Spartans Defense Too Much for Denard Robinson and Michigan

Written by Luke Whiteman

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After taking an early 7-0 lead on a fake field goal play, the Michigan Wolverines could not contain the raging green and white.

In another epic battle of one of the most storied rivalries in all of sports, the Spartans and Wolverines both featured some flashy uniforms for the latest chapter.

Who would reign superior, though?

With 5:06 left in the first quarter, the Michigan State Spartans scored right back, as Edwin Baker made it 7-7 on a 1-yard run. The Spartans compiled a 63-yard, nine-play drive—their biggest of the day.

The teams would exchange possessions throughout the second half, with no change in score. Denard Robinson, known for his dazzling running game, struggled to work the pass game in the Wolverines' favor, a recent trend in his game.

It wasn't until the third quarter that Keshawn Martin stepped up, asserting his presence in this battle.

On 3rd-and-goal, on a pass from MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins, Martin made a nice spin move to evade the Wolverines' tackle. He reached in with one hand for the touchdown to make it 14-7 Michigan State with 11:07 left in the quarter.

The game continued to be tight, but the Spartans struck again late in the third quarter. With 25 seconds left, Cousins completed another pass to Martin for his second touchdown of the day, very similar to his first earlier in the quarter.

The Wolverines would not go away quietly, though. With about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Robinson completed a pass to junior Roy Roundtree for 34 yards and a touchdown on their first play of the drive. Michigan pulled within seven points.

The nail in the coffin would come with 4:31 left in the fourth quarter. Isaiah Lewis intercepted a poor Robinson pass at the Michigan 39-yardline and ran it in for a touchdown to put the Spartans up 28-14, a deficit the Wolverines from which would not rebound.

Michigan State held on to the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the fourth straight year now, handing Michigan their first loss of the season and putting them at 6-1 overall (2-1 in the Big Ten). The Spartans improve to 5-1 now and 2-0 in the Big Ten.

Read 1125 times Last modified on Sunday, 16 October 2011 09:36

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2 comments

Comment Link Friday, 28 October 2011 07:14 posted by Josh
Keshawn Martin is really starting to step up his game and leave everything on the field. He has emerged as one of the best Big Ten play-makers this year. The MSU Spartan Football program is definitely making a name for themselves in the Big Ten and nationally.
Comment Link Friday, 28 October 2011 07:05 posted by Ryan
This rivalry proved to be more than just a game, it was a statement. A statement not just for Michigan, but for the entire B1G. The Spartans showed that they are a different team under Dantonio and his staff and have turned the corner for program prestige. There's a new program in the state of Michigan that the country is noticing and it's not that team in Ann Arbor.

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The MSU Football Players Association (MSUFPA) is an organization that was formed in midyear 2004 and was given its birth by Head Coach John L. Smith. It wasn’t until the beginning of 2005 that the association got functioning, but when it did a strong force was created within the family of Spartans and a tradition had begun. The purpose of the Association is to perpetuate the Spartan football tradition and to enhance the success of the MSU football program. Our goal is to sustain a working relationship and to provide a network of communication to link the membership with the existing football program.

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