Billy Gates is showing no love for the Spartans. After defeating Rutgers last week on PlayStation 2, Louisiana Tech handed the Spartans their second straight loss on the Microsoft Xbox.
The video game Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech gave MSU an offensive beating not even U-M would deserve. Well, maybe.
Tech took an early lead and never looked back. The Bulldogs finished MSU off by 17 points, 55-38. The video Spartans are now 1-2.
The Bulldogs led the game for all four quarters, taking advantage of seven MSU turnovers - all interceptions.
The Spartans defense stopped Louisiana Tech's first drive of the game, but on the ensuing punt, Agim Shabaj (who is likely to see time this weekend at his old position) fumbled the ball. The Bulldogs got on the board after that with a field goal three minutes into the game.
Junior free safety Jason Harmon played strong early for the Spartans, deflecting a pass and racking up three tackles in the first quarter. Regardless of how Harmon made his presence felt, the offense was nowhere to be found.
MSU was held to three points in the opening 15 minutes, while Louisiana Tech notched 13 points, scoring the game's first touchdown at 6:13 in the first quarter.
While the Bulldogs rolled in the second quarter, scoring 24 points, the Spartans' offense continued to struggle. Senior quarterback Jeff Smoker could only hit defenders' hands while the running game resorted to the Maryland I formation in an attempt to gain some kind of positive rushing yards.
MSU scored its first touchdown of the game with six minutes to go in the first half.
Quarterback Luke McCown continued the Bulldog assault in the air after cornerback Ashton Watson injured his hand and left the game at the beginning of the second quarter. McCown, who threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns, led Louisiana Tech into the locker room at the half with a 37-10 lead.
After the half, the crowd saw an energized team emerge from the tunnel. Unfortunately for the home fans, the team was wearing red, white and blue, not green and white. Tech took to scoring quickly once again, grabbing a field goal three minutes into the second half.
The Bulldog defense began to stutter in the middle of the third quarter. That's all MSU needed: One little hole - some type of break in the defensive wall of the Bulldogs.
The Spartan offense picked up the intensity, scoring two touchdowns, a field goal and a two-point conversion, closing in on Louisiana Tech, 40-38. But alas, MSU couldn't hold McCown and the Bulldogs to three points in the second half.
Louisiana Tech put 15 more points on the board in the fourth quarter to ensure the win. The Spartans couldn't survive the final attack.
Junior running back Tyrell Dortch had a nice game, finishing with 144 yards and one touchdown. Bulldogs backups Corey Brazil and Gavin Cato, both defensive backs, led the dominating Bulldogs defense with 11 tackles each. Brazil also picked off two Smoker passes, including one that he returned for a 69-yard touchdown.
