Spartans’ late gambles pay dividends in upset
Lewerke’s touchdown pass to Davis with 19 seconds left caps a day of go-for-broke plays.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Each Michigan State player brought a poker chip to Happy Valley and coach Mark Dantonio encouraged the Spartans to push them all to the center of the table Saturday. As the evening wore on against No. 8 Penn State, it was clear the Spartans were all-in.
They converted a fake punt early, tried a fake field goal instead of kick for the tying points late in the fourth quarter and opted to throw to the end zone instead of run it to preserve another shot at an equalizing kick.
That go-for-broke mentality paid off in Michigan State’s 21-17 win.
Brian Lewerke threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis with 19 seconds left to lift the Spartans over the Nittany Lions, making it two consecutive seasons Michigan State used a late score to beat Penn State.
It was a needed win for the Spartans after a week filled with players publicly demanding more from one another following a tough loss at home to Northwestern.
“We didn’t want to play to try and tie it,” Dantonio said. “And quite honestly, I felt like Penn State was too explosive with [quarterback Trace] McSorley creating too many plays, that eventually they would find their way back down the field.”
But despite having a week off to prepare for the Spartans, the Nittany Lions (5-2, 1-2) couldn’t get it done and were outplayed again in the final quarter, two weeks after they let a fourth-quarter lead get away against Ohio State.
“We had a chance to put them away several times on offense, on defense and on special teams and we didn’t do it,” Penn State coach James Franklin said.
Davis stayed in despite hurting his hip on Michigan State’s penultimate drive and finished with eight catches for 100 yards.
“In the huddle, I told Brian to just throw it up and give me a chance and he did,” Davis said.