SPARTANS

Live MSU blog: Spartans outmatched by Badgers, 30-6

Al Willman
The Detroit News
LJ Scott tries to break free in the second quarter.

Saturday was not a good day for Michigan State, which lost 30-6 to Wisconsin at Spartan Stadium -- in the first matchup between the two teams since 2012.

The Spartans have not been held without a touchdown at home since they lost 31-0 to Michigan on Oct. 12, 1985.

Tyler O'Connor struggled for the Spartans (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten). He was 18-for-38 for 224 yards and three interceptions. L.J. Scott had 14 rushes for 61 yards, while Donnie Corley had four catches for 81 yards.

Michael Geiger (48, 40) accounted for the only MSU points, with two field goals.

For Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0), redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook was 16-of-26 for 195 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his first collegiate start. Corey Clement had 23 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown, while Jazz Peavy had four catches for 96 yards.

Andrew Endicott (41) had a field goal for the Badgers, and was 3-for-4 in extra points.

Michigan State took an early 3-0 lead on Geiger’s 48-yard field goal. Wisconsin followed with a pair of 1-yard touchdowns, on a pass from Hornibrook to Eric Steffes, and a run from Clement (missed extra point), before Geiger cut into Wisconsin’s lead with his 40-yard field goal late in the half. With one second left, after each team took a pair of timeouts, Hornibrook attempted to heave a deep pass, but it was intercepted by Darian Hicks as time expired. Wisconsin led 13-6 at the half.

In the second half, Wisconsin pulled away, shutting out the Spartans 17-0.

Michigan State plays at Indiana next Saturday, while Wisconsin will return to Michigan for a game against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor at 3:30.

Wisconsin gets another three-and-out

Ahead big, there didn't appear to be much urgency for Wisconsin on its drive after the interception. The Badgers went three-and-out for the second straight drive, and punted again. After a 13-yard return, the Spartans -- with Brian Lewerke coming in to play QB -- will start at their own 39-yard line, down 30-6.

O'Connor throws third INT

Tyler O'Connor, after taking the Spartans from their own 5-yard line to the Wisconsin 45, was intercepted for the third time today. The pick likely ends any chance of a Michigan State comeback. The Spartans, late in the fourth quarter, are down 30-6.

O'Connor is 18-of-38 for 224 yards and three interceptions.

Badgers go three-and-out

The Badgers went three-and-out on the drive after the turnover on downs. Anthony Lotti's 44-yard punt is downed at the MSU 5-yard line, where the Spartans will start. They're down 30-6 in the fourth quarter.

MSU offense crumbles in 4Q

The Spartans, who started at their own 8-yard line, were very much a Jekyll-and-Hyde offense on the drive. After being sacked for a loss of four yards on the first play, Tyler O'Connor took the Spartans to midfield in two plays and to the Wisconsin 23 three plays after that. Then, the wheels came off the bus. In the next two plays, the Spartans had a 3rd-and-27 before the third sack of the drive made it 4th-and-34. O'Connor heaved the ball deep toward the end zone, but the wobbly pass was incomplete, forcing a turnover on downs. The Badgers take over at their own 45 with a 30-6 lead in the fourth quarter.

Badgers pin Spartans deep

On Wisconsin's second punt of the drive -- after a running into the kicker penalty on Michigan State gave the Badgers a fresh set of downs -- the ball was downed at the MSU 8-yard line. Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook completed a 18-yard pass to Troy Fumigalli that took the Badgers to midfield, on the 10-play, 50-yard drive. The Spartans will start in the shadow of their own end zone, down 30-6 in the fourth quarter.

Bad to worse: MSU down 30-6 after three

After taking the Spartans to the red zone, MSU quarterback Tyler O'Connor on third-and-7 threw an ill-advised pass, which was intercepted. The Badgers picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play, and started the drive deep in their own territory. Wisconsin is ahead 30-6 at the end of the third quarter.

Badgers take advantage of MSU miscue

After being gifted with extremely good field position, the Badgers needed only one play, a 5-yard run from Corey Clement, to score again. It was Clement's second touchdown of the day. In the third quarter, Wisconsin's lead is quickly growing. It's now 30-6, Badgers.

Hartbarger bobbles snap on punt attempt

After being forced to punt on a three-and-out, Michigan State punter Jake Hartbarger bobbled the snap on the punt attempt, and could not recover. The Badgers picked up the fumble and will start the drive at the Michigan State 5-yard line.

Wisconsin pads lead on 41-yard FG in 3Q

Wisconsin backup kicker Andrew Endicott, who missed an extra point in the second quarter, made a 41-yard field goal that padded the lead for the Badgers.

Four plays earlier, quarterback Alex Hornibrook found Jazz Peavy for a gain of 31 yards on third-and-8, further exposing massive holes in the Michigan State secondary that have plagued the Spartans all day.

The Badgers lead the Spartans, 23-6, in the third quarter.

Spartans off to slow start in second half

The Spartans are off to a slow start offensively in the second half. A drive after losing a fumble for a touchdown, Michigan State stalled well inside its own territory and was forced to punt. Tyler O'Connor, whose throws have been erratic all day, found Monty Madaris for a 10-yard gain on second down, but that was all for MSU.

Jake Hartbarger's 44-yard punt was downed at the Wisconsin 23-yard line, where the Badgers will start, leading 20-6 in the third quarter.

Scott coughs up ball, Wisconsin gets TD

After picking up seven yards on first down, L.J. Scott took the handoff from Tyler O'Connor for another nine. However, Scott coughed up the ball -- leading to a 66-yard return for touchdown for Wisconsin linebacker Leo Musso. The Badgers lead 20-6 early in the third quarter.

MSU forces three-and-out to start half

After Wisconsin started at its own 11-yard line following a holding penalty on the second half kickoff, the Badgers went three-and-out to start the half. Demetrious Cox nearly intercepted Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook on second down, but he could not hold on to the ball.

Michigan State will start at midfield after Alex Lotti's 38-yard punt, down 13-6.

Halftime: Wisconsin 13, MSU 6

Michigan State trails Wisconsin by a touchdown, 13-6, at halftime.

Tyler O’Connor is 7-of-18 for 57 yards and an interception for Michigan State.

L.J. Scott has nine carries for 43 yards, while R.J. Shelton has three catches for 23 yards.

Michael Geiger (48, 40) has two field goals for the Spartans.

For Wisconsin, Alex Hornibrook is 10-of-17 for 121 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Corey Clement has 12 carries for 15 yards and a touchdown, and Jazz Peavy has three catches for 65 yards.

Michigan State took an early 3-0 lead on Geiger’s 48-yard field goal. Wisconsin followed with a pair of 1-yard touchdowns, on a pass from Hornibrook to Eric Steffes, and a run from Clement (missed extra point), before Geiger cut into Wisconsin’s lead with his 40-yard field goal late in the half. With one second left, after each team took a pair of timeouts, Hornibrook attempted to heave a deep pass, but it was intercepted by Darian Hicks as time expired.

Wisconsin, which won the coin toss and deferred, will receive the second half kickoff.

Geiger makes 2nd FG, MSU down 13-6

Michigan State cut Wisconsin's lead to a touchdown late in the second quarter, on a 40-yard field goal from Michael Geiger, who made a 48-yarder in the first quarter. The field goal came after a 15-play, 62-yard drive stalled at the Badgers 22-yard line, on a drive that saw the Spartans convert three of four third down attempts. Wisconsin leads Michigan State, 13-6.

Badgers add to lead in 2Q

Corey Clement's 1-yard touchdown added to Wisconsin's lead over Michigan State midway through the second quarter. After Tyler O'Connor was picked off in Michigan State territory, the Badgers needed only six plays to score. On third-and-12, Alex Hornibrook found Jazz Peavy for a gain of 23 yards to set up first-and-goal from the MSU 7-yard line. The extra point was no good, and Wisconsin leads 13-3.

O'Connor picked off

Michigan State's next drive came to an abrupt end, on third-and-6, when Tyler O'Connor was intercepted by Wisconsin defensive back Sojourn Shelton. The Badgers start their next drive at the Michigan State 28-yard line and lead 7-3 midway through the second quarter.

MSU forces three-and-out

The Michigan State defense forced a big three-and-out after the Spartans were forced to punt on their previous drive. The pass rush put pressure on Wisconsin freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook, drilling him and intended receiver Troy Fumigalli on third down, forcing the Badgers to punt. Anthony Lotti's 46-yard punt was taken by R.J. Shelton, who called for a fair catch at the MSU 26-yard line, where the Spartans will start, down 7-3.

Nothing doing for MSU after touchdown

Michigan State could not do much on its first drive after the Wisconsin touchdown.

Tyler O’Connor found Donnie Corley for a gain of 10 yards on the first play of the drive. The Spartans then ran on the next three plays, coming up short on a third-and-2 inside handoff to Gerald Holmes. Jake Hartbarger’s 57-yard punt went out of the end zone, and the Badgers will start their first drive of the second quarter at their own 25-yard line with a 7-3 lead.

Badgers expose MSU secondary, go up 7-3

The Badgers exposed the Michigan State secondary on their second drive of the game.

Alec Ingold picked up six on fourth-and-1, three plays after Hornibrook found Jazz Peavy for a gain of 25. Hornibrook connected Robert Wheelwright for eight yards, before Troy Fumigalli pulled in a 5-yard pass to convert another first down. Two plays later, Hornibrook found Wheelwright for a gain of nine to the MSU three-yard line before Ingold converted another fourth down, on a 1-yard run. Hornibrook then connected with Eric Steffes for a 1-yard touchdown, capping the 16-play, 65-yard drive. Late in the first quarter, Wisconsin leads 7-3.

Hornibrook, a freshman, is 8-of-11 for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Geiger good from 48, MSU up 3-0

Michigan State kicker Michael Geiger made a 48-yard field goal, putting the Spartans ahead 3-0 midway through the first quarter. The drive started at the Wisconsin 47-yard line after Michigan State recovered a Alex Hornibrook fumble. Tyler O'Connor found Josiah Price for a 17-yard gain on third-and-15 early in the drive, before the drive stalled three plays later.

Williams forces fumble

Alex Hornibrook, starting his first game for the Badgers, connected with Troy Fumagalli for a gain of 19 on second-and-12. Hornibrook then found Robert Wheelwright for a gain of 17 on the next play. Then, two plays later, the Michigan State defense stepped in. Raequan Williams forced and recovered a Hornibrook fumble. The Spartans take over at the Wisconsin 47-yard line early in a scoreless game.

Spartans stall, punt on first drive

L.J. Scott took the game’s first carry for a gain of 19. However, he was swallowed up for a two yard loss on the very next play. The Spartans stalled, and after a false start penalty on the punt attempt, Jake Hartbarger booted it to the Wisconsin 15-yard line, where the Badgers will take over after the fair catch. The game is scoreless early in the first quarter.

Live blog: Michigan State vs. Wisconsin

Michigan State is host to Wisconsin at noon in a showdown that has huge implications for the Big Ten title chase and national championship picture.

Former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler, who was killed in a car accident in July, was inducted posthumously -- and unanimously -- to the Michigan State Hall of Fame this week. His number three is featured at midfield, as well as with a decal on the Spartans' helmets.

Some of Michigan State's top high school targets will be at today's game, writes Allen Trieu.

Former MSU receiver, and current Big Ten Network sideline reporter Keith Nichol, recalled this week how the Michigan State-Wisconsin game ended back in 2011.

Detroit News staff predictions

Beat writer Matt Charboneau's game coverage

How to watch: Wisconsin at Michigan State

When: Noon

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: WJR 760 AM