Michigan State University
Penn State
Spartans Downed By Nittany Lions
11/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 18, 2000
By DAN LEWERENZ
Associated Press Writer
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Finally, things went right for Penn State.
Rashard Casey threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores as the Nittany Lions closed the season with a 42-23 victory over Michigan State on Saturday.
"You've heard me say it - you've just to hang in there when it's going bad, because sooner or later it's going to even up," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said.
Paterno recorded his 322nd career victory to move within one of the major college record held by former Alabama coach Bear Bryant.
Proof of Penn State's good fortune came in the first quarter, when Kenny Watson caught a deflected pass and ran it 40 yards into the end zone. Casey's pass was meant for Eddie Drummond but went off Drummond's fingers, over a defender and right to Watson, who sprinted untouched for the score that put Penn State (5-7, 4-4 Big Ten) up 21-0.
Casey, who finished with 218 passing yards and no interceptions, had a 3-yard touchdown run on the next possession that gave Penn State a 28-0 lead at the end of the quarter.
"Rashard played well," Paterno said. "His timing was better, and the kids he was working with were better."
Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker was sacked six times, and reserve Ryan Van Dyke was sacked twice. The loss makes the Spartans (5-6, 2-6) ineligible for bowl consideration. Penn State's 42 points were the most Michigan State has given up all year.
"The field position hurt," said Michigan State coach Bobby Williams. "Most of the time it was three-and-outs."
The Nittany Lions also avoided recording just the second eight-loss season in school history. Penn State's 5-7 record is the worst since Paterno became head coach in 1966 and just the fifth time the Nittany Lions under Paterno will not play in a bowl game.
Travis Wilson caught a 26-yard pass from Van Dyke for Michigan State's final score. The Spartans failed on the 2-point conversion, making it 42-23.
T.J. Duckett broke free for a 44-yard run up the middle for Michigan State, making it 42-17 midway through the fourth quarter. Duckett carried 21 times for 134 yards.
Casey threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Omar Easy to put Penn State up 42-10 with 5:10 left in the third quarter. Easy ran three times for 26 yards and caught two passes for 30 yards on the possession.
Eric McCoo caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Casey to put the Nittany Lions up 35-10 early in the third quarter. It was another lucky play for Penn State, as a wide-open McCoo bobbled the ball before securing the catch in the end zone.
Michigan State got its first touchdown late in the second quarter. Smoker's 21-yard pass to Lavaile Richardson in the end zone made it 28-10. The Spartans didn't score until midway through the second quarter, when David Schaefer's 22-yard field goal made it 28-3.
"We started to move the ball some in the second quarter," Smoker said. "The play-action pass was good for us, but the bottom line was we executed better in the second quarter."
But that wasn't enough to overcome Penn State's first-quarter dominance on defense. The Spartans ran just nine plays and lost 10 yards on their first three possession, and Smoker lost 25 yards on three sacks.
Michigan State finished the first quarter with 13 plays for a 5-yard loss. The Spartans didn't get a first down until the first play of the second quarter.
"We did what we had been doing all year long, but we didn't execute well early," Smoker said. "Penn State wasn't blitzing early, but I still got sacked. Given Penn State's defense credit, because it played well."
Larry Johnson's 58-yard sprint up the middle on Penn State's second possession put the Nittany Lions up 14-0. It was Penn State's longest run from scrimmage this year and Johnson's longest career run.
McCoo set up Penn State's first score with runs of 6, 28, 3 and 5 yards. Casey dove over the center to put the Nittany Lions up 7-0.
