Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for Michigan State football

TURNING POINT

Midway through the second quarter, down 14 points and on the Notre Dame 14-yard line, Michigan State running back LJ Scott busted through the Irish defense and was coasting toward the goal line. Then, disaster struck. Scott was hit by Irish cornerback Shaun Crawford just before the ball broke the front of the white stripe, fumbling into the back of the end zone. Scott dove to recover the ball but accidentally popped it back into the arms of Crawford to give Notre Dame a touchback. The Spartans were inches away from a one-score game and a serious momentum shift. Instead, Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush went to work. The sophomore signal caller drove the Irish 80 yards in five plays, capped by a 14-yard touchdown run by Dexter Williams to give the visitors a commanding, demoralizing 28-7 lead. The Scott fumble was the Spartans' third turnover of the afternoon. (It was also the junior’s third of the young season.) Notre Dame took advantage, scoring touchdowns on all three.

FINAL: Notre Dame 38, MSU 18

MORE MSU FOOTBALL:

• Couch: LJ Scott should worry Michigan State; Brian Lewerke should not
• Three first-half turnovers doom Michigan State football in loss to Notre Dame
• Michigan State WR Trishton Jackson shows glimpses of spring game success in loss to Irish
• Michigan State notes: QB Brian Lewerke stays in, has up-and-down night
• Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 38-18 loss to Notre Dame

UNSUNG HERO

Welcome to the party, Trishton Jackson. After a breakout spring game, the sophomore from West Bloomfield caught a season-high five passes for 69 yards, including a long of 22 in the first half. MSU coach Mark Dantonio said Jackson was one of the few bright spots on a night when quarterback Brian Lewerke threw for 340 yards and a pair of scores. Lewerke attempted 51 passes in the loss, so let’s give out a few honorable mentions: Darrell Stewart caught six passes for 41 yards and a touchdown, and Hunter Rison and Felton Davis both hauled in four passes for 73 and 38 yards receiving, respectively.

QUOTABLE

"No one feels worse than LJ Scott. He’s got an opportunity there to stick it in the end zone and go 21-14. I’m not going to go over and yell at a guy when he is trying to make an effort play. These guys are trying to make plays … We talk ball security every single day, seven minutes a day in drills. Credit their guy … Very close call. It could’ve went the other way, but didn’t.”

— Dantonio on Scott’s goal-line fumble in the second quarter

WHAT’S NEXT

Who’s ready to put Notre Dame in the rear view? You probably aren’t the only one. Good news, conference play starts next Saturday when the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-1) pay a visit to East Lansing. Iowa’s upset bid fell short Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium, dropping a 21-19 defensive slugfest to No. 4 Penn State. Michigan State fans might recall the last time these two programs hooked up. Iowa fans certainly do. The Spartans (2-1) outlasted the Hawkeyes 16-13 in the 2015 Big Ten championship game to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.

— Cody Tucker