Spartan Sports Page

Football
November 25th, 2017

Michigan State completes the flip with 40-7 win over Rutgers

Box Score

No. 16 Michigan State Routs Rutgers, 40-7 MSUSpartans.com
Brian Lewerke threw for a touchdown and ran for another and No. 21 Michigan State held the ball for more than 47 minutes in defeating Rutgers 40-7 on Saturday to cap a terrific turnaround season. Redshirt freshman Matt Coghlin kicked a career-best four field goals and Gerald Holmes ran 2 yards for a touchdown as Michigan State (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten, CFP No. 16) flipped its overall record from a year ago.
 

Michigan State dominates Rutgers to finish off comeback season isportsweb
The Michigan State Football team outscored Rutgers 24-0 in the second half en route to a 40-7 victory in the final game of the 2017 regular season. With the victory the Spartans flipped the script on their 3-9 2016 campaign to finish 9-3 this year while the loss for Rutgers sent the Scarlet Knights to a 4-8 record as their season came to a close.
 

Michigan State completes turnaround thanks to QB Brian Lewerke Saturday Tradition
Entering this season, there were talks that if the Michigan State Spartans had another down year, coach Mark Dantonio may be gone from East Lansing once 2018 rolls around. Instead of heating his seat, Dantonio instead flipped the script throughout the 2017 season.
 

Michigan State buckles down on defense yet again to beat Rutgers Land of 10
No. 16 Michigan State (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) completed its flip from a 3-9 season in 2016 by beating Rutgers (4-8, 3-6) 40-7 on the road Saturday evening in the regular-season finale. Michigan State won’t head to the Big Ten Championship Game, but the Spartans set themselves up nicely for an impressive bowl bid. And they did it with defense, holding Rutgers to 112 yards of offense.
 

Michigan State hammers Rutgers in regular-season finale MLive
For three quarters, the game was closer than it seemed. Michigan State dominated nearly every statistical category, but that wasn’t accurately reflected in a modest 12-point lead. Then the Spartans turned it on late to finish off the Scarlet Knights and tally a season-high point total.
 

Michigan State football report card: MSU gets high marks for 9-3 finish
 Detroit Free Press
Chris Solari rates 22nd-ranked Michigan State football on a scale of 1 to 10 after its 40-7 win at Rutgers on Saturday in its regular-season finale
 

Michigan State (9-3) finishes regular season with 40-7 win vs. Rutgers Detroit Free Press
The script is officially flipped. MSU capped off its turnaround season with a 40-7 victory against Rutgers on Saturday, flipping its 3-9 record of a season of ago into a 9-3 mark in 2017. The win puts the Spartans in contention for a New Year’s Day bowl game.
 

Michigan State-Rutgers talking points: Lewerke’s resurgence, a big day for Coghlin MLive
Here’s what Michigan State fans are talking about following the Spartans’ 40-7 win over Rutgers on Saturday
 

Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State’s 40-7 win at Rutgers Lansing State Journal
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts — from afar — on Michigan State’s 40-7 win over Rutgers Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey.
 

Spartans roll over Scarlet Knights, finish 9-3 Detroit News
Now they wait for the sport-jacketed bowl gurus to sort out some complexities and decide which schools are headed where for the holidays. The Spartans are thrilled. They’re back in the New Year’s Day conversation after a year in bowl exile.
 

Overheard outside the Michigan State locker room: A gut feeling and flipping the script MLive
Michigan State routed Rutgers 40-7 in its regular-season finale Saturday night in New Jersey. Here are notable quotes from Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio and players following the victory