Michigan State 34, Michigan 17: Spartans Knock Out Wolverines In Ann Arbor, Remain Undefeated

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson has had trouble throwing the ball into the end zone on Saturday, having thrown two interceptions past the pylons on Saturday, but he has at least demonstrated the ability to run it in himself.

Down 31-10 at home to No. 17 Michigan State, Robinson pushed ahead for a four-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 41-yard drive that included a fourth-and-10 conversion.

In the third quarter on Saturday, Michigan State is starting to turn its game against Michigan into a non-contest.

After Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson threw his second end-zone interception of the day, Spartans sophomore running back Larry Capers pushed through the end zone at the end of an eight-yard run, and the extra point gave Michigan State a 31-10 lead in Michigan’s house. After Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell, Capers is the third Spartan running back of the day to rush for a touchdown.

In the first half of Saturday’s game, Michigan State’s running game is flexing its muscles. Minutes after Edwin Baker rushed 61 yards to the end zone, Le’Veon Bell took his second carry of the game 41 yards for a second Wolverine touchdown.

Bell, a freshman, now has 471 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns this season. There’s a lot of rushing going on in this game, in fact: before halftime, both teams have more than 100 yards on the ground.

In the second quarter, Denard Robinson made sure he threw it to the right man in the end zone the second time around.

After throwing an end-zone pick in the first quarter, Robinson rushed and passed his Wolverines down the field, completing the drive with a 12-yard touchdown strike to Martell Webb. At home, No. 18 Michigan leads No. 17 Michigan State, 10-7.

Early in the second quarter on Saturday, Michigan State running back Edwin Baker tore through Michigan’s defense for a 61-yard touchdown. Through his first five games and change, Baker now has 612 rushing yards, and he is now averaging 7.5 yards per carry this season.

After the touchdown, Baker was called for an excessive celebration penalty.

In Michigan Stadium on Saturday, the No. 18 Wolverines have struck first against the No. 17 Spartans, despite a critical early mistake from Denard Robinson.

Robinson, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, underthrew a pass in the end zone that was picked off by Michigan State’s Trenton Robinson. The Spartans couldn’t get the ball out of their half of the field on the ensuing possession, and after being stuck at their own ten yard line, the Wolverines sustained a drive long enough to set up a 34-yard field goal from Seth Broekhuizen.

SB Nation’s The Only Colors and Maize n Brew break down Denard Robinson’s growth areas:

SB Nation’s Maize N Brew and The Only Colors discuss the Spartans’ experience with spread offenses like Michigan’s: