Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans, Wolverines Ready to Battle for Paul Bunyan Trophy
10/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Game 8: Michigan State (2-5, 0-4 B1G) vs. No. 2/2 Michigan (7-0, 4-0 B1G) | |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 29 | 12:01 p.m. |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. Spartan Stadium (75,005/Natural Grass) |
| Television | ESPN |
| Broadcast Team | Bob Wischusen (play-by-play) Brock Huard (analyst) | Allison Williams (sidelines) |
| Internet Coverage | WatchESPN | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Affiliates |
| Satellite Radio | Ch. 84 (Sirius)/Ch. 84 (XM)/Ch. 84 (SiriusXM.com) |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Parking/Tailgating/Stadium Information | Gameday Central | Gameday Answers |
| Tickets | Limited number available at msuspartans.com |
| Parking | Lots will open at 7 a.m. |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Michigan |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Michigan |
| Series Information | UM leads, 68-35-5 |
| Social Media | @MSU_Football  | Facebook  |
FIRST-AND-10 --
• Michigan State will look for its fourth straight victory over Michigan as the Spartans host the No. 2/2 Wolverines Saturday, Oct. 29 at 12 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. The Spartans (2-5, 0-4 B1G) are coming off a 27-18 loss at Maryland last Saturday, while the Wolverines (7-0, 4-0 B1G) moved into first place in the Big Ten East Division with a 41-8 win at home over Illinois.
• Michigan State has defeated Michigan seven times in the past eight years, the most wins in an eight-year stretch against the Wolverines in school history. In MSU's 7-1 record over Michigan since 2008, the Spartans have outscored the Wolverines by 100 points (224-124, average score: 28-16). The Spartans have won a school-record four consecutive over the Wolverines in Spartan Stadium (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014).
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is 7-2 during his tenure against Michigan, including a 4-1 record in Spartan Stadium. Dantonio's .778 winning percentage is the highest for any Spartan coach against the Wolverines (second: Duffy Daugherty, .579, 10-7-2 record from 1954-72). Dantonio is 5-2 against ranked Michigan teams.
• Saturday's game marks the 109th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 68-35-5, including a 19-14-2 record in games played in East Lansing; however, since 1950, Michigan holds just a six-game edge, 35-29-2.
• The Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines last season in Ann Arbor, as Jalen Watts-Jackson scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired to give No. 7 Michigan State a 27-23 victory at No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17. The unforgettable touchdown was named the No. 1 play of the 2015 season at the ESPN College Football Awards Show in Atlanta on Dec. 10.
• The team with the most productive ground attack has won 42 of the last 46 games in the MSU-UM series. Since Mark Dantonio's arrival to MSU in 2007, the Spartans have outrushed the Wolverines by 854 yards (1,548-694). In six of those nine games, Michigan has been held to 100 rushing yards or fewer, including a school-record low minus-48 yards in 2013.
• Since 1953, the winner of the Michigan State-Michigan game has been presented the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The four-foot wooden statue was donated by then-Governor G. Mennen Williams to mark Michigan State's acceptance into the Big Ten. Since 1953, Michigan leads the series 35-26-2. The trophy depicts the legendary giant lumberjack astride an axe with feet planted on a map of the state with flags representing the schools.
• The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Dantonio. MSU is 7-2 in its last nine games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including a 6-2 record since 2013 (beat No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Stanford in 2013; lost to No. 3 Oregon and beat No. 4 Baylor in 2014; beat No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Iowa, and lost to No. 2 Alabama in 2015).
• Senior R.J. Shelton leads the team in receptions (35), receiving yards (541) and touchdown catches (4). He ranks third in the Big Ten in receiving yards (77.3 ypg), third in all-purpose yards (134.4 ypg) and tied for fourth in receptions (5.0 pg). Shelton crossed the 1,000-yard milestone for career receiving yards in the Northwestern game; he leads all active Spartans with 98 career catches for 1,223 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 5-11, 202-pound Shelton has caught two 86-yard touchdown passes (at Indiana, vs. Northwestern) this season from Tyler O'Connor. Shelton is one of only two players in school history to have two touchdown receptions of 86 yards or longer in the same season (Sherman Lewis, 1963). In conference games only, Shelton leads the Big Ten in receiving yards (110.8 ypg) and ranks second in receptions (6.0 pg).
• Redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke started his second consecutive game at quarterback against Maryland. Lewerke became the first Spartan freshman to start at quarterback since Sept. 11, 2004 (Stephen Reaves vs. Central Michigan) after earning his first career start vs. Northwestern. In his two starts, Lewerke has completed 23-of-43 passes (.535) for one touchdown and one interception. He has also rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries (6.4 avg.).
COACHES --
Michigan State:
Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 89-38 (10th year)
Overall Record: 107-55 (13th year)
Record vs. UM: 5-2
Michigan:
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
UM Record: 17-3 (second year)
Overall Record: 75-30 (ninth year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-1
STAT LEADERS --
Michigan State:
Rushing -- LJ Scott (93 carries for 464 yards, 5.0 avg, 3 TDs)
Passing -- Tyler O'Connor (91 of 146 for 1,257 yards, 11 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving -- R.J. Shelton (35 catches for 541 yards, 15.5 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles -- Montae Nicholson (57 tackles, 24 solos, 33 assists, 2 TFL, 2 PBUs, 1 FR) and Chris Frey (57 tackles, 24 solos, 33 assists, 1.5 TFLs, 1 FF)
Michigan:
Rushing -- Chris Evans (49 carries for 416 yards, 8.5 avg., 3 TDs)
Passing -- Wilton Speight (114 of 182 for 1,447 yards, 13 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving -- Amara Darboh (30 catches for 499 yards, 16.6 avg., 5 TDs)
Tackles -- Ben Gedeon (56 tackles, 21 solos, 35 assists, 9 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 PBUs)
A QUICK GLANCE AT MICHIGAN (7-0, 4-0 B1G) --
• The No. 2-ranked Wolverines are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in B1G action after beating Illinois, 41-8, last Saturday, taking over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten East Division standings. Saturday's game at Spartan Stadium marks only Michigan's second road game as six of its first seven games have been at home, with its lone previous road game at Rutgers, winning 78-0 on Oct. 8.
• Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has a 17-3 record in his second season at the helm of the Wolverines' program. Overall, Harbaugh is in his ninth season as a college head coach, logging a 75-30 ledger.
• The Wolverines lead the FBS in scoring defense (10.0 ppg), while also leading the Big Ten and ranking third in FBS in scoring offense (48.7 ppg). UM is also first in the nation in passing defense (111.0 ypg), while also leading the league and ranking fourth in the nation in rushing defense (96.0 ypg) to top both the conference and country statistics in total defense (207.0 ypg). Michigan is second in the conference and 11th in the country in rushing offense (257.1 ypg) to go with seventh in the Big Ten and 78th in the FBS in passing offense (225.9 ypg), ranking second in the league and 28th in the nation in total offense (483.0 ypg).
• Junior quarterback Wilton Speight directs the Wolverine offensive attack, throwing for 1,447 yards on 114-of-182 passing (.626) with 13 TDs and two INTs. With a 150.8 passing efficiency, Speight is third in the B1G and 22nd in FBS, as well as seventh in the conference and 62nd in the country in passing average with 206.7 ypg.
• Senior running back De'Veon Smith has 79 rushing attempts for 412 yards (5.2 ypc/58.9 ypg) with three TDs, while freshman running back Chris Evans leads the team with 416 yards rushing on 49 carries (8.5 ypc/59.4 ypg) with three TDs. Senior fullback Khalid Hill is leads the B1G and is 24th in FBS with eight rushing TDs, while sophomore running back Karan Higdon is fifth in the league with six rushing scores.
• Senior wide receiver Amara Darboh is sixth in the league in both receiving yards (499), receiving yards per game (71.3) and yards per reception (16.6) with 30 catches, along with ranking third with five receiving TDs. Senior tight end Jake Butt adds 26 catches for 310 yards (11.9 ypc/44.3 ypg) with four TDs, good for fifth in the league.
• Senior linebacker Ben Gedeon leads the UM defense with 56 tackles, ranking 15th in the league with 7.4 pg. Gedeon has 9.0 TFLs, including three sacks.
• Junior linebacker/defensive back Jabrill Peppers adds 40 tackles and is second in the conference and 19th in the country in TFLs with 1.4 pg, 10.0 total, including 2.5 sacks, adding six pass break-ups. Peppers also leads the Big Ten and ranks third in FBS in punt return average (17.8). He also has 10 carries for 107 yards (10.7 ypc/15.3 ypg) with two rushing TDs and adding one catch for five yards, as well as five kick returns.
• Senior Kenny Allen handles UM's punting and placekicking duties, ranking third in the Big Ten with a 42.3 yards per punt average on 24 punts, with a long of 56 yards, with eight inside the 20. Allen has made 35-of-35 PATs and 6-of-10 FGs, with a long of 39 yards, ranking eighth in the league in field goals per game (0.71) and 11th in field goal percentage (.600).
MSU/MICHIGAN SERIES NOTES --
• Michigan State has defeated Michigan seven times in the past eight years, the most wins in an eight-year stretch against the Wolverines in school history. In MSU's 7-1 record over Michigan since 2008, the Spartans have outscored the Wolverines by 100 points (224-124, average score: 28-16). The Spartans have won a school-record four consecutive over the Wolverines in Spartan Stadium (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014).
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is 7-2 during his tenure against Michigan, including a 4-1 record in Spartan Stadium. Dantonio's .778 winning percentage is the highest for any Spartan coach against the Wolverines (second: Duffy Daugherty, .579, 10-7-2 record from 1954-72). Dantonio is 5-2 against ranked Michigan teams.
• Saturday's game marks the 109th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 68-35-5, including a 19-14-2 record in games played in East Lansing; however, since 1950, Michigan holds just a six-game edge, 35-29-2. The series celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1998 and it has gone uninterrupted for 70 years since World War II (1945).
• The Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines last season in Ann Arbor, as Jalen Watts-Jackson scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired to give No. 7 Michigan State a 27-23 victory at No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17. The unforgettable touchdown was named the No. 1 play of the 2015 season at the ESPN College Football Awards Show in Atlanta on Dec. 10.
BATTLE FOR THE PAUL BUNYAN TROPHY --
• Since 1953, the winner of the Michigan State-Michigan game has been presented the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The four-foot wooden statue was donated by then-Governor G. Mennen Williams to mark Michigan State's acceptance into the Big Ten. Since 1953, Michigan leads the series 35-26-2. The trophy depicts the legendary giant lumberjack astride an axe with feet planted on a map of the state with flags representing the schools.
BATTLE FOR IN-STATE BRAGGING RIGHTS --
• Michigan State's 2016 roster features 48 players from the state of Michigan.
SPARTANS RANK SECOND IN ALL-TIME VICTORIES vs. MICHIGAN --
• Michigan State ranks second among opponents in all-time victories over Michigan. Only Ohio State (48) has posted more wins over the Wolverines than the Spartans (35).
LONG HISTORY OF BIG WINS OVER MICHIGAN --
• Michigan State has defeated Michigan 10 times when the Wolverines were ranked in the AP Top 10, including a 28-27 win over top-ranked UM in 1990. Michigan enters Saturday's game ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll.
GROUND GAME KEY FACTOR IN THIS SERIES --
• The team with the most productive ground attack has won 42 of the last 46 games in the MSU-UM series. Since Mark Dantonio's arrival to MSU in 2007, the Spartans have outrushed the Wolverines by 854 yards (1,548-694). In six of those nine games, Michigan has been held to 100 rushing yards or fewer, including a school-record low minus-48 yards in 2013..
• The only exceptions to that trend came in 2015 as Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped up a fumble and ran it back 38 yards for a touchdown on the game's final play to give MSU a 27-23 win; in 2007, when Chad Henne threw for 221 yards and four scores, including two in the fourth quarter, as Michigan rallied from a 24-14 fourth-quarter deficit for a 28-24 victory; on Oct. 30, 2004, when Henne passed for 273 yards and four TDs as the Wolverines rallied from a 27-10 fourth-quarter deficit for a 45-37 triple-overtime win; on Nov. 4, 1995, when Tony Banks threw for 318 yards, including a 25-yard scoring strike to Nigea Carter with 1:24 left in the fourth quarter that gave the Spartans a 28-25 victory over the seventh-ranked Wolverines.
THE LAST MEETING --
Oct. 17, 2015, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP): After the snap was flubbed on a punt attempt and the ball went flying as the final seconds ticked down, Jalen Watts-Jackson found himself in perfect position to make an unforgettable play.
Watts-Jackson grabbed it and raced 38 yards into the end zone for a touchdown on the final play of the game, giving the seventh-ranked Spartans a shocking 27-23 win over No. 12 Michigan in one of college football's most unlikely endings.
With the Wolverines ahead 23-21 and 10 seconds left, Michigan punter Blake O'Neill bobbled a low snap, and spun around to try and make the kick. But he was hit, the ball popped free, Watts-Jackson caught it, avoided a few defenders in the final yards and made it into the end zone.
Watts-Jackson hurt his hip after the winning score, was carted off the field and Dantonio said he was taken to a hospital.
The Wolverines were seconds away from sealing the win after Sione Houma ran for two TDs, Kenny Allen kicked three field goals and forcing the Spartans to turn the ball over on downs with 1:47 left at its 45.
The Spartans had only one timeout left and used it after the next snap. Michigan had two and coach Jim Harbaugh used both, including one with 10 seconds left to set up the final punt.
Michigan State moved the ball up and down the field against a team that had shut out three straight opponents, picking up 386 yards - mostly through the air - and 20 first downs.
Connor Cook was 18-of-39 for 328 yards and a TD and Aaron Burbridge had nine receptions for 132 yards for the Spartans. Michigan's Jake Rudock was 15-of-25 and 168 yards and avoided turning the ball over.
In fact, both teams took good care of the football until the final snap.
It looked like a trick play was going to lead to a setback for the Spartans. Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, known for having the guts to call trick plays, called for a fake punt when no one was expecting it. Punter and backup quarterback Tyler O'Connor ran 7 yards on a fourth-and-8 from the Michigan State 31, turning the ball over on downs. Michigan took advantage, moving to a 17-7 lead early in the third quarter on Houma's 1-yard run.
POST-GAME NOTES: MARYLAND --
• Michigan State fell at Maryland, 28-17, last Saturday . . . the Spartans are 6-2 all-time against the Terrapins, including 2-1 in Big Ten games . . . it marked MSU's first-ever loss in College Park (2-1 record).
• The Spartans ran for a season-high 270 yards (previous: 260 at Notre Dame) on 44 attempts.
• Senior R.J. Shelton accumulated 181 all-purpose yards . . . he had seven catches for 89 yards and three kickoff returns for 92 yards, including a season-long 52-yarder . . . Shelton's 89 receiving yards were the most by a Spartan in the Maryland series (previous: 78 by Keith Mumphery in 2014).
• Redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke started his second consecutive game at quarterback; he finished 11-of-24 passing for 156 yards and an interception . . . the 24 passing attempts and 156 yards marked career highs . . . Lewerke also rushed for a career-high 59 yards on 10 carries (7.9 avg.).
• Sophomore LJ Scott recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and third of his career with 128 yards on 20 carries (6.4 avg.) . . . he had a career-long 48-yard touchdown run in the second quarter . . . Scott's 128 rushing yards were the second-most ever by a Spartan against Maryland (record: Jeremy Langford with 138 in 2014) . . . Scott's other 100-yard performances came against Purdue last season (146) and Furman (105) earlier this season.
• Junior Gerald Holmes had 59 rushing yards on 13 carries (4.5 avg.), including his team-leading fourth rushing touchdown of the season on a 1-yard score in the second quarter that tied the game at 14.
• Senior tight end Jamal Lyles had a career-high 57 receiving yards while matching his career best with three receptions.
• Sophomore safety Khari Willis led MSU with a career-best 11 tackles.
• Two more true freshmen played on Saturday night (linebacker Joe Bachie, safety Kenney Lyke), bringing the total number of true freshmen played this season to nine . . . Bachie had seven tackles in his collegiate debut, filling in for senior captain linebacker Riley Bullough, who was disqualified from the game in the first quarter for targeting.
• Michael Geiger made his 46th career field goal, a 34-yarder in the third quarter that put MSU on top 17-14, moving him into a tie for sixth place all-time at Michigan State, along with Paul Edinger.
• Michigan State led going into the fourth quarter, 17-14 . . . it marked just the 11th time MSU has lost under Dantonio while taking a lead into the fourth quarter (71-11 record).
YOUTH MOVEMENT --
• So far this season through seven games, nine true freshmen (LB Joe Bachie, WR Donnie Corley, WR Trishton Jackson, DE Josh King, CB/WR Justin Layne, OL Thiyo Lukusa, S Kenney Lyke, DT Mike Panasiuk, DL Auston Robertson) have seen the field, the most since Mark Dantonio's arrival in 2007.
R.J. Shelton NAMED FOURTH CAPTAIN FOR MICHIGAN GAME --
• Senior wide receiver R.J. Shelton (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam High School) has been named the fourth game captain against Michigan. Shelton will join 2016 team captains Riley Bullough, Demetrious Cox and Tyler O'Connor at midfield for the coin toss. Michigan State rotates its fourth captain for every game. Shelton was also named the fourth game captain against Wisconsin.
DANTONIO RANKS SECOND IN WINS AT MICHIGAN STATE --
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, who was a finalist for three national coach of the year awards (Bobby Dodd, George Munger, Eddie Robinson) in 2015, owns an 89-38 (.701) record in his 10th season as head coach of the Spartans. His .701 winning percentage currently ranks fourth best at MSU. He won his 71st game at MSU on Oct. 25, 2014, against Michigan to move into second place all-time in victories in school history (record: Duffy Daugherty, 109).
Dantonio won his 100th career game as a head coach on Oct. 17, 2015, at Michigan Stadium as the Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines, 27-23, on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired. His career record stands at 107-55 (.660) in his 13th season.
• Dantonio's .684 winning percentage (52-24) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games).
DANTONIO'S WINNING PERCENTAGE AT MSU AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION --
• Mark Dantonio is one of just five active coaches in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision to own at least a .700 winning percentage in at least 100 games at the same school (Gary Patterson, TCU; Nick Saban, Alabama; Bob Stoops, Oklahoma; Dabo Swinney, Clemson).
PLAYING THEIR BEST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT --
• The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Dantonio. MSU is 7-2 in its last nine games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including a 6-2 record since 2013 (beat No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Stanford in 2013; lost to No. 3 Oregon and beat No. 4 Baylor in 2014; beat No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Iowa, and lost to No. 2 Alabama in 2015).
• Michigan State defeated nine bowl teams in 2015, including four wins over AP Top 25 teams (No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12, No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17, No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, No. 4 Iowa on Dec. 5). It marked the first time in school history the Spartans beat three AP Top-10 teams (No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Iowa) in the same season. MSU also topped Western Michigan, Air Force, Central Michigan, Indiana and Penn State, who all played in the postseason. In the final AP rankings, MSU defeated four Top 25 teams (No. 4 Ohio State, No. 9 Iowa, No. 12 Michigan, No. 19 Oregon).
• The win over No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus on Nov. 21, 2015, snapped the defending National Champion Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak, and the last-second victory against No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17, 2015, marked MSU's seventh win in the last eight years over the Wolverines.
• Michigan State has won 10 of its last 14 games played against ranked opponents, including six out of the last eight (wins: No. 4 Baylor, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Michigan, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Iowa, No. 18 Notre Dame; losses: No. 2 Alabama, No. 11 Wisconsin). MSU's 10 wins over ranked teams since 2010 ranks tied for fourth most in the FBS.
• Under Mark Dantonio, the Spartans are 17-22 in 39 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 10-5 against ranked teams since 2013. The 17 wins over AP Top 25 teams rank second among head coaches in MSU history (Duffy Daugherty with 25 from 1954-72).
SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF --
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 52-15 record (.776) in home games since 2007, including a 15-game winning streak (7-0 in 2010, 7-0 in 2011, won first game in 2012) and a 12-game winning streak (7-0 in 2013; won first five in 2014), which rank second and tied for third, respectively, in Spartan Stadium history.
• MSU is 37-9 (.804) at home since 2010 and 21-4 (.840) since 2013.
• Mark Dantonio is 26-3 (.897) against non-conference opponents in Spartan Stadium (only losses: 2009 to Central Michigan; 2012 to No. 20 Notre Dame; 2016 to BYU).
• Dantonio is 10-0 in home openers at MSU and the Spartans' 18-game winning streak in home openers is tied for the third longest in the nation.
SENIOR QUARTERBACK Tyler O'Connor RANKS FOURTH IN BIG TEN IN PASSING EFFICIENCY --
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O'Connor, who started the first five games of the season, ranks fourth in the Big Ten in passing efficiency (148.3 rating), fourth in completion percentage (.611), sixth in passing (209.5 ypg) and tied for sixth in touchdown passes (11). He was voted one of three captains by his teammates following the conclusion of preseason camp.
• Although O'Connor didn't start in Game 6 vs. Northwestern, he relieved Brian Lewerke in the third quarter and finished with a career-high 281 yards passing. O'Connor also tied his career high with three touchdown passes (59 and 86 yards to R.J. Shelton; 9 yards to Donnie Corley). O'Connor completed 13 of his 21 passes against the Wildcats. The 86-yard scoring pass to Shelton tied his career long (86 yards to Shelton vs. Indiana on Oct. 1).
• For the season, the 6-3, 228-pound native of Lima, Ohio, is 91-of-149 passing (.611) for 1,257 yards, 11 TDs and six interceptions through six games. He did not play at Maryland due to an injury.
• O'Connor, who narrowly lost out to Connor Cook in 2013 in the race to become the starting quarterback, showed his promise in his first career start as he led the Spartans to a win at No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, 2015. With Cook sidelined due to a shoulder injury, O'Connor and Damion Terry split time and helped the Spartans snap the Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak with a 17-14 victory in Columbus.
• In his second career road start, O'Connor was 19-of-26 passing for 241 yards and two touchdowns in the 36-28 win at No. 18 Notre Dame on Sept. 17. O'Connor threw a 38-yard TD pass to Donnie Corley and a 10-yard pass to R.J. Shelton, both in the second quarter.
• For his career, O'Connor is 3-3 as a starter, including road victories at No. 2 Ohio State and No. 18 Notre Dame. He has completed 62 percent of his passes (125-of-203) for 1,631 yards, 15 TDs and eight interceptions in 20 career games.
• Coming into the season, the Spartans had to replace three-year starting quarterback Connor Cook, who compiled a 34-5 record as a starter from 2013-15 to become the winningest quarterback in school history. Cook, the 2015 Big Ten Quarterback of the Year and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, left East Lansing as the school's all-time record holder in passing yards (9,194), touchdown passes (71) and total offense (9,403 yards).
Brian Lewerke BECOMES FIRST FRESHMAN STARTING QB SINCE 2004 --
• Redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke started his second consecutive game at quarterback against Maryland on Oct. 22. Lewerke became the first Spartan freshman to start at quarterback since Sept. 11, 2004 (Stephen Reaves vs. Central Michigan) after earning his first career start vs. Northwestern. In his two starts, Lewerke has completed 23-of-43 passes (.535) for one touchdown and one interception. He has also rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries (6.4 avg.).
• In his first career start vs. Northwestern on Oct. 15, Lewerke completed 12-of-19 passes for 99 yards and one TD before O'Connor relieved him in the third quarter. Lewerke also rushed seven times for 30 yards, including a 24-yard scamper in the first quarter.
• A native of Chandler, Arizona, Lewerke made his Spartan debut in Game 3 against Wisconsin in the fourth quarter (2-of-4 passing for 26 yards).
Josiah Price NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY --
• Fifth-year senior tight end Josiah Price has been named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete; the award is also widely known as the "Academic Heisman." Candidates for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
• This marks the fifth time in the past six years that the Spartans have had a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy. The Spartans had a finalist three of four years from 2011-14 (Kirk Cousins in 2011, Max Bullough in 2013, Mike Sadler in 2014), and Jack Allen was a semifinalist last season. • A hospitality business major, Price owns a 3.62 grade-point average. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipient. He also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors last season.
• On the field, Price has the most touchdown catches (19) of any tight end in Michigan State history. In 45 career games, he has 84 receptions for 1,053 yards. Price surpassed the 1,000-yard milestone for receiving yards on his second catch in the BYU game on Oct. 8 to become just the fourth Spartan tight end to record 1,000 career receiving yards (Chris Baker: 1,705; Mark Brammer: 1,305; Billy Joe DuPree: 1,222). Price was named to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List on Oct. 12, which is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding tight end.
• Off the field, Price has perhaps made an even greater impact. The past two years, he has been nominated for the Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," and also the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. His community efforts have reached near and far. In addition to actively participating in a variety of community service events, including the Ingham County Child Benefit Fund, DARE Graduations, and March is Reading Month, Price also took part in a mission trip to South Africa during spring break of 2013 and spent two and a half weeks in Australia (June-July 2015), participating in MSU's study abroad International Summer Sports Program.
• A native of Greentown, Indiana, Price was named winner of the Gwendolyn Norrell Community Service & Leadership Award at the 2016 MSU Student-Athlete Support Services Academic Gala (presented to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the goals of the PACT [Putting Athletes and Community Together] program, excelling in the field of community service and outreach). He also serves as one of the football team's representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was selected as SAAC community outreach committee chair for 2015-16.
• Price has been named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award; to be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. Former Spartan Kirk Cousins won the award in 2011.
Montae Nicholson RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN TACKLES --
• Junior safety Montae Nicholson ranks tied for ninth in the Big Ten in tackles, averaging 8.1 per game (57 total). Nicholson also leads the team with 131 production points. He recorded a career-high 17 stops against BYU on Oct. 8. He ranked third on the team with a career-high 83 tackles last season.
Malik McDowell A FORCE ALONG THE DEFENSIVE LINE --
• Junior preseason All-America defensive lineman Malik McDowell, the only returning starter on the defensive line from a year ago, leads the unit this season with 32 tackles, including five for losses. The other three starters from last season's Big Ten Championship team are all in the NFL (Shilique Calhoun, Raiders; Joel Heath, Texans; Lawrence Thomas, Jets).
• Making his first career start at defensive end against Northwestern on Oct. 15, McDowell registered a career-high 11 tackles, including two for losses (11 yards) and a half sack (4 yards). All of McDowell's previous 19 starts came along the interior of the defensive line.
• A native of Detroit, the 6-6- 276-pound McDowell was named a first-team preseason All-American by numerous media outlets (ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Athlon Sports, Sporting News) and to preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy. In 34 career games, including 21 starts, McDowell has 88 tackles, including 22.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks.
