ANN ARBOR — Michigan State put down a marker on Saturday night at Michigan State, physically beating rival Michigan to a 15-6 win and reclaiming the Paul Bunyan trophy after four straight losses.
The Spartans controlled the game through much of the second half, leaning on a physical edge in the run game and a smothering defensive performance. In the aftermath on Sunday, Michigan fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck as the frustrations in Ann Arbor with the Kyle Whittingham regime have quickly hit a boiling point.
Meanwhile, Paul Bunyan is back in East Lansing.
And Mitten Football is pleased, as always, to publish a gallery through the lens of photographer Rachel Leggett.
A sign that would not age well. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Pat Fitzgerald links arms with his team and walks the end zone before going back into the locker room pre game. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)MSU offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, once a Michigan quarterback, called an excellent game on Saturday night. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan broke out the big game blues for the wardrobe on Saturday. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And had Hugh Jackman, who played DC superhero Wolverine in the film franchise, as an honorary captain. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But then the main event began — Kenneth Williams played a key offensive role for the Spartans as a runner and catching passes. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the first pass of the game for MSU went to Samson Gash, who bullied through tacklers to convert a screen on third down. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Zeke Berry broke up a deep shot to Bryson Williams that helped scuttle MSU's opening drive. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)With a quick celebration on the pass breakup. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan's offense, though, struggled to get going — especially on the ground. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan finished with 54 net rushing yards on Saturday night. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Tommy Carr struggled for much of Saturday night, getting sacked five times and throwing two interceptions. Though he did convert an early third down with a completion to Travis Johnson. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But then disaster struck for Michigan — one of four in the game, turnover-wise — as JJ Buchanan stuck a paw out to make a catch, but deflected the ball instead. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Devin Vaught found himself in the right place to make a play. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Vaught secured the tipped pass for an interception just on the Michigan side of the 50. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)It was a big play for Vaught, who would later be on the sideline in street clothes due to an apparent injury. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the Wolverines came up with a quick defensive stop, causing a turnover on downs. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Zeke Berry (No. 10, making the tackle) had a particularly strong start, breaking up the pass and making several key tackles. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Michigan's offense struggled to find much room to work. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Nor did Michigan State's for a while, though Bradon Tullis (No. 7) did some strong running for the Spartans. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Alessio Milivojevic didn't light it up, but he deliver with a 21-for-32 performance for 188 yards. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Michigan saw defensive back Jeremiah Earby, a mid-season addition to the secondary, get in on the action to a notable degree. Earby recently won an injunction to be eligible under the NCAA's 5 in 5 rules. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan's defense was staunch as expected, with John Henry Daley coming up a pair of sacks, including one where he blocked Rakeem Johnson into Milivojevic. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Things started to spiral for Michigan, though, when Jacob Baggett missed a short field goal, clanging it off the upright. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)For the Spartans, it was another moment to celebrate. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But at least at that point, with the game tied 0-0, there were decently high spirits for Donovan Peoples-Jones to reprise the Paul Bunyan pose and get the crowd to join in. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The fans were happy to put on their best Paul Bunyan impersonation along with Peoples-Jones. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Peoples-Jones, the former Michigan wideout, got to meet Victor. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Sparty was starting to have a good time, too, as his side got stuck into the game. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michael Richard (No. 7) might not be a minister of silly walks, but he did get in on a sack, one of five for MSU on Saturday. And when Michigan had a chance to benefit from a miscue, a Chrishon McCray muffed punt, things didn't go the Wolverines' way. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)McCray managed to quickly fall on the live ball and avert a crisis. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan State's offense didn't put up gaudy numbers, but happily ground out the game against the UM defense, and spread the ball around to a number of pass catchers, like Brendan Parachek here. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)A star for the Spartans: Kicker Liam Boyd (No. 37), who scored all 15 of the points for MSU, going a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan seemed to get some momentum back, picking up a first down on this play, which was eventually ruled incomplete, via a defensive pass interference. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
Then Bryson Kuzdzal fumbled around midfield. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Nikai Martinez was in position to pounce on the football. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And pounce Martinez did, giving Michigan State possession. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The MSU sideline was immediately fired up by this development. Michigan couldn't get either Andrew Marsh (pictured) or JJ Buchanan going for most of the night. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)A 50/50 throw on 3rd and long finds it way to NiJhay Burt. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Who came down with the second of two MSU interceptions on the night. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And by that point, the celebrations were starting to begin for Michigan State. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)On the field and off it. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Sparty pulled out a change of wardrobe, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And as fans started to file out, just the Spartan faithful remained. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan did manage a late, desperate drive to score. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Savion Hiter punched in the lone touchdown of the game, and Michigan failed to covert for two. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Which meant the Spartans could reclaim Paul Bunyan. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Injured captain Jordan Hall was among the first to find the statue. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
Kenny Soares Jr. (No. 1) and the Spartans gathered in the end zone to bask with the fans and celebrate with Paul Bunyan. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
It will be a night to remember for Michigan State football for a long time, an early galvanizing win of the Pat Fitzgerald tenure. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan State WR Frederick Moore (No. 6) previously played at Michigan and has now won the Paul Bunyan trophy playing for both teams. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Fitzgerald and Co. were naturally joyous at the outcome. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And the players took time to lap the stadium and celebrate with fans, and amongst themselves — or pose for the camera, as Michael Richard did here. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Fitzgerald and Co. got to take Paul Bunyan back to East Lansing, where he'll live — along with all the bragging rights — for at least the next year. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
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Andrew Graham
Andrew Graham
Andrew Graham
