We got up at 6 AM to start cooking a turkey for the tailgate. It was cold as shit then, and it didn't get any better all day. But it was a great tailgate followed by an even better game. Penn State looked like they did earlier in the season, when they would score at will and play suffocating D. It was an excellent performance all around, and the Lions are now Big11Ten champions. And of course there's this:
It feels pretty good. Onto the recap...
1st Quarter
Penn State got the ball to start the game, and after they go three-and-out, we started wondering if this was going to be another slow start for the offense.Luckily, we started feeling better when Maybin planted Ringer in the backfield for a loss of 2 on MSU's first offensive play. After a false start, Hoyer completed two passes to pick up a first down, but after a 4-yard loss by Ringer, an incompletion, another false start and a sack by Abe Koroma, Michigan State actually lost yardage on the drive and had to punt.
On the next play, those feelings about a slow start began to fade. Clark hit Norwood on a post for 49 yards and it was first and goal at the MSU 10.
Clark hit Williams for no gain and Royster rushed for 5, setting up a third down. On third down, Clark scrambled and waited until the absolute last second before hitting Graham Zug just inside the pylon. Great play by Clark to buy some time.
7-0
The Spartans came out on the next drive and had a third and 4 after a short run and a 5-yard completion to Ringer. But Hoyer was sacked again on third down, this time by Ollie Ogbu and had to punt. Penn State's ensuing drive stalled after five plays and they punted back. But the Lions' D was locked in early, and forced another three-and-out. Great start by the D, especially the line, as Ringer still had negative rushing yards up to this point.
Williams fielded the punt and got to his own 24, but a penalty moved the offense back to the 14. The Lions got four plays in before the end of the quarter.
Williams fielded the punt and got to his own 24, but a penalty moved the offense back to the 14. The Lions got four plays in before the end of the quarter.
2nd Quarter
Clark hit Royster on a screen for a 19-yard gain to start the second. After an incompletion and a short run, Clark found Norwood for a huge 26-yard pickup on third and 7. Royster then carried one for 14 yards and after a Clark run went nowhere, Dan Lawlor pounded it in from 4 yards out. 12 plays, 86 yards. Nice drive.
14-0
Michigan State was looking to get something started on their next drive, and early on, they did. The Spartans moved the ball well and picked up three first downs after 4 runs from Ringer and a couple completions by Hoyer. But on first and 10 from the PSU 46, Mo Evans got to Hoyer for an 11-yard loss. MSU couldn't recover from there and were forced to punt again.
That was bad news for Spartan fans, because the Lions weren't going to be stopped. It was looking a little bleak at first, after Stephfon Green was stuffed for a loss of 4 and Clark was sacked for a loss of 3 (both by Greg Jones), but Clark hit Green on a screen that went for 37 yards (and probably would've gone for a score if Green hadn't run into A.Q. Shipley).
After a pass interference penalty, a short run and an incompletion, it was third and 11 at the MSU 29, and Clark stepped up again on third down, hitting Zug for a huge 28 yard gain. Clark took it in for 6 on the next play.
Did you see him stare down the ref after that play?
That was bad news for Spartan fans, because the Lions weren't going to be stopped. It was looking a little bleak at first, after Stephfon Green was stuffed for a loss of 4 and Clark was sacked for a loss of 3 (both by Greg Jones), but Clark hit Green on a screen that went for 37 yards (and probably would've gone for a score if Green hadn't run into A.Q. Shipley).
After a pass interference penalty, a short run and an incompletion, it was third and 11 at the MSU 29, and Clark stepped up again on third down, hitting Zug for a huge 28 yard gain. Clark took it in for 6 on the next play.
Did you see him stare down the ref after that play?21-0
Michigan State was probably feeling the urgency at this point. If they didn't score soon, the game could get out of hand. Hoyer came out and completed his first three passes of the ensuing drive. The only problem was that the third one went to Scirrotto. Whoops.
Clark wasted no time and hit Williams for a 32-yard touchdown.
We are lazy photoshoppers.
Clark wasted no time and hit Williams for a 32-yard touchdown.
We are lazy photoshoppers.28-0
Michigan State doesn't quit though (as we would find out more about later), and they took the ball on a 14-play, 76-yard ride for a touchdown before the half.
28-7
Penn State may have held the Spartans to a field goal if it weren't for a ridiculous pass interference call on Scirrotto, but we barely cared. After that first half, we weren't too worried about the Spartans coming back.
-Halftime-
3rd Quarter
Michigan State got the ball to start the third quarter and couldn't get anything going. They converted a first down but then were set back by a false start penalty. A few short plays later and it was punt time.
The Lions fared no better as they went three-and-out.
Not to be outdone, the Spartans went three-and-out.
The Lions fared no better as they went three-and-out.
Not to be outdone, the Spartans went three-and-out.
On the Lions' second possession of the half, things changed.
The offense started on their own 30, but Royster and Norwood quickly ate up 56 yards of grass and put the Lions deep in Michigan State territory. Around this time, one of the broadcasters mentioned that they had not heard anything from Butler this game.
The words were barely out of their mouth when Clark hit Butler on a four yard slant.
The offense started on their own 30, but Royster and Norwood quickly ate up 56 yards of grass and put the Lions deep in Michigan State territory. Around this time, one of the broadcasters mentioned that they had not heard anything from Butler this game.
The words were barely out of their mouth when Clark hit Butler on a four yard slant.
35-7
The Lion's weren't stopping, and the Spartans didn't seem to even put up a fight.
On the next drive, the Spartans got a quick first down and then went for blood on the ensuing first down. The Spartans ran a poorly executed trick play to try and jump-start things, but it all fell apart. It was a bold call but Lydell Sargeant was back there and he has a knack for picking off the deep ball -- don't ya, Lydell?
Yes sir.
On the next drive, the Spartans got a quick first down and then went for blood on the ensuing first down. The Spartans ran a poorly executed trick play to try and jump-start things, but it all fell apart. It was a bold call but Lydell Sargeant was back there and he has a knack for picking off the deep ball -- don't ya, Lydell?
Yes sir.The play was reviewed because the lateral was forward, the Lions declined the penalty and got the ball at their own four, and Hoyer was left dead on the field. He didn't look injured until he realized the ball had been picked off.
Getting the ball back must have ignited the offense as they ran four plays and got 2 first downs. On the fifth play of the drive it was all Butler.
Clark stepped back, put the ball in the air, the camera panned to the right and what did we see?
Butler in space. 70 yards.
That's six.
42-7
Getting the ball back must have ignited the offense as they ran four plays and got 2 first downs. On the fifth play of the drive it was all Butler.
Clark stepped back, put the ball in the air, the camera panned to the right and what did we see?
Butler in space. 70 yards.That's six.
42-7
MSU got the ball back and ran five plays before punting.
Somewhere, Michael Moore was taking off that Michigan State hat.
Somewhere, Michael Moore was taking off that Michigan State hat.
4th Quarter
Devlin started the fourth quarter for the Lion's and we expected a bunch of hand-offs. Instead, they let the guy pass it.
On his fourth attempt, he caught Michigan State excercising their new "stop Deon Butler" scheme.
He was pretty open.
49-7
After that score, PSU went into shutdown mode whenever they had the ball and MSU got 11 meaningless points. We wish they wouldn't have let them get that 2-pt conversion and on-side kick, but we don't even know what guys were on the field when that happened.
On his fourth attempt, he caught Michigan State excercising their new "stop Deon Butler" scheme.
He was pretty open.49-7
So yeah, 49-18.
The big story though was MSU using two timeouts back-to-back with 9 seconds left. We're not sure what they were trying to accomplish but some guy on the post game show was saying the MSU staffers and players were taunting the crowd. We're not sure that actually happened because there was nothing they could taunt us for. I mean, they were losing 49-18. Did this really happen? Did anyone in the stadium see this? Does anyone in the stadium read this?
If it did, they were probably just pissed that there were Roses on the PSU sideline sometime during the third quarter. We wish they had waited until the game ended because it does come off as a bit cocky. Celebrate after the game, guys.
Anyway, what a way to end the season. The fan-base owes a LOT to the guys pictured below. They committed to this school when it was at its worst, and now they have 2 Big11Ten trophies to show for their efforts.
If it did, they were probably just pissed that there were Roses on the PSU sideline sometime during the third quarter. We wish they had waited until the game ended because it does come off as a bit cocky. Celebrate after the game, guys.
Anyway, what a way to end the season. The fan-base owes a LOT to the guys pictured below. They committed to this school when it was at its worst, and now they have 2 Big11Ten trophies to show for their efforts.
Game.
49-18
49-18
3 Big Stat Lines
- Daryll Clark: 16-26, 341 yds, 5 TD (1 rushing)
- Senior Receivers: 12 rec., 311 yds, 4 TD
- Penn State D: held MSU to 35 yards rushing
Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:
- Outstanding play on both sides of the ball by Penn State
- What a game by Daryll Clark. Good to see him close out the season on a positive note.
- Deon Butler is extremely efficient: 3 catches, 3 touchdowns.
- Awesome game from the big three senior receivers overall.
- Maybe we should've predicted this type of game. MSU got crushed by Ohio State and barely beat Wisconsin. They had a nice year, but they didn't beat any great teams.
- Damn, it was cold out there.
- Two Big11Ten titles in four years for these seniors. Not too shabby.
- Doesn't look like Joe is goin' anywhere.
- Five and a half damn weeks until Jan. 1.
You can't say enough about the performance of these four. Clark looked relaxed from the start, going through his reads, making solid throws and buying time with his feet. The first touchdown was all his doing. He had a huge day from there on out, and his stats show it. As for the receivers, what a way to go out. Williams made a great catch for a touchdown, Norwood was his old sneaky, speedy self and got into space a number of times and every time Butler touched the football, it went for a touchdown. The offense closed out the season in style, thanks in large part to these guys.
Michigan State Player of the Game: LB Greg Jones
Jones racked up 15 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and a sack. He seemed like pretty much the only Spartan defender that could do anything against the PSU offense. He is a beast for sure.
And finally, give the man some roses:
2 Comments:
I can vouch for some form of "taunting" by the MSU players during their time outs. I'm not sure what you call it, taunting or whatever but they were basically just waving their arms in a "let's hear it" fashion as we booed them relentlessly...that to me just made it obvious that he only called them to prolong the game and be a d*ck...if he had called them to actually try and get something together for future game situation them fine, but that wasn't what he did.
Thanks.
You have to wonder what they were trying to accomplish.
What you say about the taunting gestures is a little more tame than the guy on the radio who said they had people jawing with the fans and making it sound like they were really giving it to them.
As for the timeouts, yeah he was probably just trying to keep you all in the freezing cold. Hopefully this will build up a little heat between the two teams and make for a nice little rivalry.
Post a Comment