Indiana 27, Michigan St. 52 |
FINAL |
The Spartan offense delivered in front of their homecoming crowd tonight, demolishing the road-weary Hoosiers, 52-27.
Michigan State ran over IU like a wounded squirrel on a 100-yard strip of pavement. The Hoosiers tied the game in the first quarter at 7-7 but were unable to tie the game from then on out.
We'll be back later with final statistics and analysis. We are heading downstairs for the press conference. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michigan State just finished doing what winning teams do in the fourth quarter: run the clock and score.
Caulcrick just went three yards for his third touchdown of the evening to sign, seal and deliver a Spartan victory.
The Spartans just completed a 15-play 71-yard drive that ran 6 minutes and 37 seconds off the clock. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't want to jinx anything...but the Hoosiers have scored two unanswered touchdowns.
Tracy Porter just picked up a fumble deep in IU territory and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown. Will Patterson caused the fumble on the play.
The Hoosiers are still three possessions back, but they have a lot more life in them than they did five minutes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A 37-yard touchdown to Hardy puts the Hoosiers within...well, actually, they are still getting killed.
This game is a lost cause by anyone's standards, but that doesn't mean the Hoosiers are packing it in. The fourth quarter will be a learning experience for IU - which hopefully translates into a quick rebound against Penn State next weekend. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instead of giving you my insight to Michigan State's latest touchdown, I'll provide you the reaction of the stupid-drunk Michigan State fan in the press box:
Kellen Lewis pressured, then sacked YEAH!
The ball comes loose. GET ON HIM!! NICE!!
Michigan State picks up the ball up, scores a touchdown. YEAH!!!!!!
There is five minutes left in the third quarter, but like Trent Green's NFL career, this game is over. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The carnage continues at Spartan Stadium for the Hoosiers. Michigan State just delivered a knockout punch in a three-yard rushing touchdown by Caulcrick.
IU has been unable to stop Michigan State's offense. The exception this evening has been Austin Thomas, who has 18 tackles - six short of the school record (Joe Norman - 1978).
To give you an idea of how this game has gone: Michigan State's time of possession is 27:22, while Indiana has had the ball for only 10:29. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The good: The Spartans have the ball around midfield. Not yet in IU's red zone.
The bad: Michigan State fans are doing the wave.
The ugly: Will Patterson was just helped off the field after being injured on the previous play. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A 34-yard touchdown play to Devin Thomas puts the Spartans ahead, 31-13.
Although there is plenty of time left, the Hoosiers must play relatively mistake-free the rest of the way in order to mount a comeback. That means no interceptions by Lewis and no fumbles by the running backs and return team.
The Spartans have been getting incredible pressure on the ball. If I'm Lynch, I line the Hoosiers up five wide and try and spread the field, forcing Michigan State to drop back into some kind of coverage. If they keep blitzing, Lewis will have to scramble around long enough for an IU receiver to get down field in order to do some damage.
It's not a must-score situation yet for IU, but its close. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing personal, but the Hoosiers really need to keep Michael Hines off the field. After going three-and-out once again, Hines kicked a 39-yard line drive punt that resulted in no return.
Michigan State takes over with a short field at there own 42. The Hoosiers really need the Spartans to return the favor and go three-and-out. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halftime Statistics
\0xF06E Kellen Lewis: 3-4 for 70 yards. Five rushes for 63 yards. Three sacks. \0xF06E Bryan Payton: Five carries for 13 yards. \0xF06E James Bailey: four kick returns, 108 yards (63 long), one fumble. \0xF06E Austin Thomas: 14 tackles in the first half. \0xF06E Javon Ringer (MSU): 17 carries for 160 rushing yards, two touchdowns. \0xF06E Jehuu Caulcrick (MSU): 10 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown.Field goal: no good. The kick by Brett Swenson had the distance, but hit the right field goal to Michigan State's dismay.
A disappointing half as a whole for the Hoosiers, but IU definitely showed potential for a comeback in the second quarter. They were able to hold Michigan State's rushing attack and force them to punt and they have shown they can put points up in a hurry.
IU will receive the opening kick-off in the second half and would do themselves a big favor by scoring on the drive. Even a field goal would make this a one-possession game.
I'll have some halftime statistics as soon as they bring them by. That's right kids, the Under the Rock staff doesn't record every single play by hand. We have magical sports information helpers who bring by sheet after sheet of statistics. Sorry to burst your bubble. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michigan State just called a timeout with three seconds left from their 36-yard-line. They will come out to attempt a 53-yard kick to end the half.
IU_Fan: Thanks for tuning in. At kick-off the announced temperature was 41 degrees, but I would say it has dropped below that now that the sun has set and we're further into the night. There is a pretty steady wind, around 10 mph. Starr's 47-yard kick was dead into the wind.
These are definitely the coldest conditions the Hoosiers have played in, but nothing they should be unfamiliar with. After all, Indiana isn't exactly West Palm Beach. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You have to give it to Austin Starr, he's been IU's most consistent performer this season.
Starr just kicked a 47-yard field goal - a school record 11th made field goal in a row. The most impressive aspect of that kick was the conditions. It is pretty cold in East Lansing (35-40 degrees) and the crowd was pretty hostile pre-snap.
If the Hoosiers can shut out Michigan State's offense the rest of the half they will be in pretty good shape going into the second half, where they will begin with the ball. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hoosiers haven't showed much consistency on offense tonight, but they've been making up for it with timely big plays.
On first down, Lewis just completed a 49-yard pass to James Hardy deep. Lewis had to dodge several Spartan defenders before getting the pass off.
Following a Spartan sack, the Hoosiers have the ball on Michigan State's 40-yard-line on second and 18. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming up with a sack on third down, the Hoosiers forced Michigan State to punt for the first time this game.
Tracy Porter fair caught the punt at the 10-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Payton took the ball six yards up the middle. It appears as if he will be the feature back tonight.
The Hoosiers have to punt again though - partially due to poor play calling. Since when did running the ball with Payton up the middle become IU's bread and butter?
The Spartans take over around midfield. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three-and-out for the Hoosiers.
Lewis originally threw an interception on third down, only to have it called off because of a false start penalty by Brandon Walker-Roby. By far the best play Walker-Roby has made all season.
Blitzing on third down, Michigan State forced Lewis to throw a screen pass to Thigpen that was well short of the first down marker.
The Spartans take over on their own 43-yard-line. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Spartans opened the second quarter with two passes, but quickly went back to their ever-so-successful running game and scored on a 64-yard by Ringer.
I've already touched on this, but IU's run-defense looks miserable. Ringer already has 143 rushing yards on 11 carries. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Austin Starr cleared the goalpost by a "pepperpot" on his 40-yard field goal to pull IU within a touchdown.
Spartan Stadium was extremely loud before Starr's kick. The press box is protected by some kind of sound-proof glass, but it didn't put up much of a fight against 70,000 strong. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can't spell "redemption" without B-a-i-l-e-y.
After fumbling a kick-off three minutes ago, Bailey almost broke free on this kick-off, returning the ball to Michigan State's 30-yard-line. In addition, the Spartans were flagged for a late hit, putting the Hoosiers inside Michigan State's red zone. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Following the fumble on the kick-off, Michigan State kicked a 23-yard field goal to extend their lead.
I think the Spartans did IU a favor by kicking the field goal. Michigan State only needed a yard, and IU hasn't stopped Michigan State behind the line of scrimmage yet. Although I understand the logic of wanting to be up two possessions, I would have liked my chances on fourth down if I were the Spartans. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's seemed as if James Bailey has been in Lynch's doghouse all season. Suspended for a game last month and now buried on IU's depth chart, Bailey has been regulated to kick returns.
Expect for Bailey to continue to be regulated to doggy biscuits and a tight leash. The wide receiver just fumbled the kick-off, turning the ball over to Michigan State deep inside IU territory. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A three-yard rushing touchdown by Spartan back Josh Ringer puts the Spartans on top again.
The Hoosiers are really struggling to tackle on the field. If the beginning of this game is any indication to how the rest will play out, IU will have very, very few solo tackles.
If the Spartans keep pounding the ball at this pace, the Hoosiers are really going to need to stack the box. Michigan State's offensive line averages well over 300 pounds, which puts IU's light defensive line at a disadvantage. The Hoosier linebackers will really need to plug the holes in order for IU to force Michigan State to punt.
The Hoosiers will take over back on offense. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess Lewis doesn't run a QB draw for 60 yards again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kellen Lewis just silenced all of East Lansing.
On IU's first play from scrimmage, Lewis faked a hand-off to Bryan Payton before taking the ball 59 yards untouched for a touchdown. The drive lasted 10 seconds.
I'm going to try and emphasize this enough: but nobody was even close to Lewis. He had so much room I assumed he didn't have the ball. After all, I am in the press box and everyone else was following Payton. Nevertheless, he was gone after about eight steps. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After failing to pick up a first down, the Spartans were left with fourth and short. Michigan State line up in field goal formation and it appeared they would settle for the easy early points.
Instead, holder and punter, Aaron Bates took the snap and ran down the left hashmark for a 14-yard gain and a Michigan State first down.
Two plays later, Jehuu Caulcrick scored a touchdown from the goaline to put the Spartans ahead first. The touchdown was Caulcrick's 11th of the season.
Just five minutes into the game and the Hoosiers already find themselves in a hole. Playing in front of a near sell-out homecoming crowd (approx. 70,000), the Hoosiers will have to deal with a lot of crowd noise, in addition to the Spartans, on their first drive of the night. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Following the Bill Lynch standard procedure code, the Hoosiers won the toss and elected to defer. Michigan State will receive.
On their first drive of the evening, Michigan State picked up three quick first downs, moving the ball easily into IU territory.
Michigan State converted on their first third down of the game on IU's 37-yard line. Spartan quarterback Brian Hoyer completed a 12-yard pass to Devin Thomas to move the chains.
Also, I'd like to predict that on IU's opening possession they go straight to the Ray Fisher Screen Pass followed immediately by two Marcus Thigpen rushes in shotgun formation. Call it a hunch, call it familiarity with IU's playcalling. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kick-off is about ten minutes away.
I have a childhood obsession of looking through the opposing team's roster searching for funny names. Fortunately, Michigan State is loaded:
* Starting at outside linebacker for the Spartans: SirDarean Adams. * Burried in the linebacker depth chart: Eric Gordon. * Michigan State's best defensive player, Jonal Saint-Dic. * And of course, at backup defensive tackle: 6-5, 295-pound Michael Jordan. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can smell it in the East Lansing air: the Old Brass Spittoon is up for grabs tonight at Spartan Stadium.
The Hoosiers (5-1) go against Michigan State (4-2) in a little over an hour for ownership of the Spittoon. IU clobbered the Spartans at home last season, 46-21, but Michigan State is under new leadership this season, playing under first-year coach Mike Dantonio.
The cream and crimson are off to their best start in 14 years, thanks to a 40-20 victory last week over Minnesota. It should be interesting to see who receives the bulk of the carries tonight, Bryan Payton or Marcus Thigpen. Thigpen has been the starter since last season, but Payton came on strong last week, rushing for three touchdowns and 90 yards.
The Spartans are led by running back Javon Ringer, who has rushed for 729 yards on 103 carries this season. The second-stringer, Jehuu Caulcrick, has rushed for 405 yards of his own this season and a team-leading 10 touchdowns. Including Illinois, I think this will be the toughest rushing duo the Hoosiers face this season.
For the most part, the stadium is empty, except for the student section that is jam-packed with awaiting fans. I'm a big fan of first-come, first-serve student sections.
Typically, I'm a self-proclaimed pessimist when it comes to IU football - but I predict the Hoosiers to spoil their second homecoming of the season and defeat Michigan State tonight. Here are the UTR picks:
Matt: Indiana 34, Michigan State 21 Lee: Indiana 31, Michigan State 28 Tom: Michigan State 31, Indiana 21
