Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Rocky Lombardi Named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week
10/29/2018 1:35:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi has been named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after leading the Spartans to a 23-13 victory over Purdue in his first career start last Saturday in Spartan Stadium.
Lombardi threw for 318 yards against the Boilermakers and completed 26-of-46 passes, including two touchdowns (11 yards to Darrell Stewart in second quarter; 48 yards to Jalen Nailor in fourth quarter). The 318 yards were the second most by a Spartan QB making his first career start (Ed Smith threw for 324 yards in his first career start at North Carolina State in 1976). Lombardi was the first redshirt freshman QB to start for the Spartans since Brian Lewerke vs. Northwestern in 2016.
At the end of the first half, Lombardi directed a nine-play, 87-yard TD drive in just 1:26, capped by Stewart's 11-yard TD with 56 seconds left in the second quarter; Lombardi was 6-of-8 for 85 yards on the TD drive. The 87-yard drive was the longest of the season for MSU.
In addition, Lombardi's 318 passing yards were the second-most ever by a Spartan QB against Purdue (Bill Burke 345 vs. Purdue in 1998).
Michigan State (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 3 to face Maryland (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) at noon in College Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Schedule update: The Big Ten announced on Monday that the TV networks have chosen to use one of their allotted six-day selections for the games of Nov. 10; however, no games will be selected for prime time on that day. MSU hosts Ohio State in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 10. The times and network designations for the games on Nov. 10 will be released late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
Lombardi threw for 318 yards against the Boilermakers and completed 26-of-46 passes, including two touchdowns (11 yards to Darrell Stewart in second quarter; 48 yards to Jalen Nailor in fourth quarter). The 318 yards were the second most by a Spartan QB making his first career start (Ed Smith threw for 324 yards in his first career start at North Carolina State in 1976). Lombardi was the first redshirt freshman QB to start for the Spartans since Brian Lewerke vs. Northwestern in 2016.
At the end of the first half, Lombardi directed a nine-play, 87-yard TD drive in just 1:26, capped by Stewart's 11-yard TD with 56 seconds left in the second quarter; Lombardi was 6-of-8 for 85 yards on the TD drive. The 87-yard drive was the longest of the season for MSU.
In addition, Lombardi's 318 passing yards were the second-most ever by a Spartan QB against Purdue (Bill Burke 345 vs. Purdue in 1998).
Michigan State (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 3 to face Maryland (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) at noon in College Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Schedule update: The Big Ten announced on Monday that the TV networks have chosen to use one of their allotted six-day selections for the games of Nov. 10; however, no games will be selected for prime time on that day. MSU hosts Ohio State in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 10. The times and network designations for the games on Nov. 10 will be released late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
Players Mentioned
Monday, September 28
Saturday, September 26
Thursday, September 24
Monday, September 21