That's all for us folks as we're heading down to the field for the rest of the game. Thanks a lot for following along.
***
Michigan State begins its drive at the 37 and a few Hoyer completions now have the Spartans driving down to the Penn State 20 yard line.
Hoyer throws a nice strike to Blair White between a pair of defenders down to the eight yard line. Another first down for the Spartans. The rhythm is disrupted by another false start penalty.
First and goal at the 13. Bani Gbadyu bit on a fake but Hoyer missed an open Andrew Hawkenin the end zone. A second down fade attempt sails out of bounds, and Sarlegeant breaks up a fade route on 3rd down. Michigan State hits a field goal from 30 yards out.
9:09 left to play
Penn State 49, Michigan State 10
***
Attendance just announced, 109,845 on Senior Day.
Pat Devlin has entered the game for PSU, replacing Daryll Clark and his 341 yards and four touchdown passes.
Devlin now facing a 3rd and 8 at PSU's 22 yard line. Devlin checks down to Royster who sprints down the sidline for a 15 yard gain and a Lions first down at the 37.
On second down Royster carries it off the left side and picks up four. 3rd and 6 at the 41.
The Penn State air attack continues its domination. Deon Butler once again got through the secondary wide open and Devlin floated a beautiful strike down the middle of the field for an easy touchdown. The floodgates are wide open.
Drive Summary:
6 plays, 80 yards in 2:10
12:50 left in the game
Penn State 49, Michigan State 7
***
Michigan State takes control at its own 27 as Beaver Stadium is rocking. The top sections of the student section are starting to thin out a bit.
On second down, Ringer picks up a first down on a run to the left. First and 10 at the 38.
Lydell Sargeant just put a big hit on B.J. Cunningham to break up a pass. After a short completion on second down and an incomplete third-down pass, Michigan State punts to Williams. A short return puts Penn State at the 20 to start the fourth quarter.
End of the 3rd quarter
Penn State 42, Michigan State 7
***
Stephfon Green checks back into the game for PSU and picks up seven yards on two runs to start the drive. Michael Jordan picks up a tackle for the Spartans.
Penn State picks up back-to-back first downs on back-to-back Clark-Norwood connections. First and 10 at the 30 yard line.
I don't know that I've ever seen someone wide open as Daryll Clark hits Deon Butler down the seam for a way-too-easy 70 yard touchdown. Clark's dance at the line of scrimmage was quite a sight after Butler scored. Clark is now over 300 yards for the first time in his career.
Drive Summary:
5 plays, 97 yards in 2:19
1:32 left 3rd quarter
Penn State 42, Michigan State 7
***
A nice return by Glenn Winston puts Michigan State at its own 45 to start. Blair White gets a step on Tony Davis but Hoyer put it too far in front for an incompletion.
After a Hoyer completion for a first down, Michigan State tries some trickery but ends up turning the ball over. Hoyer swung the ball to Ringer, who threw it back across the field to Hoyer. It looked like a forward pass, but Hoyer got the ball, threw deep and was intercepted by Lydell Sargeant. For his efforts, Hoyer was slammed into the ground by Navorro Bowman after the throw.
It looks like Ringer's toss to Hoyer was forward, but somehow after review, the referees ruled that everything was legal. I have no idea how the refs came to that conclusion, but Penn State will take over at its own four.
3:51 left 3rd quarter
***
Talk in the press box drifts toward the much-coveted Land Grant Trophy. Rivalries trophies don't get more beautiful than that, right?
***
Penn State starting at its own 30. So far almost no offense for either team this half.
Royster runs off-tackle to the left and spins upfield for six. On second down Royster explodes through a huge hole on the right side of the line on a stretch play. He picked up 25 yards to the MSU 41 yard line. After just seven carries in the first half, it looks like a good move to get Royster the ball a bit more in the second half.
Clark's first down pass is apparently intended for Brackett but comes down about 10 yards away from everybody. PSU draws a flag on second down as Gerald Cadogan jumped the gun. Looks like he was a bit to anxious to start pulling to the right.
A Royster run gets PSU to the 42. 3rd and 11 for Penn State.
Clark finds a wide open Jordan Norwood streaking across the middle on a crossing route. It looks like the defensive back slipped, just like on Norwood's earlier long pass. He gets down to the nine yard line for a 33-yard gain.
Williams in the Wildcat formation on 2nd and 10. He runs a read option and keeps the ball, getting him down to the four. 3rd and goal, Clark hits Deon Butler on a quick slant for a touchdown. The Spartans will need a miracle to come back in this one. Kelly's extra point is good and PSU goes up by 28.
Scoring Drive:
8 plays, 70 yards in 3:21
4:34 left 3rd quarter
Penn State 35, Michigan State 7
***
Jared Odrick went almost un-touched through the line it seemed as he blasted Ringer for a two-yard loss on first down. Hoyer hits Ringer on a swing pass, he cuts to the middle of the field and gets close to a first down before Astorino wrapped him up.
On 3rd and 1 Ringer's troubles on the ground continue as Aaron Maybin hit him for another loss. Bates punts it away to Williams, who calls for a fair catch at the 30.
7:55 left 3rd quarter
***
Clark misses wide on a comeback route by Butler, and Royster follows it up with a short run. 3rd and 8.
Three and out for Penn State as Clark pulls the ball down and runs right but is stopped two yards short of a first down. Otis Wiley signals for a fair catch on the Boone punt but decides to let it hit the ground. The balls rolls to the Michigan State 17 yard line, where they'll start 1st and 10.
9:58 left 3rd quarter
***
A low Kevin Kelly kickoff is controlled by Michigan State and the Spartans will begin the second half at the 24 yard line.
A two-yard run by Ringer and an nine-yard pass give MSU a quick first down. Spartans right tackle Jesse Miller picks up yet another false start penalty. Ringer runs for no gain and Hoyer completes a short pass for four. Third and 11 for the Spartans.
Hoyer completes an out-route to Blair White but Sargeant wrapped up nicely six yards short of the marker. Fourth down and Williams fair catches for PSU at the 27 yard line.
11:34 left 3rd quarter
***
Hey everyone, Collegian men's basketball reporter Matt Brown here to take you the rest of the way through the second half.
Some halftime team stats:
First Downs: MSU 11, PSU 10
Total Yards: PSU 259, MSU 123
Passing Yards: PSU 215, MSU 109
Rushing Yards: PSU 44, MSU 16
Turnovers: MSU 1, PSU 0
Time of Possession: PSU 15:14, MSU 14:46
Third Downs: PSU 6-8, MSU 3-8
Stat leaders:
Passing
Daryll Clark, PSU: 11-18, 215 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Brian Hoyer, MSU: 14-22, 109 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Evan Royster, PSU: 7 carries, 40 yards
Javon Ringer, MSU: 10 carries, 27 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Jordan Norwood, PSU: 2 receptions, 75 yards
Derrick Williams, PSU: 4 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD
B.J. Cunningham, MSU: 5 receptions, 43 yards
Blair White, MSU: 4 receptions, 30 yards
The Blue Band has played and the halftime tribute to the seniors, featuring the 2005 "I Told You So" stadium video, has also wrapped up. About 6 minutes left until things get underway in the second half.
***
Just 16 seconds left in the first half. Lions figure to run out the clock here at their 31 yard line. Green takes the carry and players rush toward the tunnel
Halftime
PSU 28, Mich. St. 7
***
1st-and-10 from the Lions' 14, and a pass interference penalty on Lydell Sargeant moves Mich. St. to the two yard line. I'm thinking Ringer gets the ball at some point.
First down sees Hoyer bootleg out to the right, but has to throw it out of the endzone. Hoyer fires from the gun on second down, appears to throw it out the reach of White, but Scirrotto gets flagged for interference. I thought it was uncatchable.
Next play Ringer gets his TD.
Scoring Drive:
14 plays, 76 yards, 2:25
0:22 left 1st half
PSU 28, Mich. St. 7
***
Michigan State converts the fourth down conversion for 12 yards. Hoyer is flushed from the pocket again and tosses the ball into the stands, where a fan made a great, over-the-railing catch.
Screen pass to Ringer who scampers out of bounds after picking up seven. 3rd-and-3 for Mich. St. Hoyer finds Cunningham over the middle for the first down.
Timeout Mich. State, one timeout remaining.
:42 seconds left 1st half
***
3rd-and-7 for the Spartans. White gets another catch, but is short of the first down. Penn State calls its seconds timeout of the half to try to salvage some time for a late-half drive.
1:12 left 1st half
***
The Lion mascot unveils his face and gets a nice ovation for his duties this season.
1st-and-10 for the Spartans at their own 24.
Blair White is on the other end of a Hoyer completion. Next play sees Hoyer throw a good ball over the middle, but the tight end is unable to get two hands on it.
Ringer met soon after he gets his paws on it again. The work-horse tailback hasn't been much of a factor this half.
Hoyer's doing some more dink-and-dunk-type passes. Timeout Spartans
1:26 left 1st half
***
One play later Clark finds Williams in the endzone for a 32-yard TD pass. Williams skied high to grab the ball and find pay dirt.
Scoring Drive:
1 play, 32 yards, :07
2:52 left 1st half
PSU 28, Mich. St. 0
***
Kevin Kelly has 415 points for his career now, moving him into 5th place on the NCAA's all-time scoring list.
Spartans ball 1st-and-10 from their own 14 after a personal foul penalty. Hoyer throws a quick pass out to Cunningham who scoots for seven yards. Hoyer throws the same ball, only this time to the left side.
Hoyer airs it out for a third straight time, but finds Scirrotto instead of his intended receiver. Lions ball at the Mich. St. 32.
2:59 left 1st half
***
Green gets popped on the opening play of the drive, getting whacked by Greg Jones four yards back. Clark has the Lions moving backwards again, sacked for three yards.
3rd-and-17 from their own 22. Green blows a block, then completely redeems himself by taking the screen 37 yards down to the Spartans 41.
Flags everywhere as Clark lays it out for Butler down the left sideline. Lions set up shop from their own 28.
Green loses a yard on his second carry of the game. Next play sees a crossing pattern to Zug, but the Manheim product can't hang on.
3rd-and-11. Clark in the gun, scales the defense then finds Zug again. Zug is stopped at the 1-yard line.
Clark takes the QB sweep to the right. Touchdown, Penn State!
Scoring Drive:
8 plays, 71 yards, 3:16
3:57 left 1st half
PSU 21, Mich. St. 0
***
Now we got packed Beaver Stadium. Spartans trouble with the kickoff, but take over at their own 17.
Ringer takes the zone read four yards, Lions still doing a good job bottling him up. Next play sees Hoyer complete to Mark Dell for a first down.
Ringer bursts up the middle for his highest rush of the day, a nine yard pick up. Ringer moves the chains again.
1st-and-10 on their own 42, now. Play action pass out to midfield. Spartans finding a rhythm after Ringer picks up the third first down of the drive.
Hoyer, meet Mr. Evans. Once Hoyer turns back from a play action, Evans is right in the QB's face. Loss of 11.
3rd-and-21 for the Spartans, now. Hoyer is flushed from the pocket and gets back to about the original line of scrimmage.
Lions take over at their own 29 with 7:13 remaining in the half.
***
3rd-and-8 is what's in front of the Lions. The cheerleaders and Lion on the field a little too long to delay the start of the quarter.
Royster takes a screen 19 yards. Royster spun away from a defender but then tripped over A.Q. Shipley. Clark goes back to the air, and Deon Butler just misses a spectacular one-handed catch.
Clark feeds Royster, who struts up the middle for three yards. 3rd-and-7 for the Lions at the Mich. St. 44. Crossing route by Norwood is pitch and catch for Clark. Norwood sneaks down the right sideline to the 18 yard line.
Royster goes off tackle on the left side down to the five line.
Touchdown Lawlor! Nice tribute to the senior who paved the way for many Royster scores this season.
Scoring Drive:
12 plays, 86 yards, 5:07
12:01 left 2nd quarter
PSU 14, Mich. St. 0
***
Royster picks up four on first down, then takes the next carry three more yards. On third down Clark finds Williams on a curl for a first down.
Clark airs it out to Zug on first down, but the throwing into the wind, Clark maybe put too much on it as he overshot Zug.
End of first quarter
PSU 7, Mich. St. 0
***
After a booming punt, Williams gets a pretty decent nine-yard return, but alas, block in the back on Nathan Stupar.
It'll be 1st-and-10 for the Lions at their own 14.
3rd-and-6 for the Spartans.
Hoyer can't put enough on it to get it to his target, B.J. Cunningham. Fourth down.
Looking down from the press box, there's a lot of people scrunched together down in the bleachers. Hey, least they're staying warm.
Ringer takes the handoff four yards to the Spartan 31. State staying in its base-formation 4-3 defense. Another run from this Winston guy. Mark Dantonio's got the nation second-leading rusher, and Winston has as many touches as Ringer.
Timeout Penn State
2:19 left 1st quarter
***
Royster chugs out seven yards. Then, Clark finds Williams for nine. First Down.
Clark fakes a pitch to Williams, but overshoots an open Norwood. Here's Williams in the "WildLion" formation, where he takes the snap. His run manages just three yards.
3rd-and-7 sees Williams dropping a pass over the middle. Cue Boone.
3:33 left 1st quarter
PSU 7, Mich. St. 0
***
Key fact: Michigan State is 8-0 on the year when they score first.
Glenn Winston gets a strong return, running it back down the Penn State sideline for 35 yards. 1st-and-10 at their own 43.
Winston takes the carry to the left side, but the Lions' D-line continues to be in hot pursuit of any Spartan tailback. Screen goes to Ringer for five yards, bringing up 3rd-and-five.
Hoyer in the shotgun. Ollie Ogbu wraps him up just as Hoyer sees daylight trying to scramble up the middle.
Williams fair catches the punt at the Lions' 12-yard line.
Lions first-and-ten from their 12 yard line. 5:51 to play first quarter
***
Grounds' crew members are blowing snow off the five-yard markers and along the sidelines. As gusts of wind blow snow off the lights, the sun makes its first appearance of the afternoon.
Back to the action. First-and-10, ball on their own 41 for the Lions. Clark goes to the air on the first play of the drive and finds Norwood on a 49-yard slant down to the Spartans 10 yard line. The Spartan corner slipped, allowing Norwood to give Clark an easy window.
Royster pounds it down to the five, bringing up 3rd-and-goal. Clark rolls out to his right, buying time, and at the last possible instant, finds Zug in the front corner of the endzone.
Scoring drive:
4 plays, 59 yards, 1:54
7:41 left 1st quarter
PSU 7, Mich. St. 0
***
Michigan State's all-offense back Javon Ringer got nailed in the backfield on first down. QB Brian Hoyer completes two straight passes to move the chains.
Tyrell Sales isn't fooled on a pump-fake-then pitch to Ringer. Loss of four on that play. Penn State is containing Ringer early on.
On 2nd down Hoyer throws downfield, but Scirrotto lays out a big hit to force the incompletion.
3rd and 19 and the right tackle for the Spartans jumps early the second time this drive.
Abe Koroma and Mo Evans sack Hoyer. Williams calls a fair catch on the ensuing punt.
9:35 left 1st quarter
No score
***
Michigan State won the coin flip and deferred til the second half. Penn State gets its gloves on the football first.
Williams fields the kickoff and take it up to Penn State 28-yard line.
Two plays of Evan Royster tally three yards.
Quarterback Daryll Clark got great protection on 3rd-and-7 and threw a strike to Jordan Norwood at the 45. The ruling was incomplete, as Norwood never had complete control of the football. Play was reviewed but remains as called.
A three-and-out for the Nittany Lions. Michigan State football on its own 18 after the 51-yard punt by Jeremy Boone.
***
Hey Pigskin enthusiasts, men's basketball reporter Nate Mink here to take you through first quarter action. Fifteen minutes until kickoff, and the seniors are getting introduced. Derrick Williams was the last senior to be honored and it sounded like D-Will got the loudest ovation.
During all the pre-game rituals, it was like a blizzard out there. It's still blowing around pretty good, and the green turf is slowly turning white. I feel bad for the Blue Sapphire.
Lot of empty seats where the students sit with five minutes to kickoff.
***
Good afternoon Nittany Nation, this is Collegian football reporter Travis Johnson coming to you live from the chilly confines of the press box at Beaver Stadium.
Chilly is an understatement. It's absolutely freezing in State College, Pa.
The temperature on the field is 27 degrees and could drop as the sun goes down.
Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer shouldn't mind the frigid temperature, however. Hoyer told me this summer at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago that playing at Penn State is his favorite road game.
Here's what Hoyer had to say.
"The fans are great. It gets loud."
Hoyer got his first career start at Penn State two years ago when then-starter Drew Stanton was injured. Hoyer remembered that game and told a group of youngsters at a football camp about it. He retold that story to me.
"My first start ever I remember playing at Penn State. It's so loud. I was working at a football camp, and these kids would ask us, 'What's the toughest stadium you play at?' Off the top of my head: Penn State."
"People can't hear you talking in the huddle. It's definitely a great atmosphere to play in. I think the coolest thing about it is you're driving into Penn State and it's all these hills and forests and stuff and then you just see this huge structure, this huge stadium."
KEYS TO THE GAME
PENN STATE:
The Lions will have to stop Spartan running back Javon Ringer. Michigan State's tailback is the Spartan offense. Ringer has thrashed defenses to the tune of 1548 yards this season. That's second best in the country. Penn State knows Ringer will get the ball a lot, he's carried the ball 353 times, 77 times more than the kid with the second-most carries.
Penn State will have to establish an early rhythm on offense. If the Lions struggle to move the ball down the field, especially in this cold weather, it could affect their states of mind. Daryll Clark needs to throw the ball well and avoid interceptions against the conferences third-best secondary.
MICHIGAN STATE:
Not only is MSU going up against a formidable opponent in the Nittany Lions, they also have to face the country's loudest, rowdiest student section. The Spartans will need to take the crowd out of the game early so they can hear in their offensive huddle. They'll need a big play, drive or quick touchdown to do this.
Hoyer will need to deal with the snarling Penn State pass rush. He'll need to simply manage the game, and hand off to Ringer. When Penn State brings pressure, he'll need to get rid of the ball, avoid taking long sacks and throwing interceptions.
We're 50 minutes from kickoff and the student section is starting to fill up.
--TJ
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