Spartans Try To Get Back On Track Vs. Gophers
NOAH TRISTER/AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING (AP) - Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio isn't worried that his team will take Minnesota lightly.
For one thing, the 15th-ranked Spartans are coming off a humbling loss at Nebraska. And the Golden Gophers? They showed just how dangerous they can be by upsetting Iowa last weekend.
"I think it gives them instant credibility in terms of a football team that you'd better not overlook because they play with a lot of emotion," Dantonio said. "They controlled the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter and against an Iowa football team, that's difficult to do. To be able to run the football consistently in the fourth quarter, that's a testament."
October is finally over, and the Spartans came out of it OK despite a tough schedule. They beat Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin before the loss to Nebraska, and they enter the home stretch tied for first in the Big Ten's Legends Division. Compared with the last few weeks, Saturday's home game with Minnesota might seem like a breather, but the margin for error is dwindling.
The Spartans (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) are tied in the standings with Michigan and Nebraska and can ill afford a slip-up, especially at home. Minnesota (2-6, 1-3) has already had some success playing spoiler, scoring the final 12 points in last weekend's 22-21 win over Iowa.
"Football's a game of momentum, and when you start to believe and really have that momentum, you can play a lot better," Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "Minnesota certainly found some momentum last Saturday, and they really believe now."
After beating Wisconsin on a last-ditch heave to the end zone, Cousins threw for only 86 yards in the 24-3 loss to Nebraska. Running back Le'Veon Bell ran for 58 yards on 12 carries, but with Michigan State down big late in the game, he wasn't much of a factor.
Minnesota allowed Iowa's Marcus Coker to rush for 252 yards, so it would not be surprising to see the Spartans try to establish their running game early while Cousins tries to regain his rhythm.
"They had a little difficulty last week but I know they're going to be itching to come back this Saturday," Minnesota defensive back Kyle Henderson said. "He's a very good quarterback. We're going to definitely make sure we analyze him and try to maybe give him disguises and whatnot."
Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray has thrown for 940 yards and run for 500 this season. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he'll test Michigan State's tough defense. Gray has become Minnesota's top quarterback after splitting time between quarterback and wide receiver through his first couple seasons with the Gophers.
Gray ran for the winning touchdown with 2:48 remaining against Iowa.
"MarQueis Gray was an excellent quarterback coming out of high school. He was a highly recruited guy. We were actually recruiting him, as well," Dantonio said. "He's gone from quarterback to wide receiver, now he's back at quarterback this year, so it's not been something where he's been the quarterback throughout, but he's an excellent athlete. I think he's got toughness, think he throws a live ball. He's got a very strong arm."
Minnesota is in the middle of its own difficult four-game run. The Gophers lost 41-14 to Nebraska before the win over Iowa. After playing Michigan State, they'll host Wisconsin next week.
"We have no room for any type of letup or turnover or dropped ball," coach Jerry Kill said. "We're not that type of team right now. If we continue, if we can play as hard as we did last week and physical as we did last week and make a play or two or three, that's why you play on Saturdays."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
