Bitter Rivalry is Better

Michigan and Michigan 
State showed on Saturday 
why their rivalry is the best, 
most entertaining one either 
program has going.

» Page 2B

In-state Split

The Wolverines beat 
Western Michigan on Friday 
then fell to the Broncos on 
Saturday.

» Page 4B

SPORTSMONDAY

The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | October 22, 2018

Design by Jack Silberman
Katelyn Mulcahy & Alexis Rankin/ Daily

Michigan holds on for big win against in-state rival

EAST LANSING — No. 24 
Michigan State had many of the 
requisite elements to upset the 
No.6 Michigan football team 
in crushing, season-tarnishing 
fashion. Turnovers, poor weather 
and missed opportunities 
threatened to prevent the 
Wolverines from delivering their 
dagger — just as they had in 
previous years.W
For a moment Saturday, it 
looked like Michigan State could 
retain the Paul Bunyan Trophy. 
But two second-half touchdowns 
were enough to lift Michigan over 
the Spartans, 21-7, in East Lansing 
on Saturday, in the 950th win in 
program history.
Senior running back Karan 
Higdon, on a rain-drenched 
field, slipped and relinquished 

Michigan’s second fumble of the 
third quarter with the score tied 
at seven. Despite the Wolverines’ 
seeming control of the game, 
momentum flipped the Spartans’ 
way.
Feeling the weight of the 
moment, junior quarterback Shea 
Patterson snuck into the defensive 
huddle before the ensuing drive.
“(He said), ‘Y’all keep doing 
your thing. Let’s get the ball back, 
we’re gonna score,’ ” said junior 
linebacker Devin Bush.
The defense did just that — 
the fourth of six occasions the 
Spartans went three-and-out — 
before Patterson took things into 
his own hands.
Towards the end of the third 
quarter, Patterson completed to 
sophomore receiver Donovan 
Peoples-Jones in-stride, who 
went the distance for a 79-yard, 
go-ahead touchdown.
“The throw to Donovan was 

right on the money,” said coach 
Jim Harbaugh. “Donovan did a 
great job at the line of scrimmage 
against press coverage and 
created the space. And (he) 
created more space after the 
release, made a fabulous over the 
shoulder catch.”
After another Michigan State 
three-and-out, the Wolverines 
were faced with a fourth-and-two 
in Spartan territory. When the 
defense collapsed on sophomore 
fullback Ben Mason, Patterson 
tucked it away and picked up 
the conversion with an 11-yard 
scamper.
It proved to be critical. 
Michigan made it 21-7 soon after 
with a Mason five-yard scoring 
run.
Dagger delivered indeed.
“We’ve been a really good 
third-quarter team and fourth-
quarter team,” Harbaugh said. 
“Guys are playing hard and smart 

the entire ball game. I think we’re 
a well-conditioned team, we’re a 
smart team. I think all that factors 
into it.”
The contest didn’t go without 
its usual rivalry drama, however.
Up 7-0 early in the third 
quarter, junior running back 
Chris Evans fumbled on 
Michigan’s seven-yard line.
The turnover prompted 
Michigan State’s infamous 
trickery. Off a double reverse, 
receiver Darrell Stewart 
completed to quarterback Brian 
Lewerke to tie the game.
But the Spartans’ poor passing 
attack rendered their offense 
disjointed and unable to further 
take advantage. Michigan State 
gained just 94 yards the whole 
game and was 0-for-12 on 3rd 
down. Lewerke, pulled in the 
fourth quarter, finished an 
abysmal 5-for-25 passing.
“Those are the kinds of 

statistics you dream (of),” 
Harbaugh said. “That was a 
dream game.”
Ten minutes of gameplay in, 
inclement weather delayed the 
contest an hour-and-15 minutes.
Michigan continued its first 
scoring drive when play resumed. 
On third down near mid-field, 
Patterson attempted to thread the 
needle to senior receiver Grant 
Perry, but the pass was deflected. 
With Spartans swarming for the 
interception, it was sophomore 
wide receiver Nico Collins who 
corralled the ball for a first 
down. Five runs and a 25-yard 
completion to junior tight end 
Nick Eubanks later, Patterson 
found Collins — cleanly — for a 
six-yard touchdown pass.
But, spectacularly, that was 
the Wolverines’ only score of the 
first half.
Michigan dominated the field 
position battle while stifling 

the Spartans’ offense, starting 
four-straight drives in opposing 
territory during the second 
quarter. But it translated into zero 
points.
Unable to move the ball, the 
Wolverines elected to punt 
from inside Michigan State’s 
40-yard line on three consecutive 
possessions. And when Quinn 
Nordin finally got to test the 
rain-drenched field, the redshirt 
sophomore placekicker shanked a 
36-yard attempt.
Despite a total yardage 
advantage of 170 to 49, Michigan 
took just a 7-0 advantage into 
halftime. But even with the 
momentum teetering back-and-
forth during the second half, the 
Wolverines found their way to a 
needed victory.
“It’s a message to other teams 
that we ain’t coming to play,” 
Bush said. “We’re coming to 
handle business.”

MARK CALCAGNO
Daily Sports Editor

FINAL FROM EAST LANSING

