Head coach Mark Dantonio reacts to an Indiana touchdown during the game against Indiana on Oct. 24, 2015, at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 52-26.
No. 5 MSU (10-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) leads Penn State (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) 20-10 at halftime.
The Nittany Lions received the ball to start the game and took it from their own 35 to the MSU 31 in three plays before PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg threw an interception to senior cornerback Arjen Colquhoun.
Senior quarterback Connor Cook's status was in question coming into the game, but he got the start and didn't miss a beat.
Cook went 5-for-6 on the opening drive for 63 yards, and the PSU turnover was capped off by a 29-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver R.J. Shelton. Junior kicker Michael Geiger missed the extra point, holding the MSU lead to just 6-0.
Connor Cook is back. And, to no surprise, he's already thrown a @MSU_Football touchdown. https://t.co/8a698yqQjF
— Michigan St. on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) November 28, 2015
The Spartans weren't able to do anything on their next drive and the Nittany Lions responded with a nine-play 63-yard drive that stalled on the one-yard line forcing Penn State to kick a field goal, making it 6-3 at the beginning of the second quarter.
MSU failed to respond, but Penn State was forced to punt from their own five on the ensuing drive — which gave the Spartans quality field position, starting their next drive at PSU's 49.
Sophomore running back Gerald Holmes took over on the Spartans' second touchdown drive of the game.
47 of the 49 yards on the six-play drive came from Holmes, he had one catch for 24 yards and four carries for 23 yards and a touchdown, giving MSU a 13-3 lead.
Gerald Holmes was not going to be denied the end zone on this @MSU_Football carry. https://t.co/INIRP2bKEv
— Michigan St. on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) November 28, 2015
The Nittany Lions were on a seven-play 42-yard drive before another turnover put them in a deep hole. A 10-yard pass from Hackenberg to senior tight end was fumbled and junior safety Demetrious Cox weaved through tacklers in the open field on a 77-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, making it 20-3 in favor of MSU after the extra point.
Demetrious Cox knows what to do with the loose ball.
Hint: Pick it up & take it in for the @MSU_Football TD. https://t.co/6S18ttddeT
— Michigan St. on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) November 28, 2015
Penn State did its best to go into the half with some momentum. The Nittany Lions responded to the fumble with a 10-play 67-yard touchdown drive capped off by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Hackenberg to sophomore wide receiver Chris Godwin to end the first half down 10.
Other notes:
Connor Cook looks healthy, he finished the first half 11-16 passing for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Defense was not as strong, the Spartans gave up just 132 total yards last week against Ohio State, the Nittany Lions put up 268 in the first half.
Trevon Pendleton goes down, the senior fullback was walked to the locker room and he was unable to put any pressure on his left leg.
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