Michigan State football's game plan weatherproof in win over Michigan

Still rain-soaked and croaky-voice, Mark Dantonio took exception to the word “conservative” to describe Michigan State’s second-half offense during a deluge.

“We played smart with the weather,” Dantonio quickly chimed and corrected.

He didn’t trust the weather. He believed in his defense.

And the Spartans rode out the downpour to a 14-10 victory Saturday over No. 7 Michigandespite going almost the entire final half without a first down.

“Obviously, the weather was hampering everybody,” Dantonio said. “And we came up with the turnovers. It’s big when you come up 5-0 in the turnover margin.”

After scoring a touchdown on a Brian Lewerke run late in the first quarter and his early second-quarter touchdown pass, the Spartans punted nine times, had one drive end the first half and another end with a turnover on downs. MSU gained just 64 yards in the second half, with 26 of them and the Spartans’ only two first downs coming on their final drive of the game.

“Going into the game, we definitely knew there was going to be rain around 9:30-10 p.m.,” Lewerke said. “My dad told me before the game to score as many points as you could in the first half because the second half you wouldn't be able to pass the ball. I’m glad we did that.”

More MSU football:

Couch: MSU's latest win over Michigan sets the record straight about Dantonio, Harbaugh

Grades for the Spartans' performance against the Wolverines

Couch: 3 quick takes from Michigan State's 14-10 win over Michigan

Part of that was because Dantonio opted to run and not throw. Lewerke was 5-for-8 passing after halftime for just 20 yards. He led the Spartans, though, with 15 carries for 61 yards in the game, including 11 runs for 33 yards after halftime.

“We played through the weather. We didn’t gamble too much,” Dantonio said. “We didn’t go down the field with the ball at all in the second half, really, because of the weather. It was blowing out there and wet, so everything was intermediate. We tried to run the ball and take the clock as much as we could and just make them beat us on defense, which we were able to do.”

It helped that MSU’s defense turned the Wolverines over with three straight interceptions in the second half, as well as forcing two first-half fumbles to halt U-M drives.

“We’ve been through so much this off-season that the little adversity we faced with the rain and whatever else was going on in this game, it just allowed us to fight through that,” senior linebacker Chris Frey said.

Injury update: MSU was without junior David Beedle for the second straight game, with true freshman Kevin Jarvis getting his second straight start at right guard.

But the bigger surprise was running back LJ Scott, who dressed but did not play with an undisclosed injury.

“No updates, he was just nicked up and couldn’t play,” Dantonio said. “He probably could’ve played, but we felt like we couldn’t risk having him out for another couple weeks if something happened.”

Running back Gerald Holmes injured his ankle early in the second quarter, but he returned for the Spartans’ final few drives. The senior finished with 27 yards on 11 carries.

Other Spartans who left the game but returned included center Brian Allen, linebacker Chris Frey and safety Khari Willis.

Special teams gaffes: MSU’s special teams had major issues early in the third quarter to cost the Spartans field position, first Andre Welch’s east-and-west kickoff return that included a hold to start them at their own 7 to begin the second half. And then fellow true freshman Laress Nelson muffed a punt that he recovered, though it pushed MSU back to its own 2 after a three-and-out by the defense. Nelson also misjudged a punt earlier in the game, and Darrell Stewart took over on punt duties after his second one.

Watts-Jackson starts: After not dressing the first game of the year and not playing yet this season, MSU safety Jalen Watts-Jackson returned to Michigan Stadium. He started the game on the Spartans’ opening kickoff as part of the coverage unit and played throughout the game on special teams.

The senior scored the game-winning touchdown after a Wolverines fumbled punt snap at Michigan Stadium to give the Spartans’ 27-23 victory as time expired two years ago.

Rivalry notes: Dantonio is now 4-1 at Michigan Stadium and 8-3 overall against the Wolverines, including eight of the past 10 games. He has not lost consecutive games to U-M in that time and improved to 2-1 against Jim Harbaugh.

MSU has now defeated Michigan 11 times when U-M is ranked in the Associated Press Top 10. The Spartans also are 3-0 since joining the Big Ten when the Wolverines are coming off a bye week, with the other wins coming in 2013 and 2014.

Dress list: MSU had freshman kicker Tyler Hunt dressed along with place-kicker Matt Coughlin and kickoff specialist Brett Scanlon. Hunt did not play.

Other notable players not making the Spartans’ 70-man travel roster included: QB Rocky Lombardi, OL AJ Arcuri, OL Mustafa Khaleefah, DE Drew Beesley and K Cole Hahn.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!