Saturday, December 5
East Lansing, MI
12 P.M.
Michigan State University
2-4 , 2-4
12
vs
52
Ohio State
5-0 , 5-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Ohio State
14
14
10
14
52
Michigan State
0
0
7
5
12
No. 4 Ohio State Tops Michigan State on Saturday
12/5/2020 4:05:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 4 Ohio State topped Michigan State, 52-12, Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.
The Buckeyes (No. 3 AP, No. 4 CFP, No. 4 Coaches) scored the game's first 35 points to remain undefeated on the season at 5-0.
"We're working to build a team, building on a process and hammering a culture that will allow us to have some consistency in performance and that's what we're looking for right now," said MSU head coach Mel Tucker. "I wanted to see us come back and have a consistent performance – offense, defense and special teams, playing complementary football today - and I didn't see that. So, obviously we have a lot of work to do.
"I thought we played hard in spurts, but we need to play smarter and be more consistent. I believe that once we figure out what it takes to be consistent on a day-to-day basis with our guys, then we'll have a better performance and have an opportunity to beat good teams."
Spartan redshirt freshman quarterback Payton Thorne replaced an injured Rocky Lombardi in the second quarter and Thorne completed his first 11 passes of the game. He finished with career highs in passing yards (147), passing completions (16), passing attempts (25) and rushing yards (42). Thorne became the first Spartan QB to complete 11 passes in a row since Connor Cook at Illinois in 2013.
Lombardi was 5-of-11 passing for 33 yards before exiting the game with an injury.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jayden Reed compiled a season-high 162 all-purpose yards for the Spartans, including five catches for 79 yards and three kick returns for 83 yards.
Defensively, senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons led the Spartans in tackles for the fifth time this season with 12 stops, including two tackles for loss (2 yards) and a fumble recovery. Junior safety Xavier Henderson tied his career high with nine tackles and redshirt freshman defensive end Michael Fletcher had a career-high two sacks (12 yards). The Spartan defense had three sacks and nine tackles for loss overall in the game.
Ohio State went on a 12-play, 83-yard scoring drive on its first possession, capped by a Justin Fields 2-yard rushing TD, to take a quick 7-0 lead. Fields' 44-yard rush on OSU's first play of its third series set up another Buckeye TD as Fields found Garrett Wilson in the end zone for a 28-yard score.
The Buckeyes went up 21-0 in the second quarter on Fields' 1-yard rushing touchdown that finished off a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
OSU punter Drue Chrisman pinned the Spartans down to the 1-yard line with 6:22 left in the second quarter, and Lombardi's third-down pass on the ensuing Spartan series was tipped at the line and intercepted in the end zone by Buckeye defensive tackle Haskell Garrett to give Ohio State a 28-0 advantage.
The Spartans forced a three-and-out on Ohio State's first series of the third quarter and promptly drove the ball 47 yards to the OSU 40-yard line on their first possession of the half, but Thorne was sacked on third down and MSU was forced to punt.
Ohio State running back Trey Sermon, who led all players with 112 rushing yards on just 10 carries, scored on a 64-yard touchdown on the Buckeyes' next series as OSU took a 35-0 lead at the 6:14 mark in the third.
The Spartans responded with a quick two-play, 75-yard touchdown drive as Thorne completed a game-long 55-yard pass to Reed, and then rushed 20 yards into the end zone on the next play to put MSU on the board.
Blake Haubeil's 27-yard field goal with 1:08 left in the third extended OSU's lead to 38-7.
Senior kicker Matt Coghlin connected on a 32-yard field goal at the 11:58 mark in the fourth quarter to make it 38-10, but Ohio State scored on two long touchdowns later in the quarter, a 41-yard pass from Fields to Chris Olave and a 48-yard run by backup QB C.J. Stroud.
The Spartans closed the game's scoring with a safety on a wild snap from the Buckeye center with 1:02 remaining.
Fields was 17-of-24 passing for 199 yards and two TDs for Ohio State, while also rushing for 104 yards on 13 carries. Olave led all receivers with 10 catches for 139 yards, including a 41-yard TD.
Saturday's game was played without fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Spartans (2-4) return to action Saturday, Dec. 12 at Penn State.
The Buckeyes (No. 3 AP, No. 4 CFP, No. 4 Coaches) scored the game's first 35 points to remain undefeated on the season at 5-0.
"We're working to build a team, building on a process and hammering a culture that will allow us to have some consistency in performance and that's what we're looking for right now," said MSU head coach Mel Tucker. "I wanted to see us come back and have a consistent performance – offense, defense and special teams, playing complementary football today - and I didn't see that. So, obviously we have a lot of work to do.
"I thought we played hard in spurts, but we need to play smarter and be more consistent. I believe that once we figure out what it takes to be consistent on a day-to-day basis with our guys, then we'll have a better performance and have an opportunity to beat good teams."
Spartan redshirt freshman quarterback Payton Thorne replaced an injured Rocky Lombardi in the second quarter and Thorne completed his first 11 passes of the game. He finished with career highs in passing yards (147), passing completions (16), passing attempts (25) and rushing yards (42). Thorne became the first Spartan QB to complete 11 passes in a row since Connor Cook at Illinois in 2013.
Lombardi was 5-of-11 passing for 33 yards before exiting the game with an injury.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jayden Reed compiled a season-high 162 all-purpose yards for the Spartans, including five catches for 79 yards and three kick returns for 83 yards.
Defensively, senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons led the Spartans in tackles for the fifth time this season with 12 stops, including two tackles for loss (2 yards) and a fumble recovery. Junior safety Xavier Henderson tied his career high with nine tackles and redshirt freshman defensive end Michael Fletcher had a career-high two sacks (12 yards). The Spartan defense had three sacks and nine tackles for loss overall in the game.
Ohio State went on a 12-play, 83-yard scoring drive on its first possession, capped by a Justin Fields 2-yard rushing TD, to take a quick 7-0 lead. Fields' 44-yard rush on OSU's first play of its third series set up another Buckeye TD as Fields found Garrett Wilson in the end zone for a 28-yard score.
The Buckeyes went up 21-0 in the second quarter on Fields' 1-yard rushing touchdown that finished off a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
OSU punter Drue Chrisman pinned the Spartans down to the 1-yard line with 6:22 left in the second quarter, and Lombardi's third-down pass on the ensuing Spartan series was tipped at the line and intercepted in the end zone by Buckeye defensive tackle Haskell Garrett to give Ohio State a 28-0 advantage.
The Spartans forced a three-and-out on Ohio State's first series of the third quarter and promptly drove the ball 47 yards to the OSU 40-yard line on their first possession of the half, but Thorne was sacked on third down and MSU was forced to punt.
Ohio State running back Trey Sermon, who led all players with 112 rushing yards on just 10 carries, scored on a 64-yard touchdown on the Buckeyes' next series as OSU took a 35-0 lead at the 6:14 mark in the third.
The Spartans responded with a quick two-play, 75-yard touchdown drive as Thorne completed a game-long 55-yard pass to Reed, and then rushed 20 yards into the end zone on the next play to put MSU on the board.
Blake Haubeil's 27-yard field goal with 1:08 left in the third extended OSU's lead to 38-7.
Senior kicker Matt Coghlin connected on a 32-yard field goal at the 11:58 mark in the fourth quarter to make it 38-10, but Ohio State scored on two long touchdowns later in the quarter, a 41-yard pass from Fields to Chris Olave and a 48-yard run by backup QB C.J. Stroud.
The Spartans closed the game's scoring with a safety on a wild snap from the Buckeye center with 1:02 remaining.
Fields was 17-of-24 passing for 199 yards and two TDs for Ohio State, while also rushing for 104 yards on 13 carries. Olave led all receivers with 10 catches for 139 yards, including a 41-yard TD.
Saturday's game was played without fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Spartans (2-4) return to action Saturday, Dec. 12 at Penn State.
Team Stats
OSU
MSU
Total Yards
521
261
Pass Yards
199
180
Rushing Yards
322
81
Penalty Yards
63
101
1st Downs
26
13
3rd Downs
6
3
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
32:47
27:13
1st Quarter
OSU 7, MSU 0
OSU - Fields, Justin 2 yd run (Haubeil, Blake kick), 12 plays, 83 yards, TOP 4:37
OSU 14, MSU 0
OSU - Wilson, Garrett 28 yd pass from Fields, Justin (Haubeil, Blake kick) 3 plays, 72 yards, TOP 0:41
2nd Quarter
OSU 21, MSU 0
OSU - Fields, Justin 1 yd run (Haubeil, Blake kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:57
OSU 28, MSU 0
OSU - Garrett, H. 0 yd interception (Haubeil, Blake kick)
3rd Quarter
OSU 35, MSU 0
OSU - Sermon, Trey 64 yd run (Haubeil, Blake kick), 5 plays, 87 yards, TOP 2:06
OSU 35, MSU 7
MSU - Thorne, Payton 20 yd run (Coghlin, Matt kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:44
OSU 38, MSU 7
OSU - Haubeil, Blake 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:35
4th Quarter
OSU 38, MSU 10
MSU - Coghlin, Matt 32 yd field goal 11 plays, 55 yards, TOP 4:03
OSU 45, MSU 10
OSU - Olave, Chris 41 yd pass from Fields, Justin (Haubeil, Blake kick) 1 plays, 41 yards, TOP 0:06
OSU 52, MSU 10
OSU - Stroud, C.J. 48 yd run (Haubeil, Blake kick), 5 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:49
OSU 52, MSU 12
MSU - TEAM 21 yd safety
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
16
TD
0
YDS
147
INT
1
CMP
5
TD
0
YDS
33
INT
1
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
DE
/ Football
S
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ FootballQB
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