Michigan State vs Purdue: Final grades for the Spartans
Oct 3, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) celebrates a defensive play during the 2nd half of a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAYSports
Coming away with a three-point win over Purdue on Saturday was likely the least satisfying win of the Mark Dantonio era. Michigan State came in as 22-point favorites, but left feeling a sense of relief as it took a batted ball at the end of the game for the Spartans to capture a win that should have been much easier.
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People laughed off the fact that Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell claimed he had a plan in place to defeat the Spartans and he was looking silly through three quarters. After a botched long snap by punter Jake Hartbarger that gave the Boilermakers great field position near the MSU redzone at the end of the third, they were given new life and scored on the drive, cutting the lead to 14.
Michigan State put together a solid drive not too long after, but missed a field goal, giving the Boilermakers a chance to dash 68-yards to the end zone on the back of freshman running back Markell Jones.
It was a seven-point game before we knew it and the Michigan State vs Purdue matchup was once again much closer than it should have been for the third straight year — it had the same exact feel of the rainy, snoozefest that was a 14-0 victory over Purdue at home in 2013.
The Spartans made the next field goal — shocker, I know — and the 10-point lead looked to be insurmountable. However, Purdue scored yet again and the Spartans failed to run out the clock on their next drive, allowing the Boilers on last possession to tie or take the lead. They failed a fourth-down conversion and MSU won, just barely.
Let’s give each position group grades for this ugly performance.
Next: Quarterback