Michigan State football gets back on track with win over Indiana
It wasn’t a perfect game for Michigan State football, however, Mark Dantonio and the crew were able to travel to Indiana and walk out with a 35-21 win.
The Indiana Hoosiers enter their first Big Ten game of the year with a record of 3-0. No. 24 Michigan State had a bye week prior to traveling to Bloomington to take on the Hoosier. Undoubtedly, the bye week and the more talented roster gave the Spartans the upper hand heading into the game.
Michigan State took the opening kickoff down the field for a big gain, but the offensive production was twice eliminated due to unforced penalties. However the Spartans cleaned up their undisciplined play on the next drive and scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass connection between quarterback, Brian Lewerke, and wide receiver, Jalen Nailor.
The following Indiana possession showed promise until Peyton Ramsey was intercepted by Shakur Brown and returned for a 69-yard touchdown, bringing the score 14-0.
Before the first half was over, Indiana earned a touchdown of their own. However, the Hoosiers could not keep Michigan State from keeping the momentum heading into halftime after a Spartan touchdown with 19 seconds left in the second quarter.
Besides a fake field goal scored for a touchdown by Michigan State kicker, Matt Coghlin, the third quarter was relatively quiet for both teams. But in the fourth quarter, things started to heat up. Indiana scored 11 points early in the fourth quarter to bring the game to 28-18. With 3:28 left in the game, Logan Justus nailed a 35-yard field goal to bring the game within a single score.
Michigan State wasn’t having any of the potential for Indiana to come back. On the first play of the following drive, Jalen Nailor ran, untouched, for a 75-yard touchdown run. This kept the Hoosiers at a 14-point distance.
The touchdown gave Indiana its final blow and the Spartans were able to make it out of “The Rock” with a 35-21 conference win. Next week should be an easy win hosting the worst team in college football, Central Michigan.
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Central Michigan lost at home to Kansas earlier this season, so that should tell you enough about the Chippewas. The Spartans will appreciate the easier opponent before they start to gear up for tougher Big Ten opponents.