Michigan Football beats Michigan State for fourth straight season

SB Nation

The Michigan Wolverines took the short trip to East Lansing on Saturday to defend Paul Bunyan — who is, in fact, a Michigan fan — from the Michigan State Spartans.

It was a back-and-forth affair to start,

but Michigan was able to pull away and head back to Ann Arbor with its fourth straight win in the rivalry game, while also handing MSU its fifth straight loss of the season and heat up Jonathan Smith’s seat just a little more.

Here’s how it all went down.

First Quarter

On the second play of the game, MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles nearly threw an interception that was right in the hands of cornerback Jyaire Hill. On the very next play, Michigan safety Brandyn Hillman forced a Chiles fumble, which was recovered by linebacker Jimmy Rolder at the MSU 34 yard line.

After Justice Haynes picked up the first down on 4th-and-1, the Wolverines’ offense stalled out and settled for a 21-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada. Michigan 3, MSU 0

The Spartans went three-and-out on their next drive, and the Wolverines punted right back after picking up just one first down on a Bryce Underwood 22-yard pass to Andrew Marsh. MSU went three-and-out for a second straight possession, and that’s when Michigan’s offense really started to click. Jordan Marshall picked up chunk yardage like he did last week against Washington, and a brilliant third down rollout to the right/throwback to the left to Haynes picked up the first down. That then set up a designed Underwood run that went 13 yards for the touchdown. Michigan 10, MSU 0

An illegal hands to the face penalty backed up MSU quite a bit, and then Rolder got the first sack of the day for the defense to make it 3rd-and-forever before eventually punting.

End of Q1: Michigan 10, MSU 0

Second Quarter

After another Michigan punt, the Spartans set themselves up nicely following a 49-yard run by running back Makhi Frazier. After a lot of penalties being thrown on both teams — an unnecessary roughness on MSU and a pass interference by TJ Metcalf — the Spartans got into the end zone via a one-yard plunge from Chiles. Michigan 10, MSU 7

After a disastrous 3rd-and-1 where center Greg Crippen sailed the ball over Underwood’s head, Michigan was forced to punt yet again. Thankfully, the Spartans went three-and-out, but had a booming punt where Semaj Morgan called a fair catch…at the Michigan five yard line…joy.

After picking up one first down, the Wolverines had to punt it away. Luckily, MSU was forced to punt again, and after a few plays trying to get into field goal range, the clocks hit 00:00 and we (finally) got to halftime.

HALFTIME: Michigan 10, MSU 7

Third Quarter

Prior to halftime, head coach Sherrone Moore told NBC they needed to make tweaks in the run game to get their offense going. Well, tweaks were made, as Haynes went for 48 yards on two carries to open the second half. Haynes eventually capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown to start the second half on a high note. Michigan 17, MSU 7

After picking up a first down, the Spartans were forced to punt after the defensive line began to force a ton of pressure on Chiles, forcing incomplete pass after incomplete pass. Michigan went three-and-out and pinned the Spartans down at their three yard line following a 53-yard Hudson Hollenbeck punt, which then led to a Spartan three-and-out.

Following a 27-yard pass from Underwood to Marsh, it was Haynes capping off the drive on the very next play with a 14-yard touchdown run. Michigan 24, MSU 7

MSU picked up a first down, but Chiles was sacked by TJ Guy on the very next play. Chiles was able to throw for the first down on the ensuing 2nd-and-19 and set up a 2nd-and-6 to start the fourth quarter.

End of Q3: Michigan 24, MSU 7

Fourth Quarter

After the sack, Chiles was money on this drive. He completed 7-of-7 passes and set up MSU at the one yard line, which is where running back Brandon Tullis took it in for the score. The Spartans went for two and did not convert. Michigan 24, MSU 13

The Wolverines went three-and-out, and MSU was in the midst of putting together another quality drive thanks to a long Frazier run. However, Rolder broke up a pass on fourth down to turn the ball over on downs and to give Michigan the ball back.

But after a few first downs and some clock drained, Haynes ended up fumbling the ball and giving it back to the Spartans. Thankfully, the Spartans went for it on 4th-and-1 and were denied of the first down thanks to a fantastic tackle by Rolder.

After a solid amount of clock-chewing, Marshall decided to take it 56 yards to the house to put the exclamation point on the evening for the Wolverines. Michigan 31, MSU 13

And just to piss off everybody that took Michigan against the spread, MSU backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic hit tight end Michael Masunas for a garbage time touchdown.

Final Score: Michigan 31, MSU 20

Michigan Stat Leaders

QB Bryce Underwood: 8-of-17 for 86 yards; 5 carries for 26 yards and 1 TD
RB Justice Haynes: 26 carries for 152 yards and 2 TDs
RB Jordan Marshall: 15 carries for 110 yards and 1 TD
WR Andrew Marsh: 3 catches for 54 yards
LB Jimmy Rolder: 10 tackles, 2 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery
LB Ernest Hausmann: 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
Edge Derrick Moore: 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
S Brandyn Hillman: 5 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble