Head coach Mark Dantonio stressed the importance of Big Ten play throughout the week, and it didn’t seem to stick following the Spartans' first half performance, as No. 8 MSU trails No. 11 Wisconsin 13-6 at the break.
The Spartan defense took a hit before the game even began, as middle linebacker Riley Bullough was not dressed for the game with an undisclosed injury. Junior linebacker Shane Jones filled in for him, and he finished the first half with two tackles.
Senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor was 3-of-8 for 31 yards in the first quarter and finished the half going 7-of-18 for 57 yards and an interception. Sophomore LJ Scott had nine carries in the first half for 43 yards. The Spartans leading receiver was R.J. Shelton, who finished the half with three catches for 23 yards.
As expected, Wisconsin running back Corey Clement started the game for the Badgers despite being listed as questionable prior to kickoff. He finished the half with only 15 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook made his first career start and went 10-for-17 with 121 yards and a touchdown, as well as an interception that ended the half on a hail mary attempt
The Spartans got on the board first with a 48-yard field goal from senior kicker Michael Geiger. That drive was started by a forced fumble sack by sophomore Raequan Williams. Wisconsin’s following drive went 16 plays for 65 yards and burned just under eight minutes off the clock, resulting in a one-yard touchdown pass from Hornibrook to tight end Eric Steffes.
The next possessions for each team stalled quickly, but Wisconsin was given a gift following an O’Connor interception that put the Badgers deep in MSU territory. A third-down conversion led to Clement’s first touchdown of the day, making it 13-3 following a missed extra point.
MSU’s final drive of the first half was capped off with a 40-yard field goal, Geiger's second of the afternoon from 40 yards or more, making it a one possession game before halftime.
The Spartans were led defensively by Montae Nicholson’s eight tackles, four of which were solo. Demetrious Cox chipped in seven tackles and Raequan Williams had four tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble. The Badgers were led by senior cornerback Sojourn Shelton, who had three tackles and an interception.
Stay with the State News following the game for postgame coverage and content.
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