The Michigan Daily I michigandaily.com I October 27, 2008

Spartans
end 7-year
loss streak
By IAN ROBINSON
Daily Sports Editor
With 4:21 remaining in Saturday's game, Michigan
State coach football Mark Dantonio challenged his
team and the Wolverine defense.
Leading by a touchdown on fourth-and-less than a
yard, deep in Michigan territory, Dantonio decided to
go for it.
"If you can't make it that far, maybe you don't
deserve to win," Dantonio said.
The Wolverines had just stuffed Spartan running
back Javon Ringer on third and one. But needing just
inches for a fresh set of downs, Dantonio put his faith
in his team.
It was also a challenge to the Michigan defense and
junior defensive end Brandon Graham, who had guar-
anteed a win.
On fourth down, Ringer ran at Michigan's defen-
sive front, picked up the necessary distance and
showed how the Spartans earned the win. It was one
of 194 rushingyards on the day by the nation's rushing
leader.
The Spartans scored four plays later to seal the
35-21 win, Michigan's fourth straight loss.
It was Michigan State's first win over the Wolver-
ines since 2001 and its first in Ann Arbor since 1990.
Since he was hired two years ago, Dantonio has
placed a heightened emphasis on the rivalry. After
Michigan running back Michael Hart's "little broth-
er" comments following last year's game, Dantonio
fired back by saying "pride comes before the fall." Sat-
urday, the Spartans gottheirs.
See SPARTANS, Page 4B
Secondary
woes doom
Michigan
Wolverines break down on third
and long, letting Michigan State
keep its drives alive
By NATE SANDALS
Daily Sports Editor
On its first offensive drive Saturday, Michigan State
faced a third and five from its own 39-yard line. Junior
Blair White lined up as the slot receiver, covered by
Michigan redshirt sophomore linebacker Jonas Mou-
ton.
White rana simple slant, a good route to pick up the
first down, but when Michigan junior free safety Ste-
vie Brown missed a tackle, the receiver found nothing
but open field in front of him. White sprinted down
the field into the arms of Sparty, the team's mascot,
waiting in the endzone.
"It's frustrating because we play hard for two
downs, and then on third down, we just give up a
big play," Michigan fifth-year senior linebacker John
Thompson said. "That's the opportunity to get off the
field, and we just couldn't convert on third down."
That first score was the opening scene to an awful
afternoon for the Wolverine secondary.
In their 35-21 win at Michigan Stadium, the
See SECONDARY, Page 4B

CLIF REEDER/Daily
(TOP) Sophomore cornerback Donovan Warren misses a tackle against Michigan State running back Javon Ringer. Ringer, who leads the nation in rushing, scorched the Wolverine defense for
194 yards on the ground in Saturday's 35-21 loss. (BOTTOM) Redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Threet was sacked four times for a loss of 29 yards. He also threw three interceptions.


MENS SOCCER
Wolverines topple
second-ranked
Wildcats in upset
By JOE STAPLETON
Daily Sports Writer
After two 1-0 losses last week, one to Michigan
State at home and another at No. 5 Akron, the Michi-
gan men's soccer team needed a game to regroup.
Traveling to Evanston, Ill. to play second-ranked
Northwestern wasn't exactly what the Wolverines
had in mind.
But No. 21 Michigan (2-1-1 Big Ten, 10-4-2 overall)
pulled off a 3-1 road upset.
The game was Michigan's second against a No. 2
team, after a 2-1 loss to then-No. 2 Connecticut earlier
in the season. This time, the Wolverines made sure
they were the victors against the Wildcats (3-1-0, 11-1-
2).
"I think there's more to come from this team,"
Michigan coach Steve Burns said. "We certainly feel
we are worthy of being a top-10 team, because we have
a good, complete game."
Both defenses dominated the game early, and the
first half ended in a scoreless tie. Burns named senior
defenseman Michael Holody the key to shutting down
the potent Wildcat offense.
"He's a player on our team who has a definite pro-
* fessional future ahead of him," Burns said. "And he
showed it tonight."
Holody distributed the ball well and controlled the
game through the air.
Going into halftime, the Wolverines were poised to
See WILDCATS, Page 3B

'M' collapses against tough

Terrier attack
By MICHAEL EISENSTEIN
Daily Sports Editor
BOSTON - You could sense the frustration in
Michigan forward Brian Lebler's punches during his
third-period fight with Boston University's Vinny
Saponari.
You could see the disappointment in acting cap-
tain Chris Summers' swollen eyes as he left Agganis
Arena.
And you could hear the deflation in sophomore
defenseman Tristin Llewellyn's voice as he tried to
put the No. 5 Michigan hockey team's 7-2 embarrass-
ment into words.
"Somebody shot your dog - it's that type of feel-
ing," said Llewellyn, who was on the ice for two of No.
6 BU's five power-play goals in a special teams-domi-
nated game.
The Wolverines hadn't surrendered seven goals
since their 8-5 loss to North Dakota in the first round
of the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago. Michigan
(4-2-0) gave up more than four goals just twice last
season.
"It's a wake-up call," Michigan coach Red Beren-
son said after the team's first loss to a non-conference
team in 12 games. "We realize how much better BUis
right now than we are."
The game's opening 15 minutes were a back-and-
forth battle, but once BU (4-1-0) capitalized on two
weak scoring chances in the first period's final five
minutes, the Terriers never lost momentum.
Nothing epitomized Michigan's collapse better
than BU's dominance on special teams.
Entering Saturday, the Terriers had scored on
just 3-of-30 power-play opportunities. Against the
Wolverines, they converted 55.6 percent of the time
(5-for-9).
The Terriers' strategy on special teams is very
See TERRIERS, Page 3B

cH IS DZOMBAK/Daly
Junior defenseman Chris Summers was in the penalty box during two of Boston University's five power-play goals in Satur-
day's 7-2 loss.

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