MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio talked about now-No. 13 MSU’s 34-17 win against Michigan Saturday.
Dantonio talked about the state of the rivalry after MSU has won three straight games against the Wolverines, and his embracing the game. He also talked about the Spartans’ ability to contain quarterback Denard Robinson.
MSU moved to 6-0 and gave U-M its first loss of the season.
Being outrushed by about 80 yards in the first quarter, the No. 13 MSU football team knew a better effort was needed if it was going to win its third in a row against Michigan.
Two big running plays in the second quarter — a 61-yard touchdown run by sophomore Edwin Baker and a 41-yard touchdown run by freshman Le’Veon Bell — allowed them to take an advantage in the rushing battle and outrun the Wolverines, 249-162, en route to a 34-17 win Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
The team that has won the rushing battle has won the game 38 of the past 41 years.
“Once we settled down and continued to do what we do, which is having the ability to run and pass the ball efficiently, we kind of got on track,” offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said.
MSU scored on five straight drives once Baker and Bell found the endzone, being anchored by the offensive line and Baker and Bell’s ability to make people miss.
Baker rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, showing breakaway speed on his 61-yard touchdown run. Bell carried seven times for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Caper had eight carries for 34 yards and a touchdown.
Saturday was Baker’s third 100-yard rushing game of the season as the Spartans outpossessed the Wolverines, 35:55-24:05.
“There was one drive where we were running the ball over them. We were getting five or six yards a pop,” junior quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “We have so many guys we can rotate in.”
Worthy performance
The Spartans’ special teams continues to give them a leg up against opponents this season.
After U-M completed a 49-yard pass from Denard Robinson to Martavious Odoms with three seconds remaining in the second quarter, sophomore defensive tackle Jerel Worthy blocked U-M’s 42-yard field goal attempt and prevented the Wolverines from pulling within four points.
Sophomore kicker Dan Conroy also hit field goals of 28 and 38 yards, making him nine-for-nine on the season.
Scout of honor
After mimicking Robinson on the scout team for a week, freshman wide receiver Tony Lippett got high praise from defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi. The Spartans held Robinson to 86 rushing yards and 215 passing yards.
“It was the best scout team performance I’ve ever seen out of a football player,” Narduzzi said. “He wasn’t good, he was excellent. … He looked like Denard (Robinson).”
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