what they did in every game since ND.
To MSU's credit they kept playing. UM did not.
The lack of relentlessness and cruelty was very noticeable.
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October 29th, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^
Exactly...fully expected MSU to quit at 30-10, they brought in Terry who couldn't throw the ball to save his life as a white flag.
I still say the horrible "completeion" call on 3rd and 15 was a mo changer. I mean how you blow a call with a ball clearly bouncing off the ground is just amazing.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^
October 30th, 2016 at 6:23 AM ^
UM outscored MSU 3-0 in the third quarter, MSU got less than 40 total yards in the quarter and held the ball for only 4 min. How does that qualify as "outplaying Michigan". It was 30-10 in the 4th quarter...
October 29th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^
To put it another way, the 9 point differntial doesn't show how close the game was.
You are correct. The 9-point different suggests the game was a lot closer than it actually was. And imagine if they'd called any of MSU's blatant holds in the 4th quarter!
October 29th, 2016 at 5:25 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:29 PM ^
Dude, when you're up 2-3 TDs the entire second half (aside from 1 second) you are not "fortunate to win."
October 29th, 2016 at 7:28 PM ^
I can think of a relatively recent UM-MSU game when Michigan was up almost the entire second half and was fortunate to. . . oh, no wait, you're right, they were not "fortunate to win". Because they didn't.
Really glad we won this time, but is there an active coach on the planet besides Dantonio that understands MSU's seething hatred for UM? You don't Lloydball against these guys; they've punished Harbaugh for it each time.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:38 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 8:03 PM ^
You keep making this point in this thread but it never makes any sense. Last year's game was a hell of a lot closer than this year's. The two games aren't comparable at all. In no way, shape or form is a team that leads by 20 points with 5-6 minutes left ever "fortunate to win."
October 30th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
That some M fans were nervous because our team turtled is somewhat undestandable.
The PTSD that last year's game caused our fanbase is real.
October 29th, 2016 at 9:47 PM ^
Dragon Child, you should call him and get together for dinner cause you two are brothers.
October 29th, 2016 at 10:56 PM ^
Just exactly how was Harbaugh "punished" in this game? Last time I checked the score, UM was still up 32-23... Did that change recently?
October 29th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
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October 29th, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
Look at the end of half INT that Michigan turned into a FG, and the missed FG by Geiger.
Dantonio went for 2 at the end so, if successful, he could blame his QB and kicker for the loss in the postgame, just like he did to his QB at half-time.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:20 PM ^
October 30th, 2016 at 7:09 AM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^
October 29th, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^
But I actually follow your logic and it makes sense to me. Explains how I feel. Happy, but it wasn't perfect. For today, and today only, I'm totally fine with that.
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October 29th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^
According to many on this blog (not me), we suck now. Or something.
October 29th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^
Yeah many seem to have forgotten that football is an "any given day" sport. Seriously, OSU just lost to Penn State.
We won. On the road. Against a rival who has owned us for the last decade. Enjoy it. I have no idea what's going to happen when we play OSU but that's 4 weeks away. I realize we have lofty goals but can we enjoy the currently undefeated journey, please?
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