Michigan State - Penn State Post Game Notes
11/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 24, 2001
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ATTENDANCE - 72,658 (sellout). Michigan State has played before a sellout crowd in 25 of its last 30 home games, including the last 17 in a row.
MSU/PENN STATE SERIES UPDATE - Today's game marked the 19th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans lead the all-time series 10-8-1, including a 6-3 record in games played in East Lansing, Mich. It marked Penn State's first win in Spartan Stadium since Nov. 25, 1995, 24-20. The home team had won the last five games in the series.
DUCKETT REACHES SEASON & CAREER RUSHING MILESTONES - With 126 yards rushing on 22 carries vs. Penn State, junior tailback T.J. Duckett reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark for a second-straight year. Duckett also became only the fifth running back in Michigan State history to reach the 3,000-yard career rushing milestone. He currently ranks fifth on the Spartans' all-time rushing list with 3,046 career yards.
Duckett recorded his 12th career 100-yard rushing game, including his fifth in 2001. It marked Duckett's third career 100-yard game vs. Penn State. In three games against the Nittany Lions, he has gained 419 yards (139.7 per game) on 65 carries and scored five touchdowns.
SMOKER HAS RECORD-SETTING GAME - Sophomore Jeff Smoker set career marks for pass attempts (36), completions (24) and passing yards (356) against Penn State. His three touchdown passes also equaled his career best. His 16 TD passes (tied for fifth) and 1,910 passing yards (10th) rank among the top single-season totals in Spartan history.
ROGERS PUTS HIS NAME IN THE RECORD BOOK - Sophomore Charles Rogers had a season-high eight receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns vs. Penn State. It marked Rogers' fourth 100-yard receiving game this season. He has caught at least one TD pass in each of his last seven games.
With 191 receiving yards, Rogers became only the third receiver in Michigan State history to reach the 1,000-yard milestone. Plaxico Burress recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 1998 (1,013) and '99 (1,142) while Courtney Hawkins hit the mark in '89 (1,080).
Rogers' 50 receptions (eighth), 1,032 receiving yards (third) and 10 TD catches (second) rank among the top single-season figures in Spartan history.
THORNHILL A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY - Senior linebacker Josh Thornhill recorded his 22nd career double-figure game in tackles with 12 (7 solos, 5 assists) vs. Penn State. Thornhill has posted double figures in tackles in his last eight starts.
Thornhill, who has started 38 consecutive games, currently ranks fifth on Michigan State's all-time tackles chart with 385 career stops.
BAKER CONTINUES STREAKS - With a season-high seven catches for 76 yards vs. Penn State, senior tight end Chris Baker moved into fifth place on Michigan State's all-time receptions list with 126. He also caught his 13th career touchdown pass, a 2-yarder from Jeff Smoker in the fourth quarter, good for ninth place on the Spartans' all-time TD receptions chart.
Baker, who has started 45 consecutive games at tight end, has caught at least one pass in 22 straight games.
Penn State Game Notes
-Bryant Johnson moved into fifth place in PSU season receptions with 48.
-Penn State's 21 points in the 3rd quarter are its most points in a quarter since scoring 28 in the 1st quarter against Michigan State last year.
-Bryant Johnson had his 5th 100-yard receiving game this season, the most since Joe Jurevicius had five in 1996.
-The 64-yard Zack Mills to R.J. Luke touchdown pass was PSU's longest pass play of the year and Luke's longest career reception.
-Tony Johnson's 59-yard catch is the 3rd longest of his career. In the last three games, he has catches of 63, 60 and 59 yards.
-Penn State scored on its first possession of the game for the first time this season.
-The last time Penn State allowed 31 points in the first half was 35 by MSU in the 2nd half in 1997.