No. 17 MSU traveled to Bloomington, Ind. to take on the Indiana Hoosiers in their first road game of the Big Ten season. At halftime, the Spartans lead the Hoosiers 7-0 as they look to bounce back after their blowout loss to Wisconsin last week.
MSU’s first offensive drive went 14 plays for 52 yards that took over eight minutes and included a fourth-down conversion. That drive resulted in a field goal attempt by senior kicker Michael Geiger to be blocked by Indiana. The Spartans, after stopping the Hoosiers, were pinned down for their second drive, starting at their own 12-yard line.
Later, MSU only needed two plays.
The first a one-yard run, and the next a strike in stride from redshirt-senior Tyler O’Connor to senior R.J. Shelton for 86 yards, as Shelton outran Indiana’s secondary and dove for the pylon to get MSU on the board. Those seven points already outperformed last week’s mere six against the Badgers.
The Spartan defense did not seem all too affected by the absence of linebackers Jon Reschke and Riley Bullough, holding an Indiana offense that averages 516.7 yards per game to only 120 yards in the first half. The Hoosier rushing game, led by junior Devine Redding, rushed for 32 yards on 10 carries.
MSU was led defensively by sophomore linebacker Andrew Dowell who had five tackles and a pass breakup in the first half. Junior linebacker Tegray Scales led the Hoosiers with seven first-half tackles and a half-tackle for loss.
The Spartans first-second quarter drive looked smooth, but two holding calls and a bad snap gave Indiana the ball at their own 45-yard line. Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow, though, overshot his intended receiver in the end zone, which was cut off and intercepted by sophomore Vayante Copeland for a touchback.
Lagow finished the half going 7-for-13 for 76 yards and an interception. His counterpart, O’Connor, was 8-of-18 with most of his 139 yards coming on the touchdown to Shelton.
The Spartans and Hoosiers sustained a few drives each, but the big play to Shelton remains the difference maker. Both sides committed seven penalties for 60 yards, which killed momentum on the offensive end.
Stay with The State News for more second half and postgame coverage of MSU’s Big Ten road opener in Bloomington, Ind.
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “HALFTIME: No. 17 MSU leads Indiana 7-0 thanks to big play” on social media.
