Saturday, November 7
Iowa City, IA
12 PM ET
Michigan State University
1-2 , 1-2
7
at
49
Iowa
1-2 , 1-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Michigan State
0
0
7
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Iowa
14
21
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Photo by: MSU Athletic Communications
Michigan State Defeated At Iowa Saturday
11/7/2020 4:05:00 PM | Football
Spartans’ three-game win streak in series halted.
IOWA CITY, Iowa –– Michigan State football was defeated at Iowa, 49-7, Saturday afternoon at Iowa's Kinnick Stadium.
MSU is now 1-2 on the young season with the loss, while Iowa improves to 1-2. Saturday was the Spartans' first trip to Iowa since 2013, and the loss snapped MSU's three-game win streak in the series with Iowa.
"First of all, I'd like to thank Iowa for hosting us safely, that our medical staff and personnel continue to give us a chance to compete, with what our protocols are, and they've done an outstanding job, and we have the opportunity to go out and play the game that we love. We have a tremendous amount of work to do. We have to get tougher, we have to be more physical, and we have to play smarter," MSU head coach Mel Tucker said. "So, as I continue to say, this is the beginning for us, we trust the process that we have. We have to go back to East Lansing, we have to watch the film, we have to make corrections, and put in the work, so we can be tougher, so we can be more physical, so we can play harder, so we can play smarter next week, and that's what has to be done."
Junior quarterback Rocky Lombardi, an Iowa native who was playing in his home state for the first time as a Spartan, was 17-of-37 passing for 227 yards, but was intercepted three times by the Iowa defense. Lombardi connected with redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Jalen Nailor for four receptions for 119 yards, for Nailor's first career 100-yard reception outing. Nailor was one of a season-high 11 different Spartan receivers with a least one catch on the day.
Freshman running back Jordan Simmons led MSU's rushing attack for the third-straight game to open the season, with nine carries for 34 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Hunt scored MSU's lone TD of the day with a 1-yard rushing score in the third quarter.
Sophomore safety Michael Dowell led the Spartan defense with a career-high seven tackles, while junior safety Xavier Henderson added six stops. Junior linebacker Noah Harvey and redshirt-freshman defensive end Michael Fletcher registered 1.5 tackles for loss apiece, with Fletcher adding a pass break-up as well, while junior cornerback Shakur Brown logged two pass break-ups.
Iowa scored touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a quick 14-0 lead. The Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards on eight plays, capped by a Tyler Goodson 3-yard TD run. Following an interception on MSU's first possession, the Hawkeyes again marched 74 yards down the field in 10 plays as Spencer Petras found Brandon Smith in the end zone on a 14-yard completion.
After a 31-yard punt return by Charlie Jones to the MSU 47-yard line, Iowa took advantage of the short field and scored its third touchdown of the game as Goodson crossed the goal line after a 9-yard run, his second score of the afternoon, at the 11:16 mark in the second quarter.
Iowa extended its lead to 28-0 on a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jones, and went up 35-0 before the half on Riley Moss' 54-yard interception return for a score.Â
The Spartans got on the board after scoring on their first possession of the second half. Lombardi's 57-yard pass to Nailor was the key play of the 12-play, 75-yard drive, and Hunt finished it off with the first touchdown of his career on a 1-yard jet sweep.Â
Iowa responded after the Spartan score with another touchdown drive, led by Goodson's 71-yard run that set up Mekhi Sargent's 2-yard TD rush that made it 42-7 Iowa with 8:47 left in the third quarter.
The Hawkeyes went up 49-7 early in the fourth quarter at the 11:57 mark on a 11-yard rush by Jones, and Michigan State was unable to cut into the final gap.
Michigan State returns to action Saturday, Nov. 14 to host Indiana at Spartan Stadium. The game will begin at noon.
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MSU is now 1-2 on the young season with the loss, while Iowa improves to 1-2. Saturday was the Spartans' first trip to Iowa since 2013, and the loss snapped MSU's three-game win streak in the series with Iowa.
"First of all, I'd like to thank Iowa for hosting us safely, that our medical staff and personnel continue to give us a chance to compete, with what our protocols are, and they've done an outstanding job, and we have the opportunity to go out and play the game that we love. We have a tremendous amount of work to do. We have to get tougher, we have to be more physical, and we have to play smarter," MSU head coach Mel Tucker said. "So, as I continue to say, this is the beginning for us, we trust the process that we have. We have to go back to East Lansing, we have to watch the film, we have to make corrections, and put in the work, so we can be tougher, so we can be more physical, so we can play harder, so we can play smarter next week, and that's what has to be done."
Junior quarterback Rocky Lombardi, an Iowa native who was playing in his home state for the first time as a Spartan, was 17-of-37 passing for 227 yards, but was intercepted three times by the Iowa defense. Lombardi connected with redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Jalen Nailor for four receptions for 119 yards, for Nailor's first career 100-yard reception outing. Nailor was one of a season-high 11 different Spartan receivers with a least one catch on the day.
Freshman running back Jordan Simmons led MSU's rushing attack for the third-straight game to open the season, with nine carries for 34 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Hunt scored MSU's lone TD of the day with a 1-yard rushing score in the third quarter.
Sophomore safety Michael Dowell led the Spartan defense with a career-high seven tackles, while junior safety Xavier Henderson added six stops. Junior linebacker Noah Harvey and redshirt-freshman defensive end Michael Fletcher registered 1.5 tackles for loss apiece, with Fletcher adding a pass break-up as well, while junior cornerback Shakur Brown logged two pass break-ups.
Iowa scored touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a quick 14-0 lead. The Hawkeyes received the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards on eight plays, capped by a Tyler Goodson 3-yard TD run. Following an interception on MSU's first possession, the Hawkeyes again marched 74 yards down the field in 10 plays as Spencer Petras found Brandon Smith in the end zone on a 14-yard completion.
After a 31-yard punt return by Charlie Jones to the MSU 47-yard line, Iowa took advantage of the short field and scored its third touchdown of the game as Goodson crossed the goal line after a 9-yard run, his second score of the afternoon, at the 11:16 mark in the second quarter.
Iowa extended its lead to 28-0 on a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jones, and went up 35-0 before the half on Riley Moss' 54-yard interception return for a score.Â
The Spartans got on the board after scoring on their first possession of the second half. Lombardi's 57-yard pass to Nailor was the key play of the 12-play, 75-yard drive, and Hunt finished it off with the first touchdown of his career on a 1-yard jet sweep.Â
Iowa responded after the Spartan score with another touchdown drive, led by Goodson's 71-yard run that set up Mekhi Sargent's 2-yard TD rush that made it 42-7 Iowa with 8:47 left in the third quarter.
The Hawkeyes went up 49-7 early in the fourth quarter at the 11:57 mark on a 11-yard rush by Jones, and Michigan State was unable to cut into the final gap.
Michigan State returns to action Saturday, Nov. 14 to host Indiana at Spartan Stadium. The game will begin at noon.
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Team Stats
MSU
IOWA
Total Yards
286
405
Pass Yards
227
179
Rushing Yards
59
226
Penalty Yards
55
35
1st Downs
10
19
3rd Downs
7
5
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
27:55
32:05
1st Quarter
MSU 0, IOWA 7
IOWA - Goodson,Tyler 3 yd run (Duncan,Keith kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:53
MSU 0, IOWA 14
IOWA - Smith,Brandon 14 yd pass from Petras,Spencer (Duncan,Keith kick) 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 3:57
2nd Quarter
MSU 0, IOWA 21
IOWA - Goodson,Tyler 9 yd run (Duncan,Keith kick), 7 plays, 47 yards, TOP 3:00
MSU 0, IOWA 28
IOWA - Jones,Charlie 54 yd punt return (Duncan,Keith kick)
MSU 0, IOWA 35
IOWA - Moss,Riley 54 yd interception (Duncan,Keith kick)
3rd Quarter
MSU 7, IOWA 35
MSU - Hunt, Tyler 1 yd run (Coghlin, Matt kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:54
MSU 7, IOWA 42
IOWA - Sargent,Mekhi 2 yd run (Duncan,Keith kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:19
4th Quarter
MSU 7, IOWA 49
IOWA - Sargent,Mekhi 6 yd run (Duncan,Keith kick), 3 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:30
Game Leaders
CMP
17
TD
0
YDS
227
INT
3
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
S
/ Football
DE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
/ Football
K/P
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
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