Michigan State Spartans vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Box Score on Oct 10, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 11, 2015

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Michigan State survived a scare from Rutgers, escaping High Point Solutions Stadium with a 31-24 win over their Big Ten Conference foes on Saturday night.

Freshman running back L.J. Scott scored on a 3-yard off-tackle run with 43 seconds to play, giving the No. 4 Spartans (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) their school-record 11th straight conference road win. Michigan State drove 76 yards in 10 plays, using up 3:33 for the decisive score.

Rutgers bid for a tying score ended at midfield when quarterback Chris Laviano inexplicably spiked the ball on fourth down with three seconds to play.

Kyle Federico’s 24-yard field goal with 4:21 to play tied the score at 24-24 for Rutgers (2-3, 0-2), which marched 91 yards to draw even.

The Spartans trailed by four points at the half, but rallied in the second half, outscoring Rutgers 21-10. Michigan State has scored at least 24 points in 21 straight games, which is tied for the longest active streak in the FBS with Baylor.

Quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Connor Cook completed 23 of 38 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns for Michigan State.

Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo caught seven passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns.

Carroo drew Rutgers to within 24-21 when he caught his third scoring pass of the game, a 28-yard strike from Laviano with 4:51 remaining in the third.

Trailing 14-10, Michigan State re-took the lead on its first possession of the third quarter, traveling 73 yards in 11 plays that culminated with a one-yard run by Scott. The lead moved to 24-14 on the Spartans next possession when wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett, a fifth-year senior, caught a 25-yard pass from Cook down the right sideline with 5:46 left in the third.

Rutgers went into the half with a 14-10 edge thanks to a pair of touchdown receptions by Carroo. He caught a five-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter and on the Scarlet Knights' next possession, Carroo hauled in a 39-yard score 1:45 later.

Michael Geiger nailed a 30-yard field for the Spartans with 9:14 left in the second quarter to make it 14-10.

Wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. caught his first touchdown pass of the season, an 8-yard strike that gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead with 1:46 left in the first quarter. The score ended a 57-yard, eight-play drive.

Rutgers had just four first downs in the first half compared to 14 for the Spartans.

NOTES: Michigan State junior RT Kodi Kieler returned after missing the last three games with a knee injury. ... Spartans LT Jake Conklin dressed for the first time since injuring his knee on Sept. 26 against Central Michigan. ... Spartans coach Mark Dantonio went 1-1 against Rutgers during his three seasons at Cincinnati (2004-06), including a 30-11 upset victory over the seventh-ranked Scarlet Knights in 2006. ... Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo played in his first game since being reinstated after simple assault charges against him were dropped after an altercation after a home loss to Washington State on Sept. 12. ... The Scarlet Knights blocked a first-quarter field goal, marking the 43rd time since 2009 they have blocked a punt, field goal or extra point attempt - most in the nation during that span.