Michigan State University
Michigan
No. 8 Michigan State Handles Michigan Again, 35-11
10/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - With under a minute remaining in another comfortable win over his team's biggest rival, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio had the Spartans keep right on running the ball.
No kneel-downs, no letting up. Eventually, Jeremy Langford scored a touchdown with 28 seconds left.
"I just felt like we needed to put a stake in them at that point," Dantonio said.
The eighth-ranked Spartans trounced Michigan 35-11 on Saturday for their sixth victory in the past seven games against the Wolverines, but all that recent success hasn't removed the chip from Michigan State's shoulder.
Langford ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns for the Spartans, who outgained Michigan 446-186 and won their 14th straight game against a Big Ten opponent.
This one was extra special, of course. The only other time Michigan State has won six of seven over the Wolverines was between 1956-62.
This series hasn't been particularly competitive lately. Michigan State held the Wolverines to minus-48 yards rushing last year in a 29-6 victory, and Michigan was shut down again Saturday.
The Wolverines (3-5, 1-3 Big Ten) are in danger of missing the postseason in Hoke's fourth year at the helm. The Wolverines were held to zero yards rushing in the first half.
Langford scored a pair of short touchdowns in the first half to give Michigan State a 14-3 lead. Then RJ Williamson scored on a 29-yard interception return in the third, and Cook threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Tony Lippett later that quarter.
Langford's final touchdown - a 5-yarder at the end of the game - became the major talking point afterward.
The Spartans (7-1, 4-0) have next weekend off before hosting Ohio State in a rematch of last year's conference championship game. After winning the Rose Bowl last season, Michigan State is very much in the mix for college football's new four-team playoff.
"We want to win every game. This game just means a little bit more," Spartans safety Kurtis Drummond said. "We don't underplay this win at all."
For a moment, it looked as if the Spartans might be short-handed for that Ohio State game.
Standout linebacker Taiwan Jones was called for roughing the passer with targeting in the third quarter, which would have carried a first-half suspension for Michigan State's next game. But the targeting element was withdrawn after a review, and Jones played on.
Michigan finally reached the end zone on De'Veon Smith's 1-yard touchdown run with 3:40 remaining in the fourth. That was the first touchdown Michigan State had allowed to the Wolverines since 2011, but the Spartans had one more answer after that - one that carried a bit of a message.
"This is embedded in people. You need to understand that. This is our football team, that's theirs, and I understand the dynamics that are a part of that," Dantonio said.
"Doesn't mean I don't like them personally, but I understand the dynamics. ... This is the way it's been, and as I've said, I'm just carrying on the tradition."
