Michigan vs. Michigan State: Wolverines dominate to claim Paul Bunyan Trophy

Jacob Janower

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Michigan vs. Michigan State: Wolverines dominate to claim Paul Bunyan Trophy image

Michigan’s defense put forth a dominating effort that carried the Wolverines to a 21-7 win in their in-state battle against No. 24 Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. 

It was the Wolverines' first win over a ranked team on the road since 2006 and just their third win over Michigan State in the last 11 seasons.

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The Spartans collected just 94 total yards and quarterback Brian Lewerke — who was replaced near the end of the game — was just 5 of 25 through the air. He was never able to get into a rhythm after his wide receiver Felton Davis — his top target — went down with a torn Achilles in the second quarter. Michigan State punted 11 times in the game, including on all six drives of the first half. 

Neither team was able to do much on offense until No. 6 Michigan broke through with 14 points in the second half, including a 79-yard pass from quarterback Shea Patterson to Donovan Peoples-Jones that broke the tie for good. Michigan marched down the field on 13 plays on the following drive and got a touchdown from Ben Mason to increase its lead to two possessions.  

With some help, the Wolverines could move into the top five in the AP rankings, while the Spartans are a near certainty to drop out.  

It doesn’t get much easier for Michigan, as it welcomes No. 18 Penn State next week, while Michigan State will host Purdue.

Sporting News provided live updates as Michigan reclaimed the Paul Bunyan Trophy. 

(All times Eastern)

Final: Michigan 21, Michigan State 7

4:55 p.m.: Patterson takes a knee and Michigan will let the clock run out and seize the victory.

4:51 p.m.: Lombardi's fourth down pass falls incomplete and that should effectively end this game.

4:50 p.m.: Lombardi completes a pass to Darrell Stewart to the Michigan 24, but back-to-back sacks of Lombardi force a fourth-and-17 with 1:17 to play.

4:47 p.m.: Backup quarterback Rocky Lombardi has taken over for the Spartans, who are driving by virtue of a trio of penalties from Michigan.

4:39 p.m.: No points come out of it, but a nine-play drive by Michigan takes over six minutes off the clock. The Spartans take over with only 2:38 to go in the game.

4:29 p.m.: Michigan State's first attempt at responding to the touchdown goes sour. A 3-yard run followed by two incompletions causes a punt. Lewerke is 5 of 24 through the air.

4:18 p.m.: Touchdown, Michigan. The fullback, Ben Mason, powers it in for a 5-yard run and the Wolverines lead by two touchdowns, which seems insurmountable with how their defense has played.

4:17 p.m.: Deja vu? Patterson pulls it at the last moment and runs for another 11 yards on a read option. Michigan at the 7-yard line.

4:13 p.m.: Shea Patterson fools the entire defense on the fourth down read option and runs for a first down to the Michigan State 30-yard line.

4:12 p.m.: Karan Hidgon runs for no gain to start the quarter and then Patterson throws an incompletion. An 8-yard pass brings up a fourth-and-2. 

Third quarter: Michigan 14, Michigan State 7

4:06 p.m.: Shea Patterson starts with an incompletion and then Michigan gets a fortunate catch by Zach Gentry, who was out of bounds and came back in to catch the deflected pass.

3:56 p.m.: Touchdown, Michigan. Patterson finds Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 79-yard touchdown pass on a huge play. One of the first big gains for either team in the game and the Wolverines take a 7-point lead, which seems a lot larger with the offenses have played so far. Michigan leads 14-7.

3:45 p.m.: A loss of 1 on a run, incompletion, and scramble by Lewerke for no gain will force another punt. The Spartans are 0 for 8 on third downs in the game.

3:40 p.m.: Fumble! Patterson and Hidgon cough it up on the exchange at the Spartans' 22-yard line and Michigan State recovers the ball. Third fumble of the quarter.

3:35 p.m.: Fumble! Another crucial turnover as the Spartans lost the ball on the punt return and Michigan recovers.

3:34 p.m.: A three-and-out for Michigan and it appears that the momentum has shifted in this game.

3:28 p.m.: Touchdown, Michigan State. The Spartans pull a rabbit out of their hat and score a touchdown on a reverse. Wide receiver Darrell Stewart found Lewerke in the end zone. This game is tied 7-7.

3:27 p.m.: The Spartans start at the Michigan 7-yard line. Scott runs for three yards on first down.

3:26 p.m.: Fumble! Chris Evans loses the ball and Brandon Randle recovers for the Spartans deep in Michigan territory.

3:20 p.m.: An incomplete pass on second down and a holding penalty on the Spartans on the following play pushes them out of field goal range. Heyward is tackled for no gain on third down and Michigan State has to punt.

3:16 p.m.: Lewerke finds Cam Chambers for a 20-yard completion and a late hit penalty tacks on 15 yards to give the Spartans the ball at the Michigan 48. On the next play, Connor Heyward runs for six yards and an unsportsmanlike conduct on Michigan leads to another 15-yard penalty. Michigan State has the ball at the 27.

3:14 p.m.: The Spartans will start with the ball in the second half.

Halftime: Michigan 7, Michigan State 0

Halftime Stats: 

Total yards: Michigan 170; Michigan State 49

Shea Patterson: 9 of 15 passing for 86 yards and one touchdown; four rushes for 10 yards

Brian Lewerke: 3 of 13 passing for 38 yards

Rushing: Michigan has 22 rushes for 84 yards; Michigan State has 13 carries for 11 yards

Turnovers: Michigan 0; Michigan State 0

First downs: Michigan 9; Michigan State 4

Third downs: Michigan 4 of 10; Michigan State: 0 of 6

2:49 p.m.: Nothing doing for the Wolverines and they punt it away to the Spartans' 10-yard line with 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Michigan State takes a knee to run out the clock.

2:46 p.m.: Donovan Peoples-Jones returns the punt to the Michigan State 49. The Wolverines will have 45 seconds to get points before the half.

2:44 p.m.: Michigan State's top wide receiver Felton Davis is down on the field and will be carted off with an injury. Tough break for the Spartans. Davis reportedly tore his Achilles.

2:39 p.m.: Quinn Nordin's field goal attempt is nowhere close and the Spartans take over as this remains a one-possession game.

2:37 p.m.: Karan Higdon breaks a pair of tackles and runs to the Spartans 20 for a 38-yard gain on first down. Just over three minutes remaining on the clock.

2:35 p.m.: Spartans with a three-and-out. Rinse and repeat. 

2:32 p.m.: Three plays result in just five yards for Michigan and the ensuing punt results in a touchback.

2:29 p.m.: Michigan State's struggles on offense continue as a 1-yard run is followed by two more incompletions. Lewerke has missed on his last seven passes and the Spartans have just 33 total yards. Michigan will take over at the Spartans 43.

2:26 p.m.: The Wolverines end up just trying to force the Spartans offsides, are unsuccessful and get handed a delay of game penalty. They punt and it goes out of bounds at the 6-yard line.

2:22 p.m.: Patterson's pass is deflected at the line and Michigan will go for it on fourth-and-10 at the Michigan State 35.

2:21 p.m.: Michigan gains 16 on a screen play to open the drive but after a 5-yard run by Patterson, the Spartans snuff out a reverse and force a third-and-10.

2:15 p.m.: Michigan State goes backwards on a three-and-out and loses a yard on the drive. Lewerke with two more incompletions and he is just 2 for 7 on the day. The Spartans punt is downed at the Michigan 49 and the Wolverines will have very good field position when they start with the ball.

2:04 p.m.: Lewerke throws a pair of incompletions on 2nd and 3rd down and the Spartans are forced to punt deep in their own territory.

1:58 p.m.: Touchdown, Michigan. On third-and-5, Patterson finds Nico Collins for a 6-yard touchdown, the first passing touchdown by the Wolverines against the Spartans since 2011. The extra point is good. Michigan went 84 yards on 14 plays down the field, including this crazy catch by Collins right after play resumed. Wolverines lead 7-0.

First quarter: Michigan 0, Michigan State 0

1:51 p.m.: A 6-yard run by Karan Higdon moves the ball to the Michigan State 16-yard line and puts Michigan in the red zone.

1:48 p.m.: Karan Higdon is stopped for a loss of two and play has resumed. The Wolverines convert on third-and-8 with a 25-yard connection between Shea Patterson and Nick Eubanks down ot the MSU 22.

1:15 p.m.: Update on the expected restart time: 

12:58 p.m.: The Spartans fans are braving this weather delay.

12:33 p.m.: With 5:15 left in the first quarter, play has been suspended due to lightning.

12:23 p.m.: Brian Lewerke is sacked by Josh Uche on third down and Michigan State will punt.

12:21 p.m.: Michigan State notches its second first down of the drive on a higlight reel catch by running back Connor Heyward to the Spartan 47-yard line.

12:17 p.m.: Devin Bush, who stomped on the Spartans logo before the game, is being attented to by trainers after an apparent injury. He walked off the field on his own power, but will have to miss at least one play.

12:14 p.m.: The Wolverines pick up one first down on the drive but are stuffed on third-and-3 near midfield and will have to punt. The punt goes for a touchback.

12:04 p.m.: Michigan will start with the ball.

Jacob Janower