Indiana 9
Michigan State 17
Saturday, October 21, 2017 03:30 PM
(ET)
No. 18 Michigan State rallies past Indiana
The Sports Xchange
Oct 21, 2017
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- No. 18 Michigan State scored the only two touchdowns over the final 5:59 of the game to rally for a 17-9 victory at home over Indiana on Saturday.
The Spartans (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) officially became bowl-eligible after a 3-9 season last year and won their fourth straight game.
Trailing 9-3 in the fourth quarter, Michigan State took its first lead of the game with 5:59 remaining on a 10-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke to junior wide receiver Felton Davis to make it 10-9 Spartans.
After forcing an Indiana punt, the Spartans drove the field and took a 17-9 lead on an 18-yard touchdown run by junior running back LJ Scott with 1:49 remaining.
Scott could have taken a knee once he crossed the 8-yard line to get a game-clinching first down and run out the clock. However, Indiana apparently let him score so it could have a final chance to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion.
Indiana (3-4, 0-4) couldn't mount a tying drive from there, giving the ball up on downs at its own 38.
Before Michigan State's touchdowns, the game was a battle of field goals.
After recovering a fumble by Michigan State junior running back Madre London at the Michigan State 15-yard line, Indiana took a 3-0 lead with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter on a 33-yard field goal by junior Griffin Oakes.
Michigan State tied the game at 3-3 with 4:59 left in the second quarter on a 23-yard field goal by freshman kicker Matt Coghlin.
Oakes nailed a 44-yard field goal with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter to cap off a 13-play, 61-yard drive and give Indiana a 6-3 lead.
Indiana then took a 9-3 lead with 12:29 to go in the game on a 20-yard field goal by Oakes that finished off a 12-play, 63-yard drive.
NOTES: Michigan State RB L.J. Scott played on Saturday for Michigan State after being arrested for a seventh time for driving without a license on Wednesday. However, the issue was eventually resolved and he obtained a license later in the week. He missed the first MSU offensive series of Saturday's game against Indiana and finished with 87 yards on 22 carries. ... The last time Indiana beat Michigan State in consecutive years came in the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Indiana recorded a 24-21 win over Michigan State last year to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Spartans... Michigan State started off conference play 4-0 for the fifth time in Mark Dantonio's 11 years as coach. ... Indiana's defense entered the game second in the nation with an average of seven three-and-outs forced per contest and forced four more three-and-outs on Saturday. ... Michigan State has had success despite having one of the nation's youngest rosters. The Spartans have 76 underclassmen and start 11 sophomores and three freshmen. ... After playing four teams ranked in the top 20 to start the season in Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State, the schedule lightens up for Indiana the rest of the way. The only game against a team currently ranked the rest of the season for Indiana is a home game against Wisconsin on Nov. 4.
Oct 21, 2017
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- No. 18 Michigan State scored the only two touchdowns over the final 5:59 of the game to rally for a 17-9 victory at home over Indiana on Saturday.
The Spartans (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) officially became bowl-eligible after a 3-9 season last year and won their fourth straight game.
Trailing 9-3 in the fourth quarter, Michigan State took its first lead of the game with 5:59 remaining on a 10-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke to junior wide receiver Felton Davis to make it 10-9 Spartans.
After forcing an Indiana punt, the Spartans drove the field and took a 17-9 lead on an 18-yard touchdown run by junior running back LJ Scott with 1:49 remaining.
Scott could have taken a knee once he crossed the 8-yard line to get a game-clinching first down and run out the clock. However, Indiana apparently let him score so it could have a final chance to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion.
Indiana (3-4, 0-4) couldn't mount a tying drive from there, giving the ball up on downs at its own 38.
Before Michigan State's touchdowns, the game was a battle of field goals.
After recovering a fumble by Michigan State junior running back Madre London at the Michigan State 15-yard line, Indiana took a 3-0 lead with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter on a 33-yard field goal by junior Griffin Oakes.
Michigan State tied the game at 3-3 with 4:59 left in the second quarter on a 23-yard field goal by freshman kicker Matt Coghlin.
Oakes nailed a 44-yard field goal with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter to cap off a 13-play, 61-yard drive and give Indiana a 6-3 lead.
Indiana then took a 9-3 lead with 12:29 to go in the game on a 20-yard field goal by Oakes that finished off a 12-play, 63-yard drive.
NOTES: Michigan State RB L.J. Scott played on Saturday for Michigan State after being arrested for a seventh time for driving without a license on Wednesday. However, the issue was eventually resolved and he obtained a license later in the week. He missed the first MSU offensive series of Saturday's game against Indiana and finished with 87 yards on 22 carries. ... The last time Indiana beat Michigan State in consecutive years came in the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Indiana recorded a 24-21 win over Michigan State last year to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Spartans... Michigan State started off conference play 4-0 for the fifth time in Mark Dantonio's 11 years as coach. ... Indiana's defense entered the game second in the nation with an average of seven three-and-outs forced per contest and forced four more three-and-outs on Saturday. ... Michigan State has had success despite having one of the nation's youngest rosters. The Spartans have 76 underclassmen and start 11 sophomores and three freshmen. ... After playing four teams ranked in the top 20 to start the season in Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State, the schedule lightens up for Indiana the rest of the way. The only game against a team currently ranked the rest of the season for Indiana is a home game against Wisconsin on Nov. 4.
