ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WLNS) – Michigan defeated Michigan State 24-17 on Saturday night time to maintain the Paul Bunyan trophy in Ann Arbor for the third straight yr.
With the Spartans driving to tie the sport within the last two minutes, the Wolverine protection pressured a turnover on downs within the crimson zone. The Michigan offense then picked up two first downs to assist run out the clock and safe the victory.
“It’s the biggest game of the year in the state so it means a lot for the program to keep Paul home here and have it here for another 365 [days],” mentioned head coach Sherrone Moore. “That’s the goal, to keep it here forever. But it was huge for our kids to get a victory and feel that confidence and I love seeing the smiles on their faces in the locker room.”
Early within the recreation, Michigan State had the higher hand. The Spartans drove proper down the sphere in 14 performs on their opening drive however got here up empty after lacking a 25-yard discipline aim.
The Spartan protection, although, pressured the Wolverines to go three-and-out on their solely offensive possession of the primary quarter.
Michigan State then opened the scoring when working again Nate Carter capped off a nine-play, 62-yard drive with a brief landing plunge.
The 7-0 rating held till the ultimate two minutes of the primary half. The Michigan offense discovered its footing and Davis Warren related with Colston Loveland for a 10-yard landing to chop the Spartan result in 7-6.
The Spartans obtained the ball again with simply 29 seconds remaining within the first half and tried to push the ball down the sphere and get into discipline aim vary. Nonetheless, Michigan edge rusher Josiah Stewart sacked Aidan Chiles and compelled a fumble, which was recovered by Wolverines’ defensive sort out Kenneth Grant.
The fumble set the Wolverines as much as kick a 37-yard discipline aim, giving them the 9-7 lead and the momentum on the break.
Michigan carried the momentum into the third quarter, placing collectively two lengthy landing drives to develop the result in 24-10.
MSU answered again with a 20-yard landing reception by Nick Marsh to chop the deficit to 24-17, however was unable to search out the tying rating late within the fourth quarter.
“We did put a lot into this game and we put a lot into every game,” mentioned Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith. “I’m pretty confident. We’re going to have to regroup and deeply digest this one and then we move forward. We’ve got a big-time opponent coming in next Saturday and I’m confident these guys will be back to work and ready to go again at home.”
Coming off back-to-back losses, Michigan turned again to Davis Warren as its beginning quarterback. Warren had began the primary three video games of the season however was benched in the course of the third recreation in opposition to Arkansas State after throwing three interceptions.
In his return to motion, Warren completed 13-for-19 for 123 yards, one landing and no interceptions.
After the sport, Warren’s teammates expressed delight for the way in which the senior carried himself within the midst of the benching and the way he returned to guide the crew to victory within the rivalry recreation.
“The adversity defines who you are and [Warren] didn’t flinch, not one bit,” mentioned Michigan working again Donovan Edwards. “That’s somebody in our huddle that we respect because of the resilience that he’s had and what the media says about him and the expectations and all that. So I truly respect and I appreciate him and he deserved the game that he had.”
Michigan improves to 5-3 on the season with the victory and can welcome in No. 1 Oregon subsequent Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Michigan State falls to 4-4 with the loss and can return to Spartan Stadium to play No. 13 Indiana subsequent Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
