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MSU takes down Purdue, 14-0, in spite of offensive struggles
There was a moment during Saturday’s game when the MSU offense proved how good it can be.
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Column: Spartans need to beware of relapse
The Spartans played with fire Saturday and emerged unscathed. If the worst team in the Big Ten wasn’t on the opposing sideline, though, there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t have been burned. MSU (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) dodged an embarrassing and likely dream-killing loss in its uninspiring 14-0 victory against lowly Purdue (1-6, 0-3).
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Column: Spartans should learn lessons from offensive struggles
Think back a few weeks about the MSU football team. A stagnant offense, struggling to find a rhythm at quarterback or wide receiver, diluting the ability to produce anything of substance.
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Defensive Domination
Just when the Spartans began looking like a complete team and potential Legends Division frontrunner, they struggled to put away a flawed Purdue team and a wave of uncertainty comes crashing back. The MSU defense did the heavy lifting – producing a shutout and a touchdown – while its offense struggled to move the ball once again in a 14-0 win over the Boilermakers (1-6 overall, 0-3 Big Ten). Leading up to Saturday, head coach Mark Dantonio talked about whether his team would be able to handle its recent success after back-to-back impressive wins against Iowa and Indiana.
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MSU survives offensive struggles, beats Purdue
Just when the Spartans began looking like a complete team, a potential Legends Division favorite, they struggle to put away a struggling Purdue team and the wave of uncertainty comes rushing back. The MSU defense did the heavy lifting while its offense seemed to regress in a 14-0 win over the Boilermakers (1-6 overall, 0-3 Big Ten). The Spartans (6-1, 3-0) scored on a 45-yard fumble recovery from senior linebacker Denicos Allen in the first half, and hung on to keep Purdue out of the end zone before redshirt freshman tight end Josiah Price scored on a trick play in the fourth quarter. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook threw for 107 yards and junior running back Jeremy Langford went over the century mark for the second straight game with 131 rushing yards.
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Defensive touchdown gives MSU 7-0 lead against Purdue at halftime
After marked improvement the past two weeks offensively, MSU took a 7-0 lead into the locker room against Purdue in a half oddly reminiscent of the lackluster performances that opened the season. MSU was billed as a heavy favorite heading into the contest against the 1-5 Boilermakers. The Spartan offense came out revving its engine on the first drive, feeding junior running back Jeremy Langford three straight plays while employing unbalanced formations with multiple offensive linemen.
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Spartans hoping to avoid letdown versus Purdue
Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.
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Spartans hoping to avoid letdown versus Purdue
Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.
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Spartans hoping to avoid letdown versus Purdue
Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.
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Football midseason awards
The 2013 football season is halfway over for MSU (5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten), and things appear to be looking up for the Spartans heading into tomorrow’s matchup with Purdue (1-5, 0-2). Since its season opener reminded everyone another dismal season wasn’t out of the question, MSU has reshaped its image and emerged as a Legends Division favorite. Sophomore Connor Cook has taken the reins at quarterback and his supporting cast has improved each game while getting multiple players involved. Here are the most notable players and events from the season’s first half.
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Could Cook be a 100-yard rusher?
The moment he uttered the remark, it would have been easy to see it as a slip of the tongue. And realistically, how else could it be interpreted? Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook, a 100-yard rusher?
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Bollman faces reunion against Purdue
Jim Bollman faced a bit of a quandary early this year. After spending the 2012 season as Boston College’s offensive line coach, Bollman was named to the same position at Purdue under first-year head coach Darrell Hazell, his former colleague, on Jan. 18. Hazell and Bollman worked together for seven years at Ohio State, where Bollman served as offensive coordinator from 2001-11.
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Dantonio talks recent success, home field
My, how the tables have turned. During an overall disastrous 2012 season, the MSU football team didn’t clinch bowl eligibility until the final regular season game, going winless against Big Ten teams at home while nursing a stagnant offensive attack.
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Jeremy Langford named Big Ten Offensive POW
MSU junior running back Jeremy Langford has been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, MSU’s athletic department announced on Monday.
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Offensive Ignition
When Indiana running back Tevin Coleman sprinted 64 yards to the house 61 seconds into the game, flashbacks of last year’s first-quarter scare in Bloomington, Ind., washed across the crowd of 73,815 fans, students and alumni on Homecoming weekend. Memories of the Hoosiers and their fast-paced offense racing out to a 17-point lead through one quarter came back into focus.
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Column: Offense potent in breakout win over Hoosiers
All season long, people have written off MSU’s offense. While navigating through a four-headed quarterback battle, a flurry of drops by the wide receiving corps and general ineffectiveness at key skill positions, the Spartans opened the door for criticism, leading many to believe the team’s path would mirror a disappointing showing from the previous year.
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Offense keeps improving in win over Indiana
MSU’s offense has made positive strides in every game this season. Those steps have varied in distance, and some even went backward, but Saturday’s 42-28 Homecoming win against Indiana felt like a giant leap forward.
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MSU's offense overpowers Indiana, wins 42-28
During his 11 seasons as head coach at MSU, George Perles was best known for a specific, run-heavy type offense. Run left, run center, run right.
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Spartans lead Indiana 21-14 at halftime
At halftime, the Spartans (4-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) lead Indiana (3-2, 1-0), 21-14, with two of the team’s three offensive touchdowns coming in the red zone. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook led the way with 152 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-23 passing from the field.
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Defense enjoying success in silence
The 2013 edition of MSU’s defense might be the best yet under head coach Mark Dantonio, and no one wants to talk about it.