Michigan State Football: Report card for win against Ohio State
Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans place kicker Michael Geiger (4) celebrates after making the game-winning field goal on the final play of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. The Spartans won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Special Teams: A
The hero is obviously Michael Geiger and we will get to him in a quick second. The reason that this grade is not an A+ is due to the Macgarrett Kings Jr. muffed punt. Kings should have known better, on a windy wet night trying to catch a ball that is all but over your head is a no-no, especially when there was no play to be had.
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Kings’ blunder almost cost the Spartans as Ohio State could do nothing offensively, but when given the ball on the five-yard-line all you can do is score. R.J. Shelton was set back for punt return and I suspect that could be the case for the rest of the year.
Luckily, the rest of the special teams group bailed Kings out. Jake Hartbarger continues to bomb punts and flip field position. He had five punts on the day averaging 40.4 yards and has seemed to get rid of any freshman jitters.
The hero of the game, besides the defense who held Ohio State to five first downs, I might add, was Geiger.
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The much-maligned kicker had missed an earlier kick but came out with three seconds left, after being iced by Urban Meyer, and made the biggest kick in Michigan State history. From 41 yards out, on the right hash, Geiger knocked it through the uprights and sent Spartan Nation into euphoria.
Hat’s off to you, Michael Geiger, you’ll never have to buy a beer in East Lansing again.