Sparty's in Utter Disbelief As Hawkeyes Shock MSU With :02 Seconds Left

It was without a doubt the best defensive game in the Big Ten this year. Arguably, the best game Michigan State has played this season. After an intense defensive showdown, the Iowa Hawkeyes snatch an absolutely shocking victory from under the Spartans' in East Lansing, 15 - 13.

The Iowa/Michigan State match up was a defensive coordinator's dream, an offensive coordinator's nightmare.

Both the Hawkeye and Spartan offenses moved with sloth like speed, neither team able to get a grasp on a solid offensive pattern. The field goal kickers battled, trading 3 pointers after several three and outs by both offenses.

In order for field goal kickers to get much hype, you know it must've been a bitter defensive struggle to the very end. The Spartan and Hawkeye defenses were just about as stingy as Ebeneezer Scrooge at Christmas time. Neither set gave up a rush yard without a fight, and the two went into half-time knotted up at 3 a piece.

Adam Robinson, Iowa RB, rushed for over a 100 yards, but you wouldn't have known that unless you looked at the stat sheet, as rushing yards were at a premium.

The Hawkeyes' and Spartans' front sevens earned their stripes Saturday night, both mounting HUGE goal line stances to hold one another to a field goal. Pat Angerer and Greg Jones showed viewers around the country why the Big Ten has the two best Linebackers in the nation. Greg Jones and Pat Angerer were tested early and often, both passing their exams with flying colors. The Iowa Hawkeyes are known for the best defense in the Big Ten, the Spartans boasting the top passing offense in the conference. Something had to give.

Iowa was endowed with great field position throughout the game, but had trouble capitalizing. Sparty started within their own 30 on all but two drives, and too, had trouble cashing in. Three and outs were a theme, as punters and kickers were the centerpieces of the game. Brett Swenson became the All-Time leading scorer at Michigan State, passing Dave Rayner on the list. Brett also passed Rayner in most field goals made as well, a milestone to be proud of.

Back to lack of offense.

The Michigan State Spartans stubbed their toe when it came to running the ball early on, but Edwin Baker electrified Spartan Stadium with a bulldozing 36 yard scamper, only be to be held short at the goal line by the Hawkeye defense. This set up a Brett Swenson field goal.

The Iowa Hawkeyes had their offensive woes, as Ricky Stanzi threw for only 39 yards, right up until the waining minutes of the fourth quarter. Stanzi was pressured all night by the likes of Greg Jones, Jeremy Ware, and Trevor Anderson. These three men made it incredibly difficult for Ricky Stanzi to establish any kind of rhythm, disrupting Iowa's flow when it came to launching an aerial attack.

Saturday night's game was packed with emotion that spilled over into my living room. The Jeremy Ware hit on Iowa's WR Sandeman was the biggest hit I've seen since Spartan Nehemiah Warrick ROCKED Wisconsin's Kyle Jefferson a few years back. The play was flagged, resulting in a helmet to helmet personal foul. Personally, I was not enthused with the call.

Just when you thought that the game would be decided by a field goal, preferrably by Brett Swenson, things got interesting.

Blair White was a relative non factor throughout much of the game, but Mr. Consistent shined when Sparty needed him most.

On 3rd and 16, Kirk Cousins completed a pass to TE Todd Linthicum, and then woop!, trickeration. It was the old hook and ladder, and Saginaw Nouvel's Blair White trotted down-field 38 yards as the Hawkeyes defense dropped their jaws. This set up the definition of "threading the needle", as Cousins roped one in between Blair's 2 and 5, finding him smack dab between a safety and a corner for a touchdown. Michigan State went up 13-9, and seemed to have fought their way to an upset over Iowa.

As luck would have it, it wasn't meant to be.

Beating two undefeated teams at home (Michigan, Oct. 3rd, Iowa Oct. 24) wasn't in the cards for the Spartans.

With two seconds left, after failing to punctuate on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and goal... it happened.

The air was sucked out of Spartan Stadium as Ricky Stanzi hooked up with WR McNutt on a slant, beating Chris L. Rucker, to win the game.

The defensive battle, how mightily the Spartans forged forward for a win, bamboozled by ONE play. Unfortunately, ONE play is all it takes. Hundreds of games and dreams have been lost and crushed by ONE play.

The Michigan State Spartans played their best game of the year, and wore their hearts on their sleeves on Saturday night. Moral victories don't put "W's" in the win column (something I've said in previous articles), but this one is different. The secondary hung tough for 59:58. Two more seconds, it would have been complete.

Sparty squares off against Minnesota on Halloween, and still have an outside chance of a Big Ten Title. They can play for second, which would most likely land them in the Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma, third place would put them in the Champs Sports Bowl against Maryland (as it looks now).

Iowa remains undefeated, road tested, and primed as they go up against the Indiana Hoosiers this week. The Hawkeyes defense stuck like glue to both Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, and after dodging a bullet from the gun of Sparty, are catching their breath right about now. This was Iowa's and Coach Kirk Ferentz's first victory in East Lansing since 1995.

This game will go down as one of the most exciting Big Ten games to date, sure to be viewed courtesy of TiVo! over and over again.

Iowa Hawkeyes (8-0, 4-0) 15, Michigan State Spartans (4-4, 3-2)13