Senior wide receiver Terry Love evades Notre Dame junior defensive back
John Leonis after a punt made by the Fighting Irish. Love returned four
times for 28 yards on Saturday, helping secure a Spartan victory over Notre Dame, 31-14.
Playing at a school with a lot of history, the Spartans decided to make some of their own on Saturday when they defeated Notre Dame 31-14 – handing them their first ever 0-4 start.
MSU also became the first team to ever win six consecutive games at Notre Dame Stadium.
“We felt like it was a statement game,” said head coach Mark Dantonio, who is the first head coach in Spartan football history to start his career 4-0. “We had to make a statement for this program.”
Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer made a statement of his own, completing 11 of 24 passes for 135 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.
“Anytime you can throw four touchdown passes you have to be pretty pleased, but that all starts with the guys up front,” Hoyer said. “They did a great job pounding the ball.”
On MSU’s first possession of the game, Hoyer fumbled the football and Notre Dame recovered it on MSU’s 9-yard line.
Two plays later, Notre Dame running back Travis Thomas scored the Fighting Irish’s first offensive touchdown of the season.
The Spartans responded by 17 unanswered points.
After allowing 14 first half points, the Spartan defense held Notre Dame scoreless in the second half.
Freshman wide receiver Mark Dell caught his first career touchdown catch in the third quarter on a 16-yard pass from Hoyer.
MSU running backs senior Jehuu Caulcrick and Javon Ringer rushed for a combined 227 yards on 46 carries.
Notre Dame running back James Aldridge gained 104 yards on 18 carries, including one run for 43 yards that set up Notre Dame’s second touchdown. Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 7-of-13 passes for 53 yards.
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