South Bend, Ind. — No. 12 MSU football prevented a near collapse against No. 18 Notre Dame Saturday night, narrowing out a 36-28 victory that came down to the final minutes.
After leading 36-7 in the later stages of the third quarter, MSU relinquished three straight touchdowns to Notre Dame to start the fourth quarter. MSU forced a fourth down and seven.
Irish head coach, Brian Kelly decided to punt with under four minutes to go sending the ball to MSU with 3:30 to go. MSU bled the clock from there ending the night with a 23-yard end around to R.J. Shelton and then taking a knee at the Irish 27-yard line.
Running backs, sophomore LJ Scott and junior Gerald Holmes compiled 98-yards and 100 yards respectively while combing for three touchdowns.
After not seeing action in week one against Furman, Holmes had his number called 13 times, including pivotal three-yard and 73-yard touchdown runs in the third quarter. The 73-yard darting run boosted the lead to 36-7 in favor of MSU.
LJ Scott had a nine yard scamper for a score to put MSU ahead 29-7 in third quarter with 6:28 left to play.
After a slow start and holding to a one point, 8-7 lead, MSU found it's stride when an errant bounce off its own punt glanced off Notre Dame's Miles Boykin and was recovered by the Spartans.
One play later, fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O'Connor lofted one into the end zone for true freshman Donnie Corley, who leapt and caught the ball falling back with one hand to put MSU up 15-7 going into the half.
After forcing Notre Dame to punt on its first drive, MSU couldn't hold stout against the hurry-up offense of the Irish. A quick play-fake by quarterback Deshone Kizer left Irish receiver Equanimeous St. Brown wide open for a 48 yard gain. Six plays later Kizer scampered 14 yards through the defensive line to put Notre Dame up 7-0.
MSU's first two drives stalled in Notre Dame territory. The first after a failed rush by O'Connor on third down, the second on a tipped ball inside the 10-yard line that was intercepted by Irish safety Devin Studstill.
A meager drive on MSU's next possession caught a break on the punt when an errant bounce ricocheted off Irish blocker Miles Boykin and into the hands of waiting Spartans.
The Spartans faked the point-after-touchdown with a pass to fifth-year senior tight end Josiah Price by junior holder Matt Macksood for two to put MSU ahead 8-7 with 9:30 to go in the half.
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