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Michigan State halts skid by walloping Rutgers

Posted at 2:59 PM, Nov 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-13 11:42:45-05

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State got back on the winning track in fine fashion with a 49-0 Big Ten football triumph over Rutgers in a battle of 2-7 squads at Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

MSU entered the contest mired in a seven-game losing streak while Rutgers had suffered six straight setbacks. The two shared the Big Ten basement with 0-6 league records coming in.

Despite their string of losses, the Spartans took the field as 14-point favorites.

The teams burst right out of the locker room by trading a pair of three-and-outs — first Michigan State and then Rutgers. The Spartans got on the board midway through the opener when Tyler O’Connor hurled a 2-yard TD pass to Josiah Price for a 7-0 lead and came right back 18 seconds later with Demetrious Cox’s 30-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 14-0 bulge at the 8:03 juncture.

That was followed by a 50-yard scoring strike from O’Connor to Trishton Jackson for a 21-0 advantage with 5:22 to go in the initial period. That score held up until the first break.

The second quarter witnessed the two trading possessions until the midway point, when MSU mounted a drive that culminated with O’Connor throwing to Price for a 4-yard touchdown and a 28-0 margin with 7:07 showing on the clock. With time running out in the second stanza, L.J. Scott tallied a 1-yard touchdown run for a 35-0 edge that stood up until halftime.

The third period belonged to Michigan State’s Madre London. He opened the second-half scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:54 left in the third for a 42-0 lead and then scored his second TD on an 8-yard run to put MSU up 49-0 with 1:40 remaining in the frame.

By that time both schools were substituting freely at most positions.

The finale featured a scoreless deadlock, setting the final score at 49-0 as coach Mark Dantonio emptied the Spartans bench.

MSU improved to 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten entering next Saturday’s final home game of the season against Ohio State.

Rutgers dipped to 2-8 overall and 0-7 in the conference. The Scarlet Knights will play host to Penn State next Saturday.