Undefeated Michigan State upset by Iowa
Last Saturday in Iowa City, the no. 18 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes ruined a perfect season for the highly touted and ranked Michigan State Spartans, 37-6.
For the no. 5 ranked Spartans, this will be a loss they will be happy to soon forget. But fans of Michigan State will remember this defeat if the two teams face each other in the Big 10 playoffs.
Game Highlights
Iowa Hawkeyes started scoring early and often, rebounding from their last week’s loss to Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 7-0 lead on an 80-yard drive led by quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
With under a minute to go in the first quarter, with the Hawkeyes up 10-0, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins threw an interception into the hands of corner back Tyler Sash, who lateraled to a quicker member of the defence, Micah Hyde, who ran the ball
back 66 yards to the promised land.
By halftime, the game was already out of control, with the Hawkeyes up 30-0.
The second half proved to be a defensive struggle with Iowa giving up a lone touchdown to Cousins’ offence, while the Spartans defence settled down, only allowing one touchdown during the half.
Leading game statistics
Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins threw for more yards than Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi, but yards don't equal points, especially when Cousins threw three interceptions.
Cousins did complete 21 of 29 passing attempts, which is excellent accuracy, but only 198 yards and one touchdown, which are very average numbers for a fifth ranked team.
The Spartans leading receiver was senior Mark Dell, with eight receptions worth 98 yards. Michigan State running back Edwin Baker only gained 21 yards on nine attempts. The Spartans rushing offense was inexistent, reaching a miniscule 31 yards on the ground.
Hawkeyes Ricky Stanzi threw for 190 yards on only nine attempts, giving him an average of 12.7 yards per completion. But it was the Hawkeyes rushing though that wore down the Spartans defence, with their two top rushers, Adam Robinson and Marcus Coker, in
the mix on 36 plays.
Robinson finished with 69 yards, while Coker had a respectable 40 yards.
Top Hawkeye receiver was tight end Brad Herman, who caught only three passes, but managed 80 yards. Junior wide receiver Marvin McNutt had 2 receptions and reaching 39 yards.
"Did we come unprepared? I don't think so," said Michigan State coach Mark Dantoni. They might not have come unprepared, but they certainly were not ready for the Hawkeyes.
On the other hand, Iowa put their noses to the grindstone and had an excellent day at home in Iowa City. "I thought the guys came out ready at kickoff, certainly, and for the first time we really put it together in all three phases," Hawkeyes coach Kirk
Ferentz said to the Associated Press.
After suffering their first loss of the season, the 8-1 Spartans will be at home against Minnesota, who is currently in last place in the Big 10 Conference. Iowa should have an easy week as they match up with the second to last place Indiana Hoosiers, at
Indiana.
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