Michigan State University Athletics
A Look Back: Spartan Stadium's First Night Game
9/1/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The first ever night game at Spartan Stadium ? held 12 years ago nearly to the day from tonight?s meeting with Oregon ? featured fireworks at halftime.
The Spartan offense took a cue from the halftime show and scored two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. That boosted a 10-6 halftime lead to 24-6 and lifted MSU to a 27-13 win over Southern California on Sept. 7, 1987.
The victory kicked off the Big Ten Championship season of 1987, a year which was bookended by another win over USC ? in the Rose Bowl on New Year?s Day.
But on Sept. 7, the thoughts of the sellout crowd of 77,923 were on the beautiful weather, the Labor Day holiday and the national television audience witnessing Spartan Stadium?s first game under the lights.
On the field, it was a game full of heroes.
* The Spartan defense, led by Percy Snow, John Miller and Tim Moore, forced five turnovers and allowed only 61 yards rushing.
* Senior tailback Lorenzo White ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns, returning to the form that made him a Heisman Trophy candidate as a sophomore.
* Quarterback Bobby McAllister made his debut as the Spartan starter, completing 10-of-15 passes for 109 yards and running for a touchdown.
* Even the kicking game got in the act, with punter Greg Montgomery booming five punts for an average of 53 yards and red-shirt freshman John Langeloh kicking two field goals, including a 43-yarder.
What was billed as the Great American Football Celebration was simply a celebration for the home team.
It started early, with White gaining 48 yards rushing in a 65-yard opening drive. After just eight plays, MSU led, 7-0.
The two teams traded field goals ? USC with two and MSU with one ? before the half. Early in the third, defensive end John Budde recovered a Trojan fumble on the USC 25, and the Spartans scored three plays later. This time, McAllister ran in from 9 yards out to give MSU a 17-6 lead less than two minutes into the third quarter.
An 84-yard drive capped by White?s 1-yard dive later in the third quarter cinched it for the Spartans. McAllister and Rison hooked up on a 44-yard pass play which keyed the drive. Less than four months later, the two teams would meet again in a more memorable setting. But on Sept. 7, 1987, Michigan State and USC made history in Spartan Stadium?s first night game.
Michigan State 27, Southern Cal 13
September 7, 1987, in East Lansing
USC 3 3 0 7 ? 13 MSU 10 0 14 3 ? 27Scoring Summary MS ? White 9 run (Langeloh kick), 3:49 1st SC ? Rodriguez 23 FG, 7:56 1st MS ? Langeloh 27 FG, 12:30 1st SC ? Rodriguez 25 FG, 2:27 2nd MS ? McAllister 9 run (Langeloh kick), 1:54 3rd MS ? White 1 run (Langeloh kick), 9:44 3rd MS ? Langeloh 43 FG, 7:52 4th SC ? Tanner 26 pass from McLean (Rodriguez kick), 10:47 4th
Team Statistics MSU USC First Downs 17 21 Rushes-Yards 56-238 33-61 Passing Yards 103 326 Punt Returns 2-(-14) 4-23 Kickoff Returns 4-89 4-88 Passes (Att.-Comp.-Int.) 15-10-0 47-29-3 Punts-Avg. 5-53 5-33 Fumbles-Lost 3-3 4-2 Penalties-Yards 9-88 8-58 Time of Possession 30:47 29:13
Individual Leaders Rushing: MS: White 22-111, McAllister 15-63, Ezor 16-56. SC: Knight 19-53. Passing: MS: McAllister 15-10-0-103. SC: Peete 47-29-2-326. Receiving: MS: Rison 5-76. SC: Tanner 8-107.
