On an afternoon where its defense was not at its best, Michigan State needed its offense to step up — specifically its leaders. So, when the Spartan offense needed to put points on the board, it turned to the seniors.
Fifth-year quarterback Brian Lewerke threw for three touchdowns, two to senior wideout Darrell Stewart Jr. and one to fifth-year tight end Matt Seybert, and Matt Coghlin kicked a 21-yard game-winning field goal to lead No. 25 MSU to a 40-31 homecoming win over Indiana.
For the first time in two years, the Spartans started 2-0 in conference play.
Michigan State's defense gets gashed
There weren't many people that could see a game like this coming for MSU's defense — especially not against Indiana.
At home.
With a quarterback just coming back from an injury.
But the Hoosiers, led by Michael Penix Jr., waltzed into Spartan Stadium with no fear. And showed it by answering the Spartans every step of the way.
Trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, Penix found Whop Philyor for a 28-yard touchdown to tie the game. After the Spartans took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, Penix used his legs to find the end zone from two yards out to knot the game up at 14.
Philyor finished with 14 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
MSU took a 21-14 lead before Penix led the Hoosiers back inside the 10-yard line. However, the Spartans' defense stood strong and help Indiana to a field goal. But, after MSU's next offensive possession stalled at midfield, Penix and the IU offense went back to work.
The redshirt freshman quarterback, who at one point completed 20 consecutive pass attempts, orchestrated a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a 12-yard touchdown pass to Donavan Hale.
Hale finished with six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.
After a Matt Seybert touchdown and Matt Coghlin field goal gave the Spartans a 31-24 lead late in the fourth quarter, Penix went right at the Spartan defense to tie the game. With the help of two pass interference calls and a personal foul, the Hoosiers quickly moved into Spartan territory before Penix connected with Philyor again for an 11-yard score to tie the game at 31.
Penix, who wasn't a sure thing to start Saturday's game, missing the Hoosiers' last two games with a shoulder injury, took everything MSU's defense gave him, throwing for 286 yards and three scores.
"Credit to Indiana, they did an outstanding job, especially on the offensive side of the ball," MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. "Penix was on fire there and played extremely well."
Kenny Willekes led MSU's defense with 12 tackles. On the final play, Michael Dowell picked up the loose ball in the end zone after IU tried to lateral the ball across the field.
Seniors lead MSU's offense
For once, MSU's offense needed to pick up the defense in its troubling times. And it was Lewerke and Stewart Jr., that did damage with the ball.
After Coghlin missed a 43-yard field goal on MSU's first offensive possession, he redeemed himself with a 44-yard connection late in the fourth quarter to give the Spartans a touchdown lead. Lewerke led the Spartans right back down the field where Elijah Collins finished the drive off with a 4-yard touchdown run.
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Collins finished with 17 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown.
After the Spartans failed to convert a fourth-and-one on their next possession, the offense got back to work with Lewerke capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown pass to Stewart Jr from five yards out. And with less than a minute to go in the half, Lewerke executed the two-minute drill to perfection, finding Stewart for a 26-yard touchdown.
Stewart Jr. finished with five catches for 117 yards and scored two touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career.
As the Hoosiers' offense continued to gain momentum – and then a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter — Lewerke found Seybert for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Spartans a 28-24 lead with 12 minutes left.
Seybert finished with three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, while Lewerke, who entered Saturday's game third in the Big Ten in passing yards finished 18 for 36 for 300 yards and three scores. Lewerke also joined Drew Stanton as the only quarterbacks in program history to throw or 6,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in their career.
"He played outstanding," Dantonio said regarding Lewerke. "I think he made all of the plays that you need to make in a football game, really from the onset. Two big drives in the two-minute situation, one at the end of the first half ... and one at the end of the game to bring us down to the opportunity for the field goal."
WIth two minutes left and the game tied, it was Lewerke and Stewart who saved the day for MSU. On the first play of the drive, Lewerke found Stewart for a 44-yard reception. Lewerke gained 30 yards on the ground on the ensuing play to set up the game- winning field goal for Coghlin.
MSU (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten), begins a daunting three-game schedule next weekend when it travel to Columbus to take on No. 5 Ohio State (7:30 p.m., ABC).
