Michigan State survives more Tate Forcier dramatics, wins in overtime, 26-20

Chris L. Rucker intercepted a deflected Forcier pass in the end zone at the start of overtime, and Larry Caper ran 23 yards through the entire Wolverines defense for the game-winning score as Michigan State survived a rivalry game for the ages, 26-20, at Spartan Stadium. Forcier, who led game-winning drives against Notre Dame and Indiana, threw two touchdown passes in a dramatic fourth quarter as the 22nd-ranked Wolverines rallied from a 20-6 deficit before falling for the first time this year. He found Darryl Stonum for a 60-yard score down the MSU sideline with 4:03 to play, then engineered a 12-play, 92-yard march in a driving rainstorm.

Roy Roundtree caught the game-tying touchdown pass alone in the back of the end zone, and momentum appeared to be on Michigan’s side. “Felt great,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. “Going to overtime, we got a reprieve, we got another chance. And we just didn’t execute in overtime and they did.” Forcier’s interception came on third-and-five play from the MSU 8, when he rolled right and tried to force a pass through traffic to Martavious Odoms. Odoms cut short his route on the play, safety Danny Fortener punched the ball out of the air, and Rucker made a diving catch to give MSU possession. “I take complete blame for that,” Forcier said. “That’s something I told myself I wasn’t going to do is make a freshman mistake, and I did.” MSU (2-3, 1-1) lost 9 yards on the ensuing snap when Glenn Winston mishandled a pitch from backup quarterback Keith Nichol. Two plays later, Caper broke through the right side of the line, fought off a Troy Woolfolk tackle and stumbled into the end zone where pandemonium ensued. “It’s probably one of the greatest things I’ve felt in my life,” Michigan State receiver Blair White said. “We should have had a victory earlier. On the offensive side of the ball, we could have made it 27-6 at one point. We had a bunch of opportunities, but just to get a win against these guys in any way, I think it’s huge for us.” Michigan State, which won back-to-back games in the rivalry for the first time since 1966-67, dominated play early by keeping Michigan’s Big Ten-best rushing offense off the field. The Spartans had a 10-minute, 80-yard first-quarter touchdown drive in which they amassed 130 yards of total offense, lost 50 by penalty (thanks to three personal fouls), and dug out of second-and-25, second-and-15 and first-and-25 holes. Michigan’s only offense through the first three quarters was two Jason Olesnavage field goals, and the Wolverines (4-1, 1-1) were fortunate they didn’t trail by more after Zoltan Mesko lost two yards on a botched fake punt deep in Michigan territory. “I’ve always said we have to make the other team play some defense, and in the first half they didn’t have to play any defense,” Rodriguez said. “They did, but they didn’t have to play it for extended periods of time cause we weren’t getting first downs and we weren’t stopping them.” Michigan finished with 27 yards rushing, its lowest total in 17 games under Rodriguez, and had just 62 yards of total offense in the first half. The Wolverines entered Saturday averaging 240 yards rushing and 37.5 points per game. Forcier finished 17 of 32 passing for 223 yards and led Michigan with 27 yards rushing on 13 carries. “We can’t win all of them, and today wasn’t the day,” the true freshman said. Kirk Cousins was 15 of 21 passing for 152 yards for MSU before leaving late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. The Spartans, coming off consecutive losses to Central Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin, may have saved their season with the win. “This certainly is one of the (games) you point at and say, ‘Michigan-Michigan State,’ and sometimes it defines you,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. “To me, it’s a critical game. That’s just the way it is.” Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.