Michigan State University
Indiana
No. 22 Spartans Grounded By Indiana, 37-29
11/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov 10, 2001
Final Stats?|? Notes
Postgame Audio:
Coach Williams
By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER
Associated Press Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Antwaan Randle El passed for a mere 51 yards and no touchdowns Saturday against No. 22 Michigan State.
No matter.
The fifth-year senior ran for 149 yards and a score in Indiana's 37-28 victory. The Hoosiers (3-5, 3-3 Big Ten) amassed 489 yards on the ground, including a 251-yard, three-touchdown effort by running back Levron Williams.
"We were prepared to play Michigan State, and we've got the best running game in the Big Ten," Williams said. "We can do this to anyone."
Randle El became the NCAA Division I-A career rushing leader among quarterbacks, and fullback Jeremi Johnson added 96 yards and a touchdown.
"We feel like we can move the ball on anyone," Randle El said. "The only thing that can stop us is our own stupid penalties and turnovers."
"It's (the record's) a huge accomplishment, but I'm only going to celebrate until 4:30 tomorrow," Randle El said. "After that, it's all about Penn State (next week's opponent). I can enjoy this after my career."
Michigan State (5-3, 3-3), which was coming off an emotional 26-24 win over Michigan, had won the last four meetings against Indiana.
"We didn't play with the fire that Indiana did," Michigan State coach Bobby Williams said. "They had a lot more emotion than us."
Indiana entered the game as the Big Ten leader in rushing offense, scoring offense, total offense and turnover margin.
The Hoosiers took control of the Old Brass Spittoon, which has been awarded to the winner since 1950. Randle El held the Spittoon in his arms during a postgame news conference.
"We've been talking about winning this Spittoon all week," he said. "There's a lot of tradition in this thing, and we weren't leaving the field until they gave it to us."
Michigan State still needs one more win to become bowl eligible. Indiana kept its bowl hopes alive, but will need to win its three remaining games to be eligible for the postseason.
Indiana, ahead 31-28, had a first-and-goal from the Michigan State 1 with less than 6 minutes remaining. Randle El pitched the ball late to Williams on the option. Broderick Nelson hit Williams as he caught the ball, forcing a fumble recovered by linebacker Josh Thornhill.
"We've got to look like the dumbest team in America," Indiana coach Cam Cameron said. "Our flanker lines up in the wrong spot, and his guy made the play. If we line up right, we just walk in."
Michigan State drove to midfield, but Jeff Smoker's pass was intercepted by Herana-Daze Jones with less than three minutes to go.
Williams completed the scoring with a 22-yard run with 2:02 left.
The Spartans pulled to 31-28 in the third quarter when Smoker hit a leaping Herb Haygood in the end zone from 13 yards out. Smoker completed 20 of 30 passes for 288 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Smoker, who took several hard hits, sprained his left shoulder and was in a sling after the game.
Adam Braucher's 31-yard field goal gave the Hoosiers a 31-21 lead at 10:48 of the third quarter. He missed a 21-yarder late in the quarter.
Indiana took a 28-21 lead into halftime thanks to an 80-yard touchdown run around the left end by Williams with 2:11 remaining in the second.
Indiana evened the score at 21 when Johnson took a quick hand-off from Randle El and ran up the middle for a 19-yard touchdown run about two minutes earlier.
Smoker connected with Charles Rogers on a 19-yard pass to give Michigan State a 21-14 lead at 7:05 of the second. Smoker's first touchdown pass of the game, an 18-yard strike to Haygood, gave the Spartans a 14-7 lead at 7:17 of the first quarter.
With Indiana down 14-7 in the second quarter, a pooch punt by Randle El was touched by Michigan State's Duron Bryan and recovered by Michael Hanley at the 17.
Five plays later, Williams took an option pitch from Randle El and ran into the end zone untouched on a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
Randle El ran Indiana's third play from scrimmage around the right side and raced down the sideline for a 57-yard touchdown to put the Hoosiers ahead 7-0 at 11:20 of the first quarter. It was his longest run of the season.
T.J. Duckett answered with a 17-yard touchdown run around the right side to make it 7-7 at 9:39. A week after a 211-yard effort against Michigan, Duckett had 98 yards rushing on 17 carries against the Hoosiers.
