Post-Game Notes
9/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 22, 2007
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In the 71st meeting between the two schools, Michigan State defeated Notre Dame, 31-14...with the win, Michigan State becomes the first team in history to win six-straight games in Notre Dame Stadium...Michigan State won its 26th game over Notre Dame in series history, ranking second among opponents in all-time victories against Notre Dame...Michigan State won its 13th game in Notre Dame Stadium, the most of any Fighting Irish opponent.
Here's a look at the past previous five MSU-Notre Dame games in Notre Dame Stadium:
Sept. 20, 1997 - Michigan State 23, Notre Dame 7Sept. 18, 1999 - Michigan State 23, Notre Dame 13Sept. 22, 2001 - Michigan State 17, Notre Dame 10Sept. 20, 2003 - Michigan State 22, Notre Dame 16Sept. 17, 2005 - Michigan State 44, Notre Dame 41 (OT)
Michigan State opens the season 4-0 for the second time in the past three years and for the 16th time in school history...the Spartans also started out 4-0 in 2005, 1999, 1997, 1966, 1965, 1961, 1956, 1953, 1952, 1951, 1944, 1936, 1934, 1915, 1913.
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is the first coach in school history to begin his first season 4-0...Bobby Williams also began his head coaching career 4-0, with his first win coming in the Florida Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2000...Dantonio also becomes the fifth-consecutive Spartan head coach to produce a win in his first trip to Notre Dame Stadium (George Perles, 1983; Nick Saban, 1997; Bobby Williams, 2001; John L. Smith, 2003).
MSU led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter...through four games, MSU has outscored its opponents 42-7 in the first quarter.
OFFENSE:
Javon Ringer rushed for 144 yards on a career-high 26 carries...it's the first time MSU has had a 100-yard rusher since Jehuu Caulcrick ran for 111 yards last season against Notre Dame...it marks Ringer's first 100-yard game since he rushed for 156 yards last year at Pittsburgh...it marks his sixth career 100-yard rushing game (three in 2005, two in 2006)...he had a season-long 26-yard run in the first quarter that set up MSU's second TD of the day.
Devin Thomas accounted for 153 all-purpose yards...he returned three kicks for 98 yards, including a career-high 52-yarder to open the second half...he caught a 7-yard TD pass in the first quarter, his third receiving score of the season.
Brian Hoyer had a career-best four passing touchdowns...it marks the first time a Spartan quarterback has thrown for four TDs since Drew Stanton threw five at Illinois in 2005...he completed a 7-yard TD pass to Thomas in the first quarter...he also completed a 3-yard TD pass to Kellen Davis with 0:22 left in the first quarter...he threw a 16-yard TD to Mark Dell in the third quarter...on fourth-and-2 late in the third, he completed a 30-yard scoring pass to Kellen Davis with 2:45 remaining in the quarter
Kellen Davis had a career-best two TD catches...he caught his second TD of the season with a 3-yard reception late in the first quarter...on fourth-and-2 in the third quarter, he caught a 30-yard TD pass from Hoyer to give MSU a 31-14 lead . . . his three TD receptions this year match the total he had in his three previous seasons combined.
Mark Dell recorded his first career TD with a 16-yard reception in the third quarter.
DEFENSE:
MSU's defense held Notre Dame to nine first downs and 203 yards of total offense, both season lows for a Spartan opponent this season. The nine first downs were the lowest for a Spartan opponent since Notre Dame only recorded eight in the 2000 game at Spartan Stadium.
For the second-straight week, the Spartan defense held their opponent to less than 100 yards passing...after limiting Pittsburgh to 85 yards passing last week, the Irish only threw for 86 yards this afternoon.
MSU's defense has caused eight turnovers this season, resulting in 37 points (7-for-8 scoring)...Jonal Saint-Dic forced a fumble in the second quarter led to a 27-yard Swenson field goal.
MSU's defense held Notre Dame scoreless in the second half while limiting the Irish to three first downs and 79 total yards.
MSU recorded four sacks in the game (Eric Gordon, Jonal Saint-Dic, Kendell Davis-Clark, Justin Kershaw)...MSU, which entered the game tied for first in the nation in sacks, now has 21 this season...it had 16 all of last season...it also had 10 tackles for losses for 42 yards against the Irish.
Jonal Saint-Dic recorded his sixth sack of the season...he also had two tackles for losses, giving him eight tackles for losses this season...he recorded a 17-yard sack in the second quarter, then took the ball away from Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen on the same play to set up a Brett Swenson 27-yard field goal...Saint-Dic was credited with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the play...Saint-Dic, who entered the game leading the nation in forced fumbles, now has five forced fumbles this season.
Eric Gordon recorded his first career sack with an 8-yard loss in the first quarter...he had 1.5 tackles for losses for 9 yards...he had key 1-yard tackle for loss on a Notre Dame fourth-and-1 in the third quarter.
The Spartans allowed points in the first quarter for the first time this season as Notre Dame scored a TD at the 10:01 mark in the first quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Aaron Bates had five punts for 207 yards, including three inside the 20.
