NEW YORK – Michigan State ended a disappointing season on a high note.
The Spartans (7-6, 4-5 Big Ten) topped Wake Forest (8-5, 4-4 ACC) 27-21 in the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday at Yankee Stadium in New York. It was their third straight victory and their first time accomplishing that feat since beating Washington State in the Holiday Bowl to close the 2017 season.
Michigan State, which won its final two regular-season games just to become bowl eligible, came out on top of an entertaining bowl game that featured five lead changes. The Spartans squandered chances to put the game away late, including a 28-yard missed field goal by Matt Coghlin with three minutes left, but got the defensive stops they needed while blanking the Demon Deacons in the second half.
Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke closed his career with an impressive outing in his 38th and final start. The fifth-year senior was 26-for-37 passing for 320 yards, one touchdown and one interception and had 11 carries for 46 yards and a score. With that performance, he passed Connor Cook for the most yards of total offense in program history and finished with 9,548.
Cody White had eight receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown to lea the Spartans, Jalen Nailor had five catches for 60 yards while tight end Trenton Gillison had four grabs for 88 yards. Elijah Collins led the team with 21 rushes for 96 yards.
Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman finished 12-for-27 passing for 175 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and had 17 rushes for 87 yards before leaving the game injured late in the fourth quarter. Cade Carney had 15 carries for 64 yards.
Michigan State won the opening coin toss, deferred to the second half and Wake Forest quickly took the lead. The Demon Deacons went 65 yards in just seven plays and Newman hit Kendall Hinton for a 29-yard touchdown.
The Spartans mounted a 16-play drive on their second possession of the game but stalled after facing first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. Matt Coghlin made a 23-yard field goal to pull the team within four points with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
Michigan State took a 10-7 lead three plays later on a 14-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk. Newman’s pass was deflected by Panasiuk’s younger brother, junior defensive end Jacub Panasiuk, bounced off linebacker Noah Harvey and Panasiuk returned his second career interception for his first touchdown. Panasiuk was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking off his helmet and lifting it to the crowd after he was mobbed by teammates.
Wake Forest reclaimed the lead when Newman connected with Donavon Green for a 16-yard touchdown. Michigan State needed just three plays to respond as Lewerke hit Gillison for a 64-yard completion and the quarterback followed with an eight-yard touchdown run on the next play for a 17-14 lead midway through the second quarter.
Michigan State’s lead lasted less than two minutes as Wake Forest responded with a big play by their tight end. A blown coverage led to Newman finding a wide-open Jack Freudenthal for a 44-yard touchdown as Wake went ahead 21-17.
The Spartans had a chance to reclaim the lead, but they had another long drive stall in the red zone. A 13-play possession ended with Coghlin making a 44-yard field goal to pull Michigan State within one at 21-20 with 49 seconds left in the second quarter that stood up as the halftime score.
Michigan State opened the second half with an impressive scoring drive. Lewerke rushed for two yards on fourth-and-1 and Collins ripped off a 31-yard gain on the next play. That set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lewerke to White for a 27-21 lead.
The Spartans had a chance to extend their lead to two scores but came up empty after driving inside the Wake Forest 30-yard line. On third-and-7, Lewerke’s pass was a bit high and behind Collins crossing the middle of the field and it bounced off his hands and was intercepted by Ryan Smenda Jr.
Michigan State’s next possession was another blown opportunity after reaching the red zone. Lewerke threw a shovel pass to Gillison, who was stripped of the ball and fumbled as Wake Forest recovered at its 6-yard line while the Spartans came away empty.
After Michigan State’s defense got another much-needed stop, Lewerke used his arm and legs to drive the team down with a chance at a potential game-sealing score. However, Coghlin missed a 28-yard field goal wide left as Michigan State’s lead remained at 27-21 with 3:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.
On the ensuing possession, defensive end Kenny Willekes got to Newman for a sack to force a fumble and the quarterback had to leave the game. Sophomore Sam Hartman took over on third down but threw a pair of incompletions as the Demon Deacons turned over the ball on downs and the Spartans ran out the clock.
GAME NOTES:
* Michigan State was shorthanded on offense and that included a new injury as tight end Matt Seybert didn’t dress and was spotted with a brace on his right leg while using a crutch. The fifth-year senior leads the team’s tight ends with 26 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Offensive linemen Luke Campbell, Tyler Higby, Kevin Jarvis and Cole Chewins were also out for the Spartans. Campbell, a redshirt junior, missed the last two games of the regular season. Higby, a fifth-year senior, missed the final five games of the regular season. Jarvis, a junior, missed the last nine games of the regular season. Chewins, a fifth-year senior, didn’t play this year due to a back injury.
* Fifth-year senior receiver Darrell Stewart Jr. returned to the lineup to close his college career for Michigan State after missing the final four games of the regular season with a lower leg injury. Redshirt junior center Matt Allen was also back after missing the previous four games and started. True freshman Nick Samac started at center in the final four games of the regular season while burning his redshirt.
* During a press conference prior to the game, Michigan State president Samuel Stanley Jr. voiced support for Dantonio before the end of a disappointing season. Asked if he was confident in the direction of the program, Stanley said “Yes. I am excited about the future and I think this is a great opportunity. … I think Coach Dantonio has really an incredible track record – as you know, the winningest coach in MSU history – so I am pleased with the direction of the program overall.”
No comments:
Post a Comment