Week 6 - Game Report
Michigan State Spartans (3-2) at Michigan Wolverines (5-0)
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A Comeback That Falls Just Short, Ending In Heartbreak[/size]
Redshirt Junior WR Chris Rucker running into the endzone on what would be the game winning touchdown.
Ann Arbor, MI (AP) - The in-state rivalry of the Michigan Wolverines (5-0) vs. the Michigan State Spartans (3-2) takes place in Ann Arbor at the Big House this year as the undefeated Wolverines not only hope to continue their winning ways, but to bring back the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the first time in 2 years as the Spartans have been victorious the previous 2 seasons. 2 pro-style offenses go at it today in what should be a good game on a beautiful afternoon in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines won the toss and chose to receive in an effort to take the lead to start the game off. Tate Forcier & Co trotted onto the field starting at their 25. The very first play resulted in a 15 yard run by Sophomore HB Vincent Smith who is the 5th leading rusher in the nation mind you. He followed that with a 6 yard run before Michigan faced a 3rd and 4 as Forcier tried to scramble for the first down but took a big hit from redshirt Sophomore DE Cameron Jude which forced a fumble as the big redshirt Sophomore DT Dan France scooped up the football and picked up 18 more yards before being brought down, but not before giving his offense excellent field position at Michigan's own 31 yard line. A playaction first down is how things would start for the Spartans offense before another 11 yard pickup on the ground by Sophomore HB Larry Caper to put Michigan State on the Wolverines 7. 2 plays later a speed option resulted in an untouched touchdown for the young HB as the Spartans were quick to capitalize on the turnover giving them the early lead. 7-0 Spartans.
Both teams went back and forth for the rest of the 1st quarter with Michigan State's offense getting something going towards the end. Heading into the 2nd quarter, the Spartan's offense converted on 2 4th and short's to get all the way down within the Wolverines 10 once again. Facing a 3rd and 6 from Michigan's 9 yard line, the Spartans tried to catch Michigan's defense offguard with a HB Draw out of the shotgun but there was nothing do for no gain as they attempted a 29 yard field goal from the right hash mark, but redshirt Sophomore K Dan Conroy missed it just wide of the right post giving Michigan a huge break as a 16 play (you read that correctly) drive turns out for 0 points! After stopping the Wolverines offense again, Conroy redeemed himself with a 49 yard field goal with a little over a minute remaining in the half. 10-0 Michigan State. The Wolverines offense started from their 18 as Forcier came right out in the shotgun set looking to get at least into field goal range before halftime. However, 2 drops from his WR's that would have been first downs forced them to punt after a quick 3 and out as Forcier was furious with his receivers heading off the field. Michigan State's offense took advantage of the quick 3 and out and good field position by tacking on another 38 yard field goal right at the end of the half making it 13-0 Spartans.
Michigan State received the ball to start the second half looking to pad their lead even more. After running a few plays, the Spartans found themselves at midfield as they kept pounding away on the ground. Another big run and they found themselves on Michigan's 35. A pivotal play for the Wolverines defense now, the Spartans face a 4th and 2 on the 27, they are 3/3 so far on 4th down with loads of confidence of picking up 2 more yards. Another run right up the gut, as Caper picks up 3 yards for ANOTHER Michigan State first down. Just wearing down the Wolverines defense, the first time we've seen this all season. Michigan's defense finally stopped the Spartans, but not before Conroy booted through a 43 yarder to put them up 16-0 now. On the Wolverines next drive, it takes 4 plays for them to gain more yards than they had previously all game as a 16 yard pass to redshirt Junior WR Kelvin Grady followed by a playaction bomb to redshirt Junior WR Junior Hemingway that amounted to 46 yards and put the Wolverines in Michigan State's territory for the first time all game! Not only that, they were in the redzone on the 16 to be exact looking to finally get on the scoreboard. After taking a 3 yard loss on the ground and Sophomore WR Roy Roundtree dropping a pass that would have put the Wolverines on the 1 yard line, Tate and his offense faced a 3rd and 13. Coming out on the 5-wide under center set, Michigan State came out with a CB blitz as Forcier felt the pressure, stepped up into the pocket and threw a laser to a WIDE OPEN Junior WR Darryl Stonum over the middle for a 19 yard touchdown! Coach Kleinbauer wasn't getting too excited yet as he held up two fingers signifying for his offense to stay on the field and to attempt a 2-point conversion that would put them within 8. Coming out in a singleback-bunch set, Forcier snaps the ball as all his wideouts do curl routes, with time he see's a wide open Junior TE Kevin Koger in the back of the endzone, tries to zip it to him but it's batted down at the line. Still down by two possession with a little over 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. 16-6 Michigan State.
Now the question is whether the Wolverines defense can step up and hold the Spartans to no points. After a nice dump off to the HB for a 15 yard gain, Michigan's defense did just that forcing the Spartans to punt the ball back. Starting from their own 37, Forcier handed the ball off to Smith who was tackled for a loss of a yard as the Wolverines running game has just been shut down ever since that first rush for 15 yards. However, they ran an option that turned out for 11 yards and the first down to end the 3rd quarter. To start the 4th quarter off, another handoff to Smith, this time he'd cut upfield and gained 20 yards before being brought down putting his offense on the Spartans 33 now. The very next play was a playaction bomb to a 1 on 1 covered Roundtree who jumped up, caught it and held on to it (something that he's had difficulty with all season) going down into the endzone for a 33 yard touchdown! The Big House erupted as their Wolverines were within 3 points still early in the 4th quarter, 16-13. Starting from their own 23 now, Spartans redshirt Junior QB Kirk Cousins handed the ball off to HB Larry Caper who was met immediately by Sophomore DE Craig Roh...FUUUUUUUUUUMBLLEEEEEEE! The heads up redshirt Freshman FS Cameron Gordon was right there to scoop it up as he was just tripped up by Cousins as the Wolverines now had the ball on the Spartans 15 yard line! Oh what a turn of events as the noise is deafening down on the field! A 5 yard rush up the middle by Smith started off the drive, followed by a yard run. Now on 3rd and 4, Forcier lined up in a shotgun-trips set as they tried to catch the Spartans defense off guard with a HB draw but nothing doing with a loss of 2 forcing the Wolverines to kick the 28 yard field goal that tied it all up with 5:30 remaining in the game. 16-16 all.
The Spartans offense produced some big plays their next drive though getting themselves right into Michigan territory on the 24. Michigan's defense regrouped finally putting the Spartans into a 3rd and 9 situation. Cousins comes out in 4-wide shotgun set, sits back in the pocket with the Wolverines playing zone, rolls out to the right before getting nailed by Junior DT Mike Martin as the ball pops out! True Freshman CB Cullen Christian is there to scoop it up with nothing but daylight in front of him, running down the sidelines as his teammates on the sidelines do the same with the stadium going nuts! TOUCHDOWN MICHIGAN! But wait, the booth decides to review the fumble as Cousins knee clearly hits the ground before the football pops out as they overturn it, a HUGE break for the Spartans! Instead they try for a 41 yard field goal as Conroy kicks it, it's up and it's....NO GOOD! Wide right as the Wolverines offense comes back on to the field from their 24 with 2:46 remaining in the game. A terrible turn of events took place the following 2 plays though as a 3 yard rushing loss and a 6 yard loss after that put the Wolverines into a 3rd and 19 situation. Coming out in the 5-wide under center set, has time, throws it deep to Kelvin Grady who jumps up into the air, catching it before taking a big hit in mid-air as he drops it! As the punt unit comes back out onto the field giving Michigan State another chance with great field position as they start at the Wolverines 46 with 1:18 remaining. First pass was deep, but batted down by the defender. 2nd down, nobody open as Mike Martin picks up his 2nd sack. 3rd and 13 with a minute remaning, Cousins drops back out of the shotgun, moves around in the pocket and throws a bullet to redshirt Junior WR Chris Rucker who burned TWO defenders over the middle, catches it and runs in untouched for the 49 yard touchdown! Oh my what a defensive breakdown as the Spartans are now up 23-16 with just 53 seconds remaining!
It's all on the Sophomore QB Tate Forcier now, he has to go 82 yards in 49 seconds with 2 timeouts. On the very first play, Forcier out of the 4-wide shotgun, as he throws it to Kelvin Grady over the middle...but doesn't see the redshirt Sophomore CB Mitchell White who jumps in front of it for the interception and falls to the ground at the 10 yard line! Nothing but silence in the Big House now as Tate stands on the field in disbelief before walking off and throwing his helmet on the ground. The Spartans offense jogged out onto the field and went to the victory formation as they just knocked off the undefeated Michigan Wolverines and kept the Paul Bunyan Trophy for 3 consecutive years now. What a game. All emotions were felt in this one as the players left everything they had on the field. The final score, Michigan State 23-16 over the Michigan Wolverines.
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Box Score
- 7 - 6 - 3 - 7 -
23
- 0 - 0 - 6 - 10 -
16
Players Of The Game
- QB #8
Kirk Cousins - 16/27, 222 Yds, 1 TD, 6 ATT, -14 Yds, -2.3 AVG
- DE #88
Craig Roh - 6 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FF
Player Stats
QB#8 Kirk Cousins - 16/27, 222 Yds, 1 TD, 6 ATT, -14 Yds, -2.3 AVG
HB#22 Larry Caper - 20 ATT, 93 Yds, 4.6 AVG, 1 FUM, 3 REC, 52 Yds, 17.3 AVG, 50 YAC
HB#4 Edwin Baker - 14 ATT, 35 Yds, 1 TD, 2.5 AVG
WR#16 Chris Rucker - 3 REC, 68 Yds, 1 TD, 22.6 AVG, 28 YAC
CB#32 Mitchell White - 2 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 INT
DE#64 Cameron Jude - 2 TAK, 1 FF
DT#94 Dan France - 2 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 FR
K#4 Dan Conroy - 3/5 FG, 2/2 XP, 48 Long
QB#5 Tate Forcier - 11/19, 159 Yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 ATT, 2 Yds, 1 FUM
HB#2 Vincent Smith - 15 ATT, 50 Yds, 3.3 AVG, 1 REC, -6 Yds
WR#22 Darryl Stonum - 3 REC, 33 Yds, 1 TD, 11.0 AVG, 11 YAC
WR#12 Roy Roundtree - 2 REC, 37 Yds, 1 TD, 18.5 AVG
DE#88 Craig Roh - 6 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 FF
DT#68 Mike Martin - 8 TAK, 2 TFL, 1 Sack
OLB#7 Brandin Hawthorne - 7 TAK, 2 TFL, 1 Sack
CB#29 Troy Woolfolk - 4 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 4 DEF
FS#4 Cameron Gordon - 12 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 FR, 2 DEF
K#34 Brendan Gibbons - 1/1 FG, 1/1 XP, 28 Long
- Madeira, OH
