To poncho-clad Michigan State fans, things might have seemed to be going decently during most of the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Penn State (8-0). Not brilliantly, but decently.
Spartan defense held the Nittany Lions back. Michigan State’s (4-4) offense was dreary as the weather, but, well that’s a given now. Sparty’s chances against Penn State weren’t good, but so far, he held the line.
Penn State’s first touchdown came at 6:54—a 16-yard pass from quarterback Sean Clifford to tight end Pat Freiermuth. Penn State now led 7-0. Would the Nittany Lions avenge their previous losses to Michigan State? It seemed possible. Still, it was only the first quarter. No need to hit the panic button. Yet.
Clifford then threw a 19-yard pass and Freiermuth scored a second touchdown only thirty seconds into the second quarter. Penn State was up 13-0. Michigan State needed to score and score soon. The finger hovered over the panic button.
At 4:22, Matt Coghlin’s 46-yard field goal kick was batted out of the air by defensive end Shaka Toney. Then Clifford threw yet another touchdown pass of the game to wide-open wide receiver KJ Hamler. A two-point conversion by Clifford put the score 21-0 at the end of the second quarter.
Forget the finger, it was time for Michigan State to hammer that button. The chances for any sort of comeback reached vanishing point.
Clifford and Freiermuth were in firm control of the game, dictating what, when, where, and how things happened on the soggy, rain-soaked field. The duo scored a fourth touchdown for Penn State at 10:10 in the third quarter.
Michigan State followed up with a 4-yard run by running back Anthony Williams, Jr., which put the score at 28-7, Penn State leading.
And there the score remained until the end of the game. The grey rain fell, the cold wind blew, the fans rose to leave, Penn State was avenged, Dantonio scowled, and Michigan State’s losing streak continued.
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Free Press