Michigan State at Nebraska football: Turning point, unsung hero, what they're saying, etc.
Graham CouchTURNING POINT
Michigan State’s offense hadn’t done much. But Nebraska’s had done next to nothing well into the fourth quarter, and the Spartans led 6-3. Then Nebraska safety Antonio Reed blitzed, MSU quarterback Rocky Lombardi didn’t recognize it and no other Spartan picked it up. Reed drilled the unsuspecting Lombardi, who fumbled, giving the Huskers the ball at the MSU 20-yard line. The Spartans held Nebraska out of the end zone, but that led to a short Huskers field goal which tied the game. MSU countered with two straight three-and-outs on offense, the first of which led to another Nebraska field goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.
UNSUNG HERO
MSU quarterback Rocky Lombardi did a lot of things in Saturday’s loss to Nebraska — some of them well, some of them not. But he gets this honor for his quick instincts and fumble recovery midway through the second quarter that kept the ball in MSU’s hands at its own 33-yard line. Linebacker Antjuan Simmons made an appearance at running back for MSU with 6:54 remaining in the second quarter. On his only play, he took the handoff and was quickly drilled, losing the ball in the process. It looked like Nebraska might have recovered football, but Lombardi dove on it first, which helped the Spartans maintain a 3-0 lead at the half.
QUOTABLE
“There’s such a difference if you win the game 9-6 as opposed to losing the game 9-6. There’s a complete flip. It’s just like another dimension between wining and losing, and we’ve got to win.” — MSU coach Mark Dantonio
WHAT’S NEXT
MSU (6-5 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) wraps up its regular season against lowly Rutgers at 4 p.m. next Saturday at Spartan Stadium. The Scarlet Knights are 1-10 overall and 0-8 in the Big Ten after Saturday’s 20-7 home loss to Penn State. This will be the final home game for MSU’s few seniors, including Khari Willis, Andrew Dowell and injured receiver Felton Davis. After that, it’s on to a bowl game for the Spartans, perhaps the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Jacksonville, Florida, or maybe still the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day in Tampa.
— Graham Couch
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