Michigan State football's defense 'stayed in the fight' vs. Penn State
Chris SolariUNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Michigan State football’s defense needed one more stop to give its offense a chance.
And then another.
And then, the Spartans had to stop Trace McSorley and the big-play Penn State offense one more time, as they had done the entire second half Saturday.
“We stayed in the fight the whole game,” MSU linebacker Joe Bachie said. “And then you come out the end, you give your offense a chance to win.”
After struggling all season to close out games in the third and fourth quarters, the Spartans’ defense slammed the door on one of the nation’s most prolific offenses and keyed a 21-17 upset of No. 8 Penn State on Saturday.
“For a team that’s putting up 40-plus points a game, to give up three points in the second half is a tremendous job across the board defensively…,” senior safety Khari Willis said. “I think this demonstrates the heart and character of the football team.”
MSU, which entered with the nation’s No. 1 run defense and No. 122 pass defense, gave up two big first-half runs to Nittany Lions running back Miles Sanders. His 78-yarder set up a first-quarter touchdown pass from McSorley to KJ Hamler (Orchard Lake St. Mary's), and Sanders’ 48-yard TD in the second quarter put Penn State up 14-7 at halftime.
After allowing 169 yards rushing in the first five games, MSU's defense gave up 166 yards on 15 carries by halftime.
They clamped down on Sanders after halftime, holding him to 16 more yards to finish with 162 yards on 17 carries. Penn State had 159 yards of offense in the second half, finishing with 397.
Pittsburgh, under former MSU defensive coordinator Narduzzi, is the only other team to hold the Nittany Lions to less than 400 yards this season.
“That’s Spartan dog football right there,” defensive tackle Raequan Williams said. “That chip and the swagger we carry, to everyone, means everything.”
And the Spartans never allowed McSorley to do any damage with either his arm or legs. The senior quarterback was 19 of 32 for 192 yards, and he was held to 37 yards rushing on 13 carries.
“We had to have a guy on him,” Bachie said. “I thought we did a really good job. Our D-line did good and took away a lot of step-up lanes throughout the game and put pressure in his face. And our DBs did a great job in the back end as well.”
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came with about a minute and a half to play. Penn State needed a first down to run out the clock, and McSorley took off running on third-and-8. However, MSU cornerback Justin Layne upended McSorley 3 yards short of a first down, sending him out-of-bounds to stop the clock.
“He got off the block from the receiver, he made the play,” Bachie said. “We got off the field, and it gave us a chance to win the game.”
Run strong
Dantonio said earlier this week Michigan State’s goal to run the ball 40 time a game often turned into victories.
The banged-up Spartans — even without starting running back LJ Scott and two offensive linemen and most of its receiving corps — did almost that. They gained 123 yards on 36 carries, led by La’Darius Jefferson’s 60 yards on 15 carries.
Assistant coach Mark Staten loves to switch and swap MSU's offensive line, but the injuries hand-tied his rotation. The Spartans used the same line almost the entire game: Cole Chewins at left tackle, Tyler HIgby at left guard, Matt Allen at center, Blake Bueter at right guard and Jordan Reid at right tackle. Sophomore Luke Campbell saw spot duty.
“It’s nice,” Chewins said. “We’re trying to get back to Michigan State football, being able to run the ball and being dominant in that area. … It just helps us build some confidence.”
More injuries
Scott did not make the trip to Penn State, missing his fourth straight game since Dantonio said the senior running back hurt his ankle Sept. 8 at Arizona State.
The Youngstown, Ohio, native was cited for his eighth traffic and license-related violation after MSU’s win over CMU on Sept. 29, but that is not why he did not make the trip, according to a team spokesman.
“People that are not here are injury related, not discipline related," the spokesman said.
Receiver Darrell Stewart Jr. was among the others who did not make the trip to Penn State. The junior receiver injured his ankle at Indiana, then played last week in MSU’s loss to Northwestern.
Also out were starting RG Kevin Jarvis, LG David Beedle and WRs Cody White and Jalen Nailor.
Sophomore Cam Chambers injured his thumb on the catch late in the first quarter, then returned to start the second half. However, he could not catch a throw from Lewerke and it bounced off his heavily bandaged hand and was intercepted. And senior Brandon Sowards got hurt early in the second half and did not return, adding to the injury issues at wideout.
Two other receivers, Felton Davis III (hip) and Laress Nelson (leg), both got hurt on MSU’s final drive. Davis returned and scored the winning TD.
Junior cornerback Josh Butler made the trip, but he did not play. Tre Person started again in his place.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.
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