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Michigan State Football: 5 most memorable moments of 2017 season

By Connor Muldowney

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio looks on after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio looks on after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – OCTOBER 07: Raequan Williams #99 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a win over the Michigan Wolverines and carries the Paul Bunyan trophy after the game at Michigan Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Michigan 14-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – OCTOBER 07: Raequan Williams #99 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a win over the Michigan Wolverines and carries the Paul Bunyan trophy after the game at Michigan Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Michigan 14-10. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

2. Michigan State reclaims Paul Bunyan Trophy

How could this not be on the list? Michigan State’s win over rival Michigan had to be one of the best moments of the year and it was because of all the trash being talked before the game.

Michigan fans were so utterly confident that the Wolverines would roll the Spartans that they were already looking ahead to the rest of the Big Ten schedule. “Little brother” didn’t stand a chance in Ann Arbor as Michigan had won “easily” the season before and Michigan State’s run was over.

If all that didn’t act as bulletin board material for this team, I don’t know what got them fired up. Either way, the Spartans came out to play and didn’t take any plays off against the No. 7 Wolverines en route to a 14-10 win in Ann Arbor, shocking the nation.

This win further proved that Mark Dantonio takes this Michigan rivalry personally and it also showed that he was a better game manager than his counterpart, Jim Harbaugh. He found a way to score 14 points before the rain hit and he trusted his defense to do the rest as he had a feeling neither offense would be able to do much in the monsoon.

Paul Bunyan returned home for the eighth time in 10 years.

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