Today’s game results are brought to you by the letter ‘E’, as in the word eke, as in the Spartans (6-6) just managed to eke out a narrow win over the Terrapins (3-9).
A second, informal word that also uses the word ‘E’ is eek. Merriam-Webster defines eek as ‘used to express surprise or dismay,’ as in ‘Lewerke has already thrown two interceptions on consecutive passes, I hope he doesn’t—EEK, he just threw a third inter—oh, whew, Cody White caught it.’
Last is the word eligible. Michigan State is now bowl eligible. But it was close—closer than it needed to be.
Michigan State’s sputtering efforts in the first quarter resulted in a 40-yard field goal by Matt Coghlin and the inkling that today’s game would hinge upon the kicker’s foot.
A second interception thrown by Lewerke (see EEK, above) set the Terrapins up for a 44-yard touchdown pass to Dontay Demus Jr., putting the score at 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Would Michigan State lose their last game of the season? It looked possible. Once again, Coghlin booted the ball for a 36-yard field goal bringing the score 7-6, Maryland narrowly leading. Coghlin’s foot kept the Spartans in the game.
Lewerke then redeemed himself with a 1-yard touchdown pass at 3:08 in the second quarter. He and Coghlin put Michigan State ahead 13-7. Maryland then went wobbly. Quarterback Josh Jackson was sacked twice, then flagged for intentional grounding. A Hail Mary attempt by Maryland with six seconds on the clock produced nothing.
But Maryland wasn’t out, yet. A 33-yard field goal by Joseph Petrino brought the score to 13-10. It was just Petrino’s second field goal of the year and only the fifth of the season for the Terrapins.
Then Terrapin Anthony McFarland Jr broke out and made a 63-yard run, putting Maryland ahead 16-13 (see EEK above, again).
Coghlin decided that enough was enough and scored 32 and 33-yard field goals in the fourth quarter. The Spartans won 19-16 but again, it was an unimpressive performance and closer than it should have been.
Much closer.
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Free Press