The quarterback threw his arms into the air with a wide grin and Spartan Stadium was rocking under the lights, sensing that Cousins and Co. had provided a late-game miracle.

Turns out, there was something resembling a miracle. But not in the Spartans’ favor.

Alas, a recurring MSU football stigma returned Saturday night as the Spartans surrendered the late advantage and lost the game in the waning moments as Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi hit receiver Marvin McNutt on a seven-yard slant pass on the final play as Iowa left the Spartans stunned with a 15-13 defeat.

“When we scored at the end, I thought we had it, but obviously they go down the field at the end,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “I’m not sure exactly what all transpired. I know they had three plays in 15 seconds, which is amazing.”

Stanzi completed four passes on Iowa’s final drive — he had completed seven up to that point — and was able to find open receivers across the middle of the field.

The Spartans had pressured Stanzi all game with a four-man front, but sat back and allowed Stanzi to take his time and hit his receivers on the final drive.

“From a defensive lineman’s standpoint, we know when (coaches) do things like (change the front) … we’ve got to find a way to get there,” senior defensive end Trevor Anderson said. “It’s pretty much five men blocking three guys. Regardless of what they call, players have to make plays and we didn’t make plays.”

The Spartans did blitz on the final four plays, forcing incompletions. But it was too little too late and Iowa was able to break through on the final play.

Iowa’s game-winning touchdown capped off a hectic fourth quarter. With the Spartans and Hawkeyes tied 6-6, Stanzi hit receiver Colin Sandeman, who was immediately met by senior cornerback Jeremy Ware, who plowed Sandeman, knocking him to the ground, motionless.

A while after Sandeman stayed on the ground, the officials called a personal foul penalty on Ware. That kept the Hawkeyes’ drive alive and eventually led to a go-ahead field goal.

A furious Dantonio hollered for an explanation from the officials, but he wouldn’t reveal what that explanation was.

“I think I’ll leave that all up to you people,” he told the media after the game. “I think that you people can document it and research it. You can look at it in slow motion and you can question that yourself.”

Another late penalty flag hurt the the Spartans when MSU intercepted a Stanzi throw in the red zone, but was called for holding, nullifying the pick.

The Hawkeyes also were able to run three plays in the final 15 seconds, something else Dantonio couldn’t believe.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” he said. “That’s why you guys have all the cameras and the video. Five seconds to go, I thought the game was over. I think the ball bounced up in the air too.”

Nevertheless, Iowa (8-0) ran another play and won the game. It was MSU’s third loss this season that came down to the final plays. After the latest defeat, 11 of Dantonio’s 14 losses as MSU head coach have come by eight points or fewer.

The Spartans (4-4) will have to recover quickly, as they head to Minnesota (4-4) next week to take on the Golden Gophers under the lights again. The Spartans now are facing a stronger sense of urgency if they hope to make a bowl game.

“Our guys will respond, and we have to take a step back and take a deep breath and keep moving forward,” Dantonio said. “I think I have some time in here before and said ‘life, football and athletics is a game of inches.’ Tonight is another example of a time when we did not come up with those inches.”