Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for Michigan State football
Cody Tucker
TURNING POINT
Like the Buckeyes last week, you could say Michigan State had this game won the second it came out of the tunnel for warmups. But give Maryland credit, it battled. The turning point in this one came on the first play of the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke took a read-option 25 yards untouched to the house, giving the Spartans what looked to be a commanding 14-0 lead. Lewerke eclipsed the 400-yard mark for the season, becoming only the seventh MSU quarterback to accomplish that feat. In the end, it was the game-winning score. But this one wasn’t pretty. The game started in a rainstorm and ended in a snow globe. It was wet, cold and windy — just the way the Spartans like it, apparently. A sparse crowd witnessed a run-heavy game. Neither team got it going offensively in the winter-like conditions. How about that for the understatement of the year? Lewerke completed only 2 of 14 passes for 20 yards. Thank goodness junior running back LJ Scott showed up to play, amassing 147 yards in what could be his final appearance at Spartan Stadium. When you look at the box score and think about screaming, just remember, this team is 8-3.
FINAL: No. 17 MSU 17, Maryland 7
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UNSUNG HERO
This honor is going to the old guys. The ones who played in big bowl games, sank to Death Valley last season, and led the Spartans back to respectability as one of the top teams in the Big Ten Conference — the seniors. Fifteen MSU players came out of the tunnel at Spartan Stadium one last time today. There are guys who have barely played during their careers, if at all. Maybe you’ve never heard their names, but they played a critical role, whether it’s in the locker room or the scout team. Then there are key players like Chris Frey, GeraldHolmes and Brian Allen. All leaders, all key to this turnaround. Damion Terry, a guy who came to MSU as a potential savior at the quarterback position, was relegated to the bench, backing up Brian Lewerke, Tyler O’Connor and Connor Cook. He stayed. He led. This class is small, but mighty. Hats off, gentlemen.
QUOTABLE
“It definitely wasn't fun. (That was) probably the most cold game — that was my first snow game — I've ever played in. It wasn't easy to throw the ball, as my stats show ... I mean, I've been here three years now, so it's not really an excuse I want to use or you should use anyway.”
— MSU sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke
WHAT’S NEXT
MSU will be looking for Mark Dantonio’s 99th career win next Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey, when the Spartans take on Rutgers (4-7, 3-5) at 4 p.m. The Scarlet Knights were blanked in rain-soaked Bloomington on Saturday, falling to Indiana, 41-0. The one-hour, 46-minute lightning delay did nothing more than extend Rutgers’ misery. The Scarlet Knights have doubled last year’s win total (4) and have three victories in Big Ten play (Illinois, Purdue and Maryland), but took a major step back in this one. You might recall — even though you probably don’t want to — Rutgers served as the Spartans' lone conference win in 2016. MSU (8-3, 6-2) dominated that one, 49-0. MSU has won three straight in the series, and holds a 5-3 advantage all-time.
— Cody Tucker
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