Post-Game Notes: Michigan
10/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
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• Michigan State defeated Michigan for the eighth time in the past 10 years, 14-10, on Saturday night in Michigan Stadium. It marks the first time MSU has defeated Michigan eight times in a 10-year span (previous best: 7-1-2). During the past 10 games, MSU has outscored Michigan by 95 points (261-166).
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is 8-3 during his tenure against Michigan, including a 4-1 record in Michigan Stadium. Dantonio's .727 winning percentage is the highest for any Spartan coach against the Wolverines (second: Duffy Daugherty, .579, 10-7-2 record from 1954-72). The Spartans have won back-to-game games in Ann Arbor twice under Dantonio (2008 and 2010; 2015 and 2017).
• Dantonio is 6-3 against ranked Michigan teams (wins against No. 22 in 2009; No. 18 in 2010; No. 11 in 2011; No. 23 in 2013; No. 12 in 2015; No. 7 in 2017).
• Dantonio owns eight victories over AP Top 10 teams in his tenure at Michigan State (No. 4 Wisconsin in 2011; No. 2 Ohio State in 2013 Big Ten Championship Game; No. 5 Stanford in 2014 Rose Bowl; No. 4 Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl; No. 7 Oregon in 2015; No. 2 Ohio State in 2015; No. 4 Iowa in 2015 Big Ten Championship Game; No. 7 Michigan in 2017). It also marked Dantonio's 18th victory over an AP Top 25 team.
• Michigan State has now defeated Michigan 11 times when UM is ranked in the AP Top 10, including seven in Michigan Stadium.
• Although Michigan leads the overall series, 69-36-5, since 1950, Michigan holds just a six-game edge, 36-30-2.
• Michigan State reclaimed the Paul Bunyan Trophy, which has been presented to the winning team in this series since 1953. Since 1953, UM leads the overall series, 36-27-2.
OFFENSE
• The team with the most productive ground attack has won 43 of the last 48 games in the MSU-UM series. Michigan State outrushed Michigan, 158-102. Since Mark Dantonio's arrival to MSU in 2007, the Spartans have outrushed the Wolverines by 935 yards (1,923-988).
• Michigan entered the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in sacks with 4.50 per game, but didn't record a sack against the Spartans.
• Brian Lewerke recorded a rushing touchdown and passing touchdown for the second time in a game this season (Western Michigan). He scored on a 14-yard run in the first quarter to give MSU a 7-3 lead, and found Madre London on a 16-yard TD pass to put the Spartans on top, 14-3, in the second quarter . . . Lewerke led the Spartans in rushing for the third time this season, compiling 61 yards on 15 carries (4.1 avg.) . . . he finished with 155 yards of total offense (61 rushing, 94 passing).
• For the second straight game, Lewerke had a big first down rushing the ball on a late third-down play. With MSU facing third-and-3 from its own 46 and 2:13 on the clock, Lewerke fumbled the ball in the backfield, picked it up on a bounce, and rushed 4 yards for the first down.
• Madre London had 59 yards on 10 carries, including a game-long 50-yarder in the second quarter.
DEFENSE
• Michigan State forced five Michigan turnovers (two fumbles, three interceptions), the most by a Spartan team since 2015 (forced five against Maryland on Nov. 14, 2015).
• The Spartans collected four sacks and six tackles for loss.
• Joe Bachie tied a team high with 10 tackles, including an 11-yard sack . . . he also recorded his first career interception, broke up a pass, and forced a fumble.
• Sophomore safety David Dowell had a career game, collecting two interceptions (35 return yards), a fumble recovery, and a career-high seven tackles.
• Sophomore Kenny Willekes posted career highs in sacks (two for 8 yards) and tackles for loss (three for 11 yards) . . . he also had nine tackles overall.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Jake Hartbarger punted a career-high 11 times for 430 yards (39.1 avg.) . . . he only allowed six punt return yards all game.
