The State News
Junior safety Danny Fortener and sophomore linebacker Eric Gordon tackle Wisconsin tight end Garrett Graham Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. Fortener had 10 tackles while Gordon had eight.
The State News
Junior kicker Brett Swenson points to the sky after making his second field goal of the game Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. Swenson made four field goals, including the game-winner, against Wisconsin. MSU won 25-24.
The State News
Sophomore line backer Eric Gordon, right, jumps at Wisconsin running back P. J. Hill, center, in the second quarter of Saturday’s game at Spartan Stadium. Hill was tackled for no gain. The Spartans won 25-24.
The State News
Junior cornerback Jeremy Ware, right, tackles Wisconsin running back Zach Brown while junior safety Danny Fortener and sophomore linebacker Greg Jones run to help him in the second quarter of Saturday’s game at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans won 25-24.
The State News
Sophomore safety Marcus Hyde, 11, and senior defensive end Brandon Long, 47, tackle Wisconsin quarterback Dustin Sherer. The Spartans beat the Badgers 25-24 Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.
The State News
Senior running back Javon Ringer rushes for a two-yard touchdown Saturday against Wisconsin. The Spartans beat the Badgers 25-24.
The State News
MSU senior running back Javon Ringer rushes for a two-yard touchdown against Wisconsin. The Spartans defeated the Badgers 25-24.
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Late field goal gives Spartans 25-24 win
Swenson nails 44-yarder with 7 seconds left
Junior kicker Brett Swenson hit a 44-yard field goal with seven seconds left as No. 21 MSU posted a thrilling 25-24 come-from-behind victory over Wisconsin Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
“That last kick was one of the best kicks I’ve had in a while,” said Swenson, who was hoisted into the air by his teammates during the postgame celebration. “It came off my foot real well, had good height, lots of power — it was still on it’s way up when it hit the net I think.”
Looking for its first lead of the game, the Spartans (8-2 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) took over at their own 17-yard line with 1:19 remaining. Senior quarterback Brian Hoyer led his team down to Wisconsin’s 31-yard line, finding junior wide receiver Blair White for gains of 20 yards and 32 yards on the drive.
Wisconsin (4-5, 1-5) called two timeouts to ice Swenson, but the junior’s kick sailed right through the uprights as the Spartan Stadium crowd erupted.
“I’m excited they called timeout, to be honest,” Swenson said. “We were rushing out there and getting set and I was running out trying to look at the clock and everything, but when they called the timeout (MSU head coach Mark Dantonio) gave me a little smile and said you got this and I just relaxed.”
Swenson’s field goal capped an MSU comeback effort that started early on, as the Badgers picked up the game’s first score with 3:01 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown reception by tight end Garrett Graham.
Swenson connected on field goals from 21- and 27-yards out in the second quarter to trim MSU’s deficit to one point, but Wisconsin kicker Philip Welch drilled a field goal at the end of the quarter to give the Badgers a 10-6 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, the Spartans failed to convert on a fake punt attempt, giving the Badgers the ball at their own 40-yard line. Senior running back P.J. Hill scored six plays later on a 10-yard run, making the score 17-6.
On the first play of their ensuing possession, Hoyer and White hooked up for a 41-yard gain to take the Spartans just outside the red zone. MSU inched closer when Wisconsin cornerback Allen Langford was called for pass interference in the end zone. Senior running back Javon Ringer made the Badgers pay two plays later with a two-yard touchdown score, cutting the deficit to 17-13.
Wisconsin extended its lead with a 32-yard touchdown run by running back John Clay with 9:19 to go, but the Spartans answered on its next series when Ringer found the end zone again from two yards out. However, the Spartans failed to convert a two-point conversion attempt that would have brought them within a field goal.
“We really hadn’t really been in a situation this year where we had to keep coming from behind,” junior linebacker Adam Decker said. “This was a game where they would score, we would have to come back, they’d score again, we’d have to come back and as a defensive player you have to give it up to the offense because they were the ones making plays when we didn’t.”
After forcing the Badgers to go three-and-out on their next series, Swenson made his third field goal of the game — this one from a career-long 50 yards out — to cut MSU’s deficit to 24-22 with about five minutes to play.
The Badgers, who picked up 281 yards on the ground, continued their successful running game, burning 3:57 off the game clock. However, a pair of penalties inside MSU territory thwarted Wisconsin’s drive and forced it to punt.
Hoyer was 19-for-44 passing for 252 yards, while White had seven receptions for 164 yards. The Badgers held Ringer, who battled a virus all week and lost 10 pounds, to 54 yards on 21 carries. Junior free safety Danny Fortener and sophomore linebacker Greg Jones each had 12 tackles.
“I think we’ve got some good senior leadership, I think we’ve come through some tough times in terms of playing close games,” Dantonio said. “We’re figuring out a way to win and I think that can become a confidence thing for us.”
The Spartans continue their chase for a Big Ten title next week against Purdue at Spartan Stadium. Kick off is set for noon.
Published on Saturday, November 1, 2008
Comments
Brian W
11/01/08 @ 4:02pm
Gentleman, that was amazing. Brett swenson was amazing, Hate to be pessimistic, but the receiving core AS A WHOLE was less than spectcaular. Blair White was his usual goodness. But in my opinion, the game was won on the kick of Brett Swenson.
Rick
11/01/08 @ 4:25pm
It’s amazing they won that game. Wisconsin committed a truly amazing amount of pass interference on almost every play. The TV announcers talked about it continually complete with replays.
Yet the referees never called it. So don’t be too hard on the Spartan receivers, I am sure they were doing the best they could.
alumnus
11/01/08 @ 4:37pm
Fine show.
Joel V.
11/01/08 @ 5:01pm
A statement game! With a big win over Michigan, the team had to answer the call when they were losing on their own home field. Great Job Coach D. and company, great job.
Funkhowser
11/01/08 @ 5:02pm
Ohh goshdamn….this is my jammmm….Swenson’s kicking 44 yard field goals until the a.m.!
Matt
11/01/08 @ 5:03pm
Rick:
While that is true, there were some that were just the fault of MSU receivers. Like Cunningham just dropping the ball for a sure touchdown unacceptable. There were a couple more drops like that.
But yes, there were no doubt some missed calls.
but, I think that this shows MSU has turned one corner and won’t be counted out of games like that.
Great job Brett and the rest of the Spartans, now on to face Purdue.
student
11/01/08 @ 5:22pm
Same old Spartan Football???????
Not at all!!! But I wonder what the guys in Detroit are saying. Want to see what they write tomorrow in the newspaper.
Great Game!! This is a program win!!
GO GREEN!!! GO WHITE!!!
Sparty
11/01/08 @ 5:33pm
Blair White is bar far the best and most talented wide receiver on the team. He continually runs perfect routes and gets himself open nearly every play. Not on that, he actually catches the ball, something his fellow receivers have trouble doing as of late.
I was a little disappointed that they came out that flat after beating Michigan’s ass. I was expecting to see a team pumped up and excited, however we saw a team content with how the season had been going. I hope this doesn’t happen again next weekend.
Having said that, I’m extremely impressed with the poise and determination the Spartans had at the end of the game. Even though he wasn’t sharp at times, Hoyer came up big in the game winning drive making nearly perfect passes. Swenson has got to be one of the best kickers I’ve seen this season, great kick Brett!!
Overall, good win boys. Let’s not overlook Purdue next weekend and make sure to kick their asses before thinking about Penn State.
CALoysius27
11/01/08 @ 5:53pm
Dearest MSU,
LOCK UP COACH D’s contract for the next 10 years, make him one of the highest paid in college football. This is what we have been needing for years. Great win today by one and all.
Go Green
SoCal Spartan
11/01/08 @ 7:01pm
That was simply some good stuff, many of us lost faith in them and thought they were still the chokers. Without a star performance from Javon, we came through and beat em. Last minute defeats feel MIGHTY nice!
MarshaSpartan
11/01/08 @ 7:45pm
That was one of the best half time shows I have ever seen. I’ll bet the students had a blast. Great job!
Bye Bye Blue
11/01/08 @ 11:27pm
Elated over watching the Spartans win again in the 4th quarter, I thought the day couldn’t get any better…until ESPN ran the U-M lowlights and I saw Purdue pick up their first conference win on the old hook & ladder. Enjoy your Winter Break Wolverweenies – you’ve certainly earned it!
ps I would’ve posted this on the MI Daily, but I know you U-M losers prefer to read the State News – stay tuned for full coverage of the Spartans Jan 1 Bowl Game!
Bleed Green
11/02/08 @ 12:01am
This was an ugly win. There were some careless drops. We absolutely looked flat for the majority of the game. And yet…we still won!! In previous years, we definitely wouldn’t have pulled this off. Wisconsin certainly helped us with their 100+ yards of penalties and their time outs at the end…but I give MAJOR credit to Dantonio, Hoyer, Swenson and Co. for keeping their sh*t together and coming through in the clutch. GO STATE, BEAT PURDUE!!!
Chris
11/02/08 @ 12:29am
A Win is Never Ugly. Some of the Plays leading to the win was just as grueling as saw V.
Pat
11/02/08 @ 7:32am
Where are all the scUM trolls now? Either they don’t want to show their faces here or all the “Wal-Mart Wolverines” have switched over to the Spartan side.
TN Spartan
11/02/08 @ 9:52am
I have never been more proud of the team. Despite refs not calling pass intereference, despite coming out flat, despite Javon having a rough day, despite the label “same old Spartans”, the Spartans battled all four quarters and found a way to win in the clutch. Hoyer did very well. The Spartan team finally looks like a Spartan team should – tough, resiliant, and winners. Yesterday, they exemplified the MSU ideal.
I have never been more proud.
GO STATE!
Spartalum
11/02/08 @ 10:18am
The Spartans did not look good in that game and yet they still found a way to win. After watching years of the opposite situation, I was very pleased to see us go out there and take it. How many times have I seen team like UM come from behind after 3.75 quarters of sub-par football and end up winning. There is a new culture thanks to Coach Dantonio that is just fantastic to see.
Also, that is two weeks in a row now that the officials have missed multiple pass interference calls against us. What is the deal with that and is there a remedy?
On the plus side though, A gift touchdown last week to UM, missed interference calls this week and last and still the Spartans were able to rise above adversity and win. Outstanding!
Green4Life
11/02/08 @ 1:19pm
Momma always said life was like an MSU football game. Ya never know just what you’re gonna get. (Dropped passes, play calling, penalties, ugly defense, Hoyer leadership)
Stupid is as stupid does. (Rodriguez and the Wolverines)
That’s all I have to say about that. (Beat Purdue!!)
Green &white
11/02/08 @ 2:22pm
Great win !! White and Gant were great. Hoyer played very well-he can only put it in your hands-gotta catch it if you are a receiver. Way to go Swenson. Kick-off team much improved. Had a Trifecta yesterday-Michigan State won, Michigan Lost, and Notre Dame Lost. Love it !!!
SpartyOn
11/02/08 @ 3:37pm
HUGE WIN!
Yes it was ugly, yes we came out flat, but in the last ten years I’ve watched Spartan football, every time we came off a big win and played a flat game, you know what happened……WE LOST!!!! So winning, all be it by 1, at the end, against a BAD UW team still counts as a W like the rest.
The difference? MARK DANTONIO!! The man can flat out coach. Please sign him to a ten year $30million contract right away.
Hell if coach Dick Fraudriguez gets $2.5Mil to win 2games down the road, MD ought to be looking at Donald Trump style Money!!!!!
GO GREEN!
GO WHITE!!
GO STATE!!!
Beat Purdont
Chuck
11/02/08 @ 3:59pm
Of course, I got up and left my couch after giving up that WI touchdown. Same old Spartans for sure. I am really surprised that they got it together and came back for the win. Good effort. I can’t say that I’m pleased with Hoyer’s overall play, but a win is win. Purdue may have found a QB so let’s keep it rolling. Good game. Go Green.
David
11/02/08 @ 10:24pm
Folks: I think we won this for the same reason that we used to always lose…penalties. We took two (2!) for 30 yards. I’ve said it before…that used to be a series’ worth in the old days. That evidence of mental discipline, demonstrated play after play, is how the Doctor puts his players in a position to win. Dropped balls, no calls, BAD calls (stupid pylon)…all can be overcome with mental toughness.
I like their chances against Undue Perversity. And then with a bye-week to prepare…maybe Sparty makes Unhappy Valley look like Thermopylae?
Voltron
11/02/08 @ 10:40pm
Dantonio is our man, and we better do whatever it takes to keep him here. Hoyer played well, our receivers couldn’t catch the ball, or even hold onto it. He was connecting, they were dropping. Its been so long since we have had a solid football team and program. Go green!
SoCA Spartan
11/03/08 @ 6:25pm
Those dropped passes were really frustrating, but if we look at the bright side, the receivers; especially, CD Rucker made himself wide open for multiple times.
Once he and other receivers regain the confidence and start catching the ball, our passing game will open up a little better.
Thus, we all should stop complaining about the dropped passes in the past, and hope our guys step up and make plays in the last 2 remaining games!
Work hard and catch the passes, receivers!
Go State!
Wisc Spartan
11/04/08 @ 4:56am
A big thanks to Brett Swenson !!! I live in Wisconsin now and the thought of another year here with them winning was not so good. I can wear my MSU jacket now and listen to them cry about losing hehe. Now if our Basketball team can beat them this year … so far this year is playing put nicely.
Go Green
Go White
MSU Chicago
11/04/08 @ 8:40am
CD Rucker = Stone Hands
“Dont throw it to Stone Hands!” – Unnecessary Roughness