FIRST QUARTER
Penn State kicked off to Michigan State and ultimately forced the Spartans to punt. However, Michigan State got on the board first after a short swing pass to Devin Thomas, who juked A.J. Wallace for the score, putting the Spartans up 7-0.
Penn State responded on a third-and-short play action 37-yard pass from Anthony Morelli to Deon Butler, brining the score to 7-7.
Anthony Scirrotto picked off a Brian Hoyer pass and returned it 53 yards to the Michigan State 20-yard line. Evan Royster ran the ball down to the 3-yard line where the Nittany Lions sat as they headed into the second quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
On third-and-goal on the Michigan State 3-yard line, Morelli fumbled the snap and the Nittany Lions settled for a Kevin Kelly field goal to take their first lead of the game, 10-7.
Later in the quarter, Sean Lee made a diving interception of a Hoyer pass just inside Penn State territory.
After the Lee interception, Penn State converted a fourth-and-1 inside Spartan territory to keep its offensive drive alive with under two minutes left in the half.
Facing third-and-long, Morelli hit Rodney Kinlaw on a screen and Kinlaw took the ball to inside the Michigan State 5-yard line with 0:18 left in the half. Two plays later, Kinlaw ran through a gaping hole opened by true freshman Stefen Wisniewski to add to Penn State’s lead.
HALFTIME STATS
First Downs: PSU 10 MSU 7
Total Yards: PSU 186 MSU 137
Passing: PSU 102 MSU 78
Rushing: PSU 84 MSU 59
Turnovers: PSU 0 MSU 2
Score: PSU 17 MSU 7
Morelli: 7 for 15, 102 yards, 1 TD
Kinlaw: 15 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD
Butler: 2 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD
THIRD QUARTER
Penn State added to its lead after Kelly scampered into the end zone from inside the Michigan State 5-yard line on a fake field goal. The Kelly score put the Nittany Lions on top 24-7.
With 7:25 left, Brian Hoyer hit his fullback, Jeff McPherson on a play-action pass to cut Penn State’s lead to 24-14.
Minutes later, Devin Thomas caught a 33-yard touchdown pass for his second score of the day. The Spartans quickly cut the Penn State lead to 24-21.
Hoyer then fumbled a snap and Tyrell Sales recovered for the Nittany Lions.
FOURTH QUARTER
Kinlaw ran the ball in from the Michigan State 4-yard line, bringing the score to 31-21 in favor of Penn State.
Thomas added his third receiving touchdown of the game to make the score 31-28 in favor of Penn State.
Michigan State took the lead on a 1-yard rush from Jehuu Caulcrick, which put the Spartans on top 35-31. Caulcrick converted a fourth-and-5 from his own 25 earlier in the drive. As the up man in punt formation, he took a direct snap and rambled 17 yards.
Penn State responded by moving quickly down the field. Facing fourth-and-long at the Michigan State 24-yard line, Morelli overthrew his receiver in the end zone, effectively ending the game
Michigan State pulls out the win in East Lansing, 35-31.
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