Despite Missing Ailing Coach, Michigan State Wins Battle Of Unbeatens
East Lansing, MI, United States (AHN) – Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell had reason to smile Saturday night.
“Without a doubt, it’s not dull around East Lansing these days,” smiled Treadwell after watching his quarterback, Kirk Cousins, pass for 269 yards and three touchdowns and Keshawn Martin return a punt 74 yards to fire undefeated MSU past Wisconsin 34-24 in the Big 10 opener for both teams.
Cousins completed 20-of-29 pass attempts and had a pair of 1-yard touchdown tosses in the second quarter as MSU won the battle of the ranked unbeatens.
Both teams entered the Big Ten opener with 4-0 overall records. Wisconsin was ranked No. 9 and Michigan State No. 21 in the national coaches’ poll.
“As you look at the game, we have big plays at critical times on both sides of the ball,” said Treadwell, who has been filling in on the sidelines while head coach Mark Dantonio recovers from a mild heart attack he sustained two weeks ago following an overtime victory over Notre Dame. “We’re so pleased that we can move forward. We’re anxious to get our head coach back.”
On Saturday, Dantonio was again hospitalized, this time for a blood clot in his leg.
“I know coach Dantonio is going through a difficult time,” said Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema. “He has a great team. That should make him feel better.”
Dantonio spoke to his team via speaker phone after a game in which Martin’s electrifying run gave MSU a 13-10 lead early in the second quarter. It was the first punt return for a touchdown by Michigan State since 2002.
Trailing by 10 at half, Wisconsin cut its deficit to 20-17 early in the third on James White’s 34-yard run.
The Wisconsin defense stopped Michigan State on a fourth-and-goal attempt from the Badger 1-yard line later in the quarter. But MSU came back to score with two seconds remaining in the third quarter on Cousins’ 1-yard TD pass to Charlie Gantt for a 27-17 lead.
The Badgers got one back early in the fourth on Scott Tolzien’s 12-yard TD pass to Jacob Pedersen, making it 27-24.
But on another fourth-down gamble at the Badger 1-yard line, MSU again went for it and Cousins passed to B.J. Cunningham for the game-clinching touchdown. The scoring drive took up almost eight minutes.
“Michigan State played a very good football game all four quarters,” Bielema said. “They reaped the rewards for it.”
The Spartans opened the scoring in the first quarter on Dan Conroy’s 36-yard field goal.
Wisconsin took a 7-3 lead on the second play of the second quarter on White’s 16-yard touchdown scamper around right end.
The Badgers increased the lead to 10-3 on their next drive on Philip Welch’s 49-yard field goal.
MSU notched another field goal early in the quarter from Conroy, again from 36 yards.
Martin followed later in quarter with his touchdown run. With 23 seconds to play in the half, Cousins passed for an 8-yard touchdown to Mark Dell to extend the Spartan lead.
Michigan State gained 175 yards on the ground to supplement Cousins’ passing performance. Edwin Baker led MSU with 87 yards.
White had 98 of Wisconsin’s 165 rushing yards. Tolzien was only 11-of-25 for 127 yards in passing.
“You have to credit our defense for doing a good job,” Cousins said. “Our crowd noise was phenomenal too.”
“I’m so proud of these kids,” said Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi. “They played big-time football. I think they earned respect across the country and the guys played committed to the entire game.”
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