As the football dropped into Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans’ hands with 29 seconds left in Saturday’s game, MSU sunk to the bottom of the Big Ten as the only winless team in the league.
A promising three-game winning streak to start the season has been followed by a three-game skid. After Saturday’s 17-10 loss to the Badgers, the Spartans (3-3 overall, 0-3 Big Ten) try to remain positive with Michigan looming.
Head coach Bobby Williams said the team’s been giving great efforts, but somehow ends up losing.
“I told them to stick together because eventually something good is going to happen for them,” he said. “These guys want to get this thing turned around. They’re committed to it, we’re committed to it, I’m committed to it. I’m pretty sure they’ll show up (Monday) ready to go and have another good week of practice.”
Williams said MSU’s seven penalties, three interceptions and numerous miscues made things difficult.
Senior cornerback Renaldo Hill, who had five tackles Saturday, said there’s no use dwelling on the loss with the big week ahead of them.
“There’s really nothing we can do about it now,” he said. “We have another big game next weekend. If we mourn about this game, Michigan will definitely run over us. We’re trying to look ahead and it’s going to be another big challenge for us.”
This was the second week MSU outplayed its opponent, only to be done in by a big play late in the game. MSU racked up 292 yards of total offense compared with Wisconsin’s 143, but only managed 10 points. Against Iowa, the Spartans netted 466 yards of total offense compared with the Hawkeyes’ 231, yet lost 21-16 after giving up a 43-yard touchdown reception.
For once, the Spartans got off to a fast start and took an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter with a 31-yard field goal by junior kicker David Schaefer and a 43-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Ryan Van Dyke to junior wide receiver Herb Haygood.
MSU nearly went up by another touchdown early in the second quarter but Haygood failed to catch the pass, despite beating his man.
“Like I told everyone, I blame myself for dropping that pass and I blame myself for losing this game,” Haygood said. “I think I was too happy. I heard them call the play in the huddle and a smile went across my face. I just knew it was going to work.”
Wisconsin did all the scoring in the second quarter, getting a touchdown from quarterback Brooks Bollinger and a Vitaly Pisetsky field goal to go into halftime tied 10-10.
The game remained tied until Sorgi, who at the half replaced Bollinger after he suffered a concussion, tossed Evans the game-winning touchdown with 29 seconds left in regulation.
The Spartans live by a 24-hour rule, where players have a day to get a game out of their system regardless of a win or loss. By now, the team is supposed to be focused on its next opponent.
“It’s hard to lose, but we have to regroup,” said senior wide receiver Lavaile Richardson. “There’s nothing more to say about this loss. We’re going to get it out of our system and come out Monday thinking ahead to Michigan.”
Arthur Alcid can be reached at alcidart@msu.edu.
