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 29th, 2016 at 9:32 PM ^
That IS a Spartan hallmark - they celebrate every failed possibility as a win.
October 29th, 2016 at 10:08 PM ^
Latching onto moral victories was a Sparty trait when they couldn't produce actual wins, Funny to see the reversion to form.
October 29th, 2016 at 10:41 PM ^
Fuck moral victories. Tell your fam to suck 0-5 in the B1G.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:30 PM ^
Good post. I was also expecting a close game. MSU is going to give us their best shot, and I thought all the blowout predictions were way too optimistic. Especially playing instate rival on the road.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
Gawd, some people around here can't ever be happy. It was a good win by UM against an MSU team playing the only game that matters to them. People need to relax.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
That's not the point. This was not a win over a good Spartan team. This is a freaking team that gave up 54 points to Northwestern. This is a team that got trucked by Maryland. This is a team that was down 17 points as we approached the red zone, and the coaching staff imploded and let them back in the game. Like it or not, style points count if we legitimately have bigger goals. All we did was put on tape how our defense can be beat.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:09 PM ^
Agreed. The playcalling was insufferably poor in the red zone
October 29th, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
No they don't, not if we win.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:59 PM ^
Maybe not good, but a team that is playing like this is the only game on their schedule that matters, putting their bodies and the rest of their careers in the line for this game.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
I understand the perspective by Ace but college football is 60 minutes. The score indicates the closeness. If MSU scores with 2 1/2 minutes left then it would have been very tight. The refs certainly kept the score closer with their refusal to call MSU for blatant holding and other calls like the Price catch. They wanted the vast underdog to stay in the game.
As noted by a few others, this felt like Carr style game management by Harbaugh. Up 30-10 with the ball a couple of times, the playcalling and energy on O went into a shell. JH flinched today, IMO, and relied far too much on the D in the 2nd half.
UM was the better team and we played down to their level. Need to improve a lot if this group is going to beat OSU and do anything in the playoffs.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
OSU is going to have to improve a lot to beat Michigan and do anything in the playoffs too.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
Go Blue. A win this ugly is fitting when it is for the ugliest trophy in college football.
October 29th, 2016 at 9:56 PM ^
Have you seen the Land Grant Trophy?
October 29th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
at how tough everyone plays Alabama. We need to get used to getting played tough every week. Plus, Harbaugh's visibility also means everyone wants to beat Michigan.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:48 PM ^
Yet Bama wins by blowout every week and we had to play our best game just to hold off the #113 team in the country. This MSU team was Hokes 2014 team and state STILL almost beat us. LOL
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 6:51 PM ^
Shut the fuck up
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^
Bama 48-43 at 3-4 Ole Miss blowout?
Granted they beat A&M by 19 points, but that was a home game.
They haven't played LSU away yet. They haven't played Auburn at home.
Sure they win by blowouts - so has Michigan.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^
People need to stop with the "almost" beat us stuff. It was clear the only reason they got back in the game was because we got conservative. Can't you just be happy we got the win? I know I am. We'll have plenty of opportunities to blow them out in the following years. This I'm sure of.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 7:25 PM ^
Kill yourself troll
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 9:36 PM ^
No they don't win by blowout evey week you fucking clown show
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 10:24 PM ^
And also, we're not Bama
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^
I dont think the DE remembered what it is to play "contain."
October 29th, 2016 at 6:14 PM ^
Mork had his team fighting to the end. If I am an MSU fan I am thinking, "Where has this been all year."
I never thought it was going to be a blow out. If you did and are pissed, well I am sorry.
Let MSU fans take the moral victory. I will take the real victory.
I want the blow out for OSU.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^
I thought it would be a blowout. I am not mad/sad/upset/bothered that it wasn't.
Beautiful fall day for young men of Michigan, State or not, to fight for the Paul Bunyan. Even more beautiful our boys brought it home.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 7:11 PM ^
If MSU played all year like they did today, they would be 5-2, not 2-5.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:13 PM ^
Correction: 5-3, not 2-6.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
JABRILL PEPPERS! the end.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^
Tough winning on the road. Onward!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^
I expected a close game, and picked Mich to win 24-21. MSU has underperformed this season, and Mich is playing their first real road game against their instate rival. I was happy with the win, and thought the blowout predictions were too optimistic (37-0 per Brian).
October 29th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
solid analysis Ace. It is a good win and it is great to be 8 and 0. MSU put up their best
fight, got away with a lot of second half holding, and managed to hang around at a distance. I kept thinking the game was just about over and out of reach, but that went feeling on for over an hour until Peppers ran the two point conversion back in a beautiful 95 yard sprint.
October 29th, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^
He flipped when they flopped!
October 29th, 2016 at 6:44 PM ^
Not #2 team in the country. Entire top 4 would blow us out.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 6:51 PM ^
Are you watching the top 4 play their rivals? How's UW doing against the Utes. Rivalry games are tough, especially away. We'll be better for it.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 7:05 PM ^
Troy, and Auburn. I don't think so.
October 30th, 2016 at 8:54 AM ^
now too.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:23 PM ^
I have not seen one team play this year that looks better than Michigan. My opinion hasn't changed after today.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 10:34 PM ^
Have you watched Alabama?
October 29th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^
The only team that I'd say I'd be afraid to play is Alabama. They show zero flaws in any area. We'd have to play our best game for me to say we'd even have a shot in that game.
I think we could beat Clemson, Washington, OSU, or anyone else on any given day. But Alabama....they scare me.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 30th, 2016 at 8:57 AM ^
but not gaping ones.
I just hope we are not paired with them for a semifinal. Turns out, playing Saban after he has four weeks to prep for you is not a good experience.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:28 PM ^
Blow us out? Go home, you're drunk.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 7:35 PM ^
Top 4? More like top 14, anirite? Haha!!!!
October 29th, 2016 at 7:53 PM ^
Insightful dipshit.
October 29th, 2016 at 8:11 PM ^
I see a troll. Lick my nuts!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 6:50 PM ^
1 rival out of the way? Make that 2 with the Rutgers victory.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 29th, 2016 at 7:09 PM ^
Three. Illinois.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:31 PM ^
I feel really sorry for the fans who can't handle a little adversity. This is the most fun I've had in 10 years, I love everything about this team and the ride we're on. Many here don't deserve this team.
October 29th, 2016 at 9:34 PM ^
A fuckin men
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 30th, 2016 at 9:02 AM ^
but I was yelling "Ha, ha, Fuck You Dantonio!" at the top of my lungs when Jabril scooped and ran that two point conversion in.
It was a release of total relief after what happened last year.
November 2nd, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
I hear you. Although it would imply a closer game, I almost wish that Peppers' safety return was a game winning score, just so that State fans could feel what UM fans went through last year. Alas, life is not a movie script.
October 29th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^
MSU has good players
MSU players have been quitting the last few weeks
MSU didn't quit today and the game was semi-competitive
MSU will get completely rolled next year...mark my words
Comments