Michigan State drops another one, falling 28-10 to Penn State on Senior Day

Michigan State couldn't find the plays on either side of the ball to send its seniors off with a win in their final game at Spartan Stadium Saturday afternoon. Instead, Penn State left a gassed Spartan defense in its dust in the fourth quarter as it ran away with it 28-10.

The Spartans finished with just 229 yards to the Nittany Lions 367, including 240 net rushing yards. PSU kept the ball on the ground for 50 rushing attempts, but managed 4.8 yards per carry to MSU's 4.6. Both teams were lackluster on third downs, with PSU just barely edging MSU 2-10 compared to 1-10, respectively. MSU was 0-for-2 on fourth down attempts as well while PSU was 2-for-4.

Alessio Milivojevic finished his second career start with 128 passing yards on 17-for-28 passing, including a long of 32. He was also sacked five times for a loss of 36 yards. Elijah Tau-Tolliver led both the running backs and receiving corps with 79 rushing yards and a touchdown, including a 57 yard rushing score combined with eight catches on eight targets for a total of 73 yards.

Wayne Matthews III, Alex VanSumeren, and Malcolm Bell led the defense with eight tackles apiece, Bell posting five solo for the team high. Matthews added a pass break up alongside three solo tackles.

Ethan Grunkemeyer finished the day with 127 yards through the air on eight-for-13 passing and two touchdowns. Both of those touchdown catches were to Devonte Ross who totaled 79 yards, 75 of them on a single catch. Kaytron Allen added the other two scores for the Nittany Lions on the ground among his 181 rushing yards on 25 carries.

First Half

The game started off well enough for MSU as the Spartans held PSU to a three and out then turned around and Tau-Tolliver ran it all the way back for 57 yards and a touchdown on the offense's first play of the game. The PAT was good and MSU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions answered right back with a 12 play, 75-yard drive to tie it up at 7-7 with 6:52 left in the opening quarter. From there, both teams quieted down on offense as the punts began to fly. As the second quarter opened play, Penn State chose to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the MSU 42, but a big play by Wayne Matthews III forced the stop to give the Spartans good field position on its next drive.

On third-and-3 of MSU's ensuing drive, Milivojevic connected with Tau-Tolliver for a 32 yard gain that set the Spartans up in the red zone. The offense couldn't find the plays to punch it into the end zone, though, and had to settle for a 24 yard field goal attempt from the PSU six yard line. The kick was good and MSU retook a narrow lead, up 10-7 with 8:40 left in the half.

Unfortunately, the lead was short lived as the Nittany Lions connected for a 75-yard touchdown pass on their opening drive to make it 14-10. MSU was forced to punt it away on another three-and-out on its next drive, and Ryan Eckley's attempt was blocked by Penn State to give the PSU offense the ball at the MSU 41. The defense held tough and later forced another turnover on downs when the Nittany Lions opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the MSU 22. Graden Kelly and Jalen Thompson combined for the sack on Ethan Grunkemeyer and it was MSU's ball again with under two minutes to go until halftime.

Milivojevic kept it on the opening play for a 16 yard scramble, but the drive stalled from there and MSU punted away while PSU kneeled it to send both teams to the locker rooms at the half, Penn State up 14-10. The Spartans had awful time of possession balance in the first half, trailing 18:23-11:37, though it would get worse in the second half. 57 of MSU's 149 offensive yards in the first half came from a single touchdown run.

Second Half

Michigan State made it past midfield just twice in the second half, getting to the PSU 49 on its opening drive when it received to start the half before having to punt it away. Then late in the fourth quarter after Penn State had a backbreaking 9:05 drive for 76 yards to extend its lead to 21-10, MSU managed to march it 45 yards in just five plays to the PSU 20. A hard hit to Milivojevic's shoulder by Zion Tracy forced a fumble at the Nittany Lions' 30 yard line that was recovered by PSU. In just three plays, PSU marched it back 70 yards for the touchdown, though once again the Big Ten officiating crew had Spartan fans grinding their teeth in frustration as the scoring play itself didn't start until several seconds after the play clock expired. As the incompetence by the officials couldn't be reviewed and overturned despite the broadcast crew calling attention to it over the next several minutes of the broadcast, the play stood and Penn State took its final lead to 28-10 after the PAT.

Michigan State heads to Iowa City next with the start time still yet to be announced by the media overlords who have no care in the world to give for fans needing to plan ahead, nor has the network broadcasting the game been announced as of yet, either. Check back later tonight for their graciously timed heads up for fans.