Michigan State University Athletics
From the Press Box
11/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Quotes
Michigan State vs. Michigan
Spartan Stadium - East Lansing, Mich.
November 1, 2003
MSU Game Notes
Attendance: 75,129. Today's game marked the 32nd-consecutive sellout in Spartan Stadium and the 40th sellout in the last 45 games.
This marked the first time since 1997 that MSU lost at home to Michigan, and it is just the second time in the last six meetings at Spartan Stadium that MSU was beaten.
Today's game marked MSU's first loss against a nationally ranked opponent in four games this season. MSU previously defeated NR/No. 23 Notre Dame (22-16), No. 13/9 Iowa (20-10) and No. 25/19 Minnesota (44-38). This is the highest-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll MSU has played since the Spartans beat No. 6 Michigan, 26-24, in 2001.
Jason Harmon intercepted his second pass of the season, and the fifth of his career, in the first quarter. Harmon returned the interception 19 yards.
Neither team scored in the first quarter. Michigan State has not allowed a point in the first quarter during any of its five Big Ten games, outscoring its opponents 45-0 during the opening period.
Dave Rayner's 20-yard field goal in the second quarter was his 12th consecutive made field goal, which is one shy of the school record of 13 set by Paul Edinger during a four-game span in 1998. It was Rayner's 19th field goal this year, which is third best in a single season in MSU history. Rayner's streak ended on a 57-yard attempt on the last play of the first half.
Rayner's two field goals gave MSU 18 scores in 18 opportunities in the red zone during Big Ten games this season. The Spartans have totaled 14 touchdowns and four field goals in their 18 chances.
Ziehl Kavanaght's 31-yard punt return in the third quarter moved him up two spots to second place in career punt return yardage at MSU. Kavanaght has 636 career punt return yards, trailing only Gari Scott (1,088).
Jeff Smoker's 73-yard touchdown pass to Agim Shabaj in the third quarter was the longest play from scrimmage by Michigan State this season. The previous long play was a 71-yard touchdown run by Jaren Hayes at Notre Dame, and the longest pass play this season had been a 62-yard scoring strike from Smoker to Shabaj vs. Rutgers.
Clifford Dukes' 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was the fourth defensive touchdown scored by Michigan State this season.
Quick Hitters
* Michigan's Chris Perry set an MSU opponent record by carrying the ball 51 times. Indiana's Alex Smith had the previous opponent record of 44 carries in 1995.
* When Michigan intercepted Jeff Smoker's pass in the end zone on the game's final play, it was MSU's first turnover since the second quarter of the Notre Dame game. The Spartans had played 21 straight turnover-free quarters.
