T.J. Duckett rushed for 469 yards during MSU’s 0-4 Big Ten start. Saturday, Duckett rushed for only two yards, but the result was a Spartan victory.
MSU dedicated itself to rushing the ball even without the sophomore running back.
With Duckett relegated to the role of cheerleader after aggravating a shoulder injury at Michigan on Oct. 21, other Spartan rushers were implored to step up.
And that’s exactly what they did.
MSU ran the ball 46 times for 180 yards. Illinois rushed 45 times for 182 yards.
Using a running back by committee system, MSU was determined to run the ball even though Duckett only carried the ball one time for two yards.
MSU head coach Bobby Williams was pleased to see his backups pick up the slack, which contributed to the Spartans’ 14-10 win against Illinois.
“I thought all five of them did a tremendous job,” Williams said, referring to Little John Flowers, Dawan Moss, Tyrell Dortch, Travis Wilson and Mike Labinjo.
Flowers paced the group with 85 yards on 14 carries.
“I was really proud of Little John Flowers because he is always kind of the last guy,” Williams said of Flowers’ lack of recognition.
The Kalamazoo native said it was a relief for the offense to finally reach the end zone.
“We turned the red zone into the green zone,” Flowers said. “The scores gave our offense a lot of confidence going into next week.”
Although Flowers, a junior, ran for the most yards among the ball carriers, both touchdowns were converted by Moss. The fullback from Detroit’s Cass Tech High School ran for touchdowns of one and four yards.
“It was a total team effort today,” Moss said. “T.J. Duckett is one of the best running backs around so we knew that with him out of the lineup, we all would get some chances.”
Dortch, a freshman from Hoboken, N.J., carried the ball seven times for 52 yards. He said it was hard to bounce back after committing a first half fumble, which Illinois’ Muhammad Abdullah recovered at the Fighting Illini 9-yard line.
“Coach Williams and T.J. (Duckett) pulled me aside and said, ‘We’re not down on you, so why should you be down on yourself?’ That helped me a lot.”
Freshman quarterback Jeff Smoker, who relieved junior Ryan Van Dyke for the victory, said the Spartans’ ability to rush the ball made his job easier.
“Those guys did a great job,” Smoker said of the Duckett-less rushing attack. “It always helps the quarterback when your offense is able to have balance.”
Duckett had 960 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the first seven games. Williams said it was a joint decision to keep the star running back on the sidelines Saturday.
“T.J. came out after his one carry and said he wanted to stay out, which I agreed with,” Williams said. “By him not getting hit (against Illinois) that really helps and he should be fresh to play next week.”
MSU senior offensive lineman Dave Sucura said he was impressed with the play by the running backs.
“I thought the guys did a real good job,” Sucura said. “Little John (Flowers) did a great job, and I was hoping he’d get his first touchdown.”
Flowers didn’t get a touchdown, but the Spartans did notch a much needed win.
