Rocky Lombardi and the Spartans stun No. 13 Michigan
Merely two months ago, the
Merely two months ago, the
thought of college football at
thought of college football at
Michigan Stadium this fall felt like
Michigan Stadium this fall felt like
an impossibility. Even less plausible
an impossibility. Even less plausible
was the thought of the Wolverines
was the thought of the Wolverines
losing to Michigan State.
losing to Michigan State.
But
on
Saturday,
No.
13
But
on
Saturday,
No.
13
Michigan took the field against
Michigan took the field against
its in-state rival. The Wolverines
its in-state rival. The Wolverines
probably wish they didn’t. Behind
probably wish they didn’t. Behind
196 receiving yards from freshman
196 receiving yards from freshman
Ricky White, the Spartans (1-1)
Ricky White, the Spartans (1-1)
stunned Michigan, 27-24.
stunned Michigan, 27-24.
After two straight dominant
After two straight dominant
Michigan wins, first-year Michigan
Michigan wins, first-year Michigan
State head coach Mel Tucker
State head coach Mel Tucker
flipped the rivalry on its head. The
flipped the rivalry on its head. The
Spartans limped into Ann Arbor
Spartans limped into Ann Arbor
coming off a double-digit loss to
coming off a double-digit loss to
Rutgers — which entered the 2020
Rutgers — which entered the 2020
season riding a 21-game Big Ten
season riding a 21-game Big Ten
losing streak — and left with Paul
losing streak — and left with Paul
Bunyan.
Bunyan.
Leading
up
to
Saturday,
Leading
up
to
Saturday,
the Wolverines had outscored
the Wolverines had outscored
Michigan State by 53 points in
Michigan State by 53 points in
their last four meetings — three
their last four meetings — three
of which they won convincingly.
of which they won convincingly.
Saturday’s shocker was arguably
Saturday’s shocker was arguably
the worst loss of the Harbaugh era,
the worst loss of the Harbaugh era,
and in his sixth season at the helm
and in his sixth season at the helm
of the program, an enormous step
of the program, an enormous step
backward like this is borderline
backward like this is borderline
unjustifiable.
unjustifiable.
From the start, it was clear
From the start, it was clear
Saturday wouldn’t be a runaway.
Saturday wouldn’t be a runaway.
A week after averaging over eight
A week after averaging over eight
yards per play, Michigan (1-1)
yards per play, Michigan (1-1)
struggled to move the ball in the
struggled to move the ball in the
first half. The Wolverines’ offensive
first half. The Wolverines’ offensive
line consistently struggled to create
line consistently struggled to create
holes, resulting in a net gain of
holes, resulting in a net gain of
just 21 yards on the team’s first 10
just 21 yards on the team’s first 10
carries. It didn’t get much better
carries. It didn’t get much better
after that, as the Spartans held
after that, as the Spartans held
Michigan to less than five yards per
Michigan to less than five yards per
carry on the game.
carry on the game.
“They played a little bit more
“They played a little bit more
over front defense early,” Harbaugh
over front defense early,” Harbaugh
said. “And they got some tackles for
said. “And they got some tackles for
loss. Earlier in the game, we were
loss. Earlier in the game, we were
making plays or they were negative
making plays or they were negative
plays. And then their offensive line
plays. And then their offensive line
did a really good job protecting. We
did a really good job protecting. We
didn’t get any sacks or any kind of
didn’t get any sacks or any kind of
havoc type of plays defensively.”
havoc type of plays defensively.”
Zero defensive havoc plays, to
Zero defensive havoc plays, to
be exact. Harbaugh’s defense didn’t
be exact. Harbaugh’s defense didn’t
produce a single sack or turnover
produce a single sack or turnover
all
afternoon
despite
ample
all
afternoon
despite
ample
opportunity.
opportunity.
After
a
Michigan
State
After
a
Michigan
State
touchdown put Michigan in an
touchdown put Michigan in an
early 7-0 hole, the Wolverines
early 7-0 hole, the Wolverines
found success along the edge. A pair
found success along the edge. A pair
of true freshmen — wide receiver
of true freshmen — wide receiver
A.J. Henning and running back
A.J. Henning and running back
Blake Corum — found success along
Blake Corum — found success along
the sideline, with the latter taking a
the sideline, with the latter taking a
sweep to the pylon for the game-
sweep to the pylon for the game-
tying score.
tying score.
But the game-tying score didn’t
But the game-tying score didn’t
hold up for long. Michigan State
hold up for long. Michigan State
quarterback
Rocky
Lombardi
quarterback
Rocky
Lombardi
stretched
the
field
vertically,
stretched
the
field
vertically,
drawing a handful of crucial pass
drawing a handful of crucial pass
interference and holding flags on
interference and holding flags on
Michigan
cornerbacks
Vincent
Michigan
cornerbacks
Vincent
Gray and Gemon Green in the
Gray and Gemon Green in the
process. And when the defensive
process. And when the defensive
backs weren’t flagged, they were
backs weren’t flagged, they were
a step behind. Lombardi’s two
a step behind. Lombardi’s two
deepest first-half completions — a
deepest first-half completions — a
30-yard touchdown in the first
30-yard touchdown in the first
quarter and a 53-yarder to set up
quarter and a 53-yarder to set up
the go-ahead score in the second
the go-ahead score in the second
quarter — exploited man coverage.
quarter — exploited man coverage.
“They made the downfield
“They made the downfield
throws and catches,” Harbaugh
throws and catches,” Harbaugh
said. “They were able to finish
said. “They were able to finish
drives just a little bit better than
drives just a little bit better than
we did. And we would get into a
we did. And we would get into a
rhythm offensively, then we’d not
rhythm offensively, then we’d not
be in rhythm. (We) didn’t finish the
be in rhythm. (We) didn’t finish the
drives the way we want to, the way
drives the way we want to, the way
we are capable of. And that cost us.”
we are capable of. And that cost us.”
Added sophomore safety Daxton
Added sophomore safety Daxton
Hill: “We really didn’t expect those
Hill: “We really didn’t expect those
(deep passes). The gameplan was
(deep passes). The gameplan was
really honed in on the run.”
really honed in on the run.”
It’s one thing to come in with an
It’s one thing to come in with an
ill-prepared gameplan. It’s another
ill-prepared gameplan. It’s another
to stick to it.
to stick to it.
On Saturday, the Wolverines
On Saturday, the Wolverines
failed
to
make
any
sort
of
failed
to
make
any
sort
of
adjustment. Lombardi found White
adjustment. Lombardi found White
on another 50-yard deep ball on the
on another 50-yard deep ball on the
Spartans’ first play of the second
Spartans’ first play of the second
half, which set up a field goal that
half, which set up a field goal that
gave Michigan State a 17-10 lead.
gave Michigan State a 17-10 lead.
Lombardi finished with 323 passing
Lombardi finished with 323 passing
yards
and
three
touchdowns
yards
and
three
touchdowns
despite completing just 17 passes.
despite completing just 17 passes.
When
Michigan’s
defense
When
Michigan’s
defense
needed a fourth-quarter stop, it
needed a fourth-quarter stop, it
couldn’t get one. Down 20-17, it
couldn’t get one. Down 20-17, it
was burned time and time again by
was burned time and time again by
White, who consistently exposed
White, who consistently exposed
a coverage scheme that defensive
a coverage scheme that defensive
coordinator Don Brown seemingly
coordinator Don Brown seemingly
refused to change. Even after
refused to change. Even after
a personal foul in the red zone,
a personal foul in the red zone,
Michigan State needed only two
Michigan State needed only two
plays to score on first-and-goal from
plays to score on first-and-goal from
the 18-yard-line. The touchdown
the 18-yard-line. The touchdown
gave the Spartans a 27-17 lead with
gave the Spartans a 27-17 lead with
just five minutes left.
just five minutes left.
The
deficit
proved
The
deficit
proved
insurmountable for the Wolverines,
insurmountable for the Wolverines,
who watched Michigan State hoist
who watched Michigan State hoist
Paul Bunyan for the third time in its
Paul Bunyan for the third time in its
last four trips to Ann Arbor.
last four trips to Ann Arbor.
“The team is gonna own this,”
“The team is gonna own this,”
Harbaugh said. “Congratulations
Harbaugh said. “Congratulations
to Michigan State, but we’ve got to
to Michigan State, but we’ve got to
own the loss and come back and
own the loss and come back and
find out where we can improve. …
find out where we can improve. …
Each person looking at themselves
Each person looking at themselves
— players, coaches, all of us — and
— players, coaches, all of us — and
strive to be a lot better.”
strive to be a lot better.”
DANIEL DASH
Daily Sports Editor
ALLISON ENGKVIST/DAILY
18 — Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com