Michigan Vs. Michigan State Recap: The Spartans Capitalize on Wolverine Miscues

Coming into Saturday's game, Denard Robinson was the talk of the college football world.  Robinson was getting Heisman acclaim from many different analysts, and had carried the Michigan Wolverines to a 5-0 start.

Prior to the game, the Wolverines were ranked 18th in the AP poll, their highest ranking in coach Rich Rodriguez's three seasons. However, Michigan ran into a tough and gritty Michigan State Spartans team, that was prepared for a battle in Ann Arbor.

The first quarter started off slow for both teams, as Michigan came away with only three points, after two early trips in the red zone (the first ending on an interception thrown by Robinson and the second halted after Robinson overthrew Darryl Stonum). 

The Spartans didn't fare any better with the ball in their possession. Their first two drives were stifled by penalties (two holding penalties and a false start), and the Wolverine defense was playing inspired football to begin the game.

In the second quarter, however, the Spartans running game came alive, ignited by a 61 yard touchdown run by Edwin Bake,r following a face mask penalty on Obi Ezeh. 

Michigan came right back down the field and answered the Spartans, thanks to a 12 yard touchdown toss to Martell Webb out of the backfield, for Webb's first catch of the year. The Wolverines would regain the lead 10-7. That would be Michigan's last lead of the game.

The Spartans came right back at the Wolverines, with running backs Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell. After a key third and fifteen conversion, via a run and catch by Keshawn Martin, Bell took the ball into the end zone untouched, off a fake reverse to Martin.

Michigan State's defense would force Michigan into a three and out, and get the ball back ahead 14-10 with 2:30 left in the half. The Spartans drove down the field, thanks to more running by Baker, and a critical fourth down conversion, when Kirk Cousins connected with B.J. Cunningham. The Spartans would usher out Dan Conroy on the next fourth down and he would connect on a 38 yard field goal.

The Wolverines got the ball back, and a 51 yard bomb from Robinson to Martavious Odoms, set up Seth Broekhuzein for a 42 yard field goal, but the Spartans would block the kick and take a 17-10 lead into halftime.

The second half would be all Michigan State. Coming out of halftime, Cousins hit Mark Dell for a 41 yard touchdown, on the fifth play of the drive.

On the Wolverines first possession of the third quarter, Robinson was intercepted for the second time, this time by Johnny Adams. 

The Spartans would march the ball down the field again behind the legs of Baker, Bell, and Larry Caper. Caper would take the ball into the end zone, putting the Spartans ahead 31-10.

At the end of the third quarter, Robinson led the Wolverines offense back down into the red zone, and he finished the drive off with a four yard touchdown run for Michigan's final score of the game.

After Michigan forced the Spartans into a punt, Robinson came back onto the field and threw another interception, this one to Chris L. Rucker.

Michigan State would capitalize on the turnover by driving down the field, and Dan Conroy knocked down a 28 yard field goal, on fourth and goal, to put the game away at 34-17.

The Spartans tallied 536 yards of total offense, with 261 yards coming on the ground. Neither team was great on third down conversions (4/13 for Michigan State and 2/11 for Michigan).

Cousins won the quarterback battle finishing off 18/25 with 275 yards and a touchdown. Robinson did manage to have 301 yards of total offense, but had all three of the Wolverines turnovers.

Edwin Baker finished with 22 carries and 149 yards with a touchdown. 

The Wolverines are now 0-3 against the Spartans, under Rich Rodriguez, and the Paul Bunyan-Governor of Michigan Trophy, will once again reside in East Lansing for another 12 months.

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