The Only Colors - Best Weekly Wins of the Mark Dantonio Erahttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49231/onlycolors-fave.png2020-10-05T08:00:00-05:00http://www.theonlycolors.com/rss/stream/211941352020-10-05T08:00:00-05:002020-10-05T08:00:00-05:00Mark Dantonio’s Best Wins: Week Five
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<img alt="Wisconsin v Michigan State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/98gGMLi-hu8FCD4VZdmxjeBHDMM=/23x0:4267x2829/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67582381/105290116.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>With Coach Dantonio still in the hospital following his heart attack, the Spartans picked up a huge W at home over the Badgers!</em></p> <p id="AA9fiZ">Many of you probably remember my series from spring <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/3/21/21189453/reliving-past-tournaments-izzos-top-wins-michigan-state"><em><strong>Reliving Past Tournaments: Tom Izzo’s Top Wins</strong></em></a>. Given the lack of football this fall, I will be hitting the gridiron history each week taking a look back at all the wins we enjoyed under former head coach Mark Dantonio’s 13-season tenure. Each week of the regular season (until football officially returns), I will go through and select what I think was that corresponding week’s “best win” out of 13 seasons worth of them and recap the action. I will be pausing the series as the start date for the 2020 Big Ten season approaches, however.</p>
<p id="GRRp0I">If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the previous week’s wins here:<br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/4/21423383/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-one"><strong>Week One</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/11/21428534/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-two"><strong>Week Two</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/22/21450200/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-three"><strong>Week Three</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/26/21450194/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-four"><strong>Week Four</strong></a></p>
<p id="GQWgrJ">Week Five had a few picks to choose from that were nice wins. The 2009 overtime win over No. 22 Michigan obviously is a candidate. <span>Connor Cook</span>’s breakout game at Iowa in 2013 is another great memory. Finally, the 2014 win over Nebraska was also fun, if only because there are far too few wins against that program for my personal liking and it awarded us with this gif:</p>
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<p id="LDZl4n">When it came down to it, though, the easy choice for this week’s win was the 2010 victory over the No. 11 <a href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com"><strong>Wisconsin Badgers</strong></a>. This marked the first win (of many) over an AP Top-15 team by Dantonio’s No. 24 <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com"><strong>Michigan State</strong> <strong>Spartans</strong></a>. It was also the opening win of a conference campaign that would lead to seven wins and a share of the first Big Ten title for MSU since 1990.</p>
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<h2 id="mAWBdr">No. 11 Wisconsin at Michigan State<br>October 2, 2010<br>Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI<br>MSU 34-Wisc 24</h2>
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<h3 id="NTrgPw">First Quarter</h3>
<p id="5H7S24">The <a href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/"><strong>Badgers</strong></a> received the ball to start, but managed just four yards and were forced to punt. The <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/"><strong>Spartans</strong></a>, led by <span><strong>Kirk Cousins</strong></span> at quarterback, marched the ball 33 yards over nine plays, including a 14-yard pass to Charlie Gant. After incurring a 15-yard pass interference penalty, the drive stalled and <span><strong>Dan Conroy</strong></span> was called on to score a 36-yard field goal. Score is now 3-0 MSU.</p>
<p id="lwTZWI">Wisconsin managed a first down on its next drive when <span><strong>John Clay</strong></span> rushed for 18 yards on the opening play of the drive, but stalled out and punted from its own 45-yard-line. <span><strong>Keshawn Martin</strong></span> fair caught it at MSU’s 15-yard-line. The Spartans put together a nice drive highlighted by a 34-yard pass to <span><strong>Mark Dell</strong></span> and a 14-yard run by <span><strong>Le’Veon Bell</strong></span>. However, Cousins was picked off by <span><strong>Antonio Fenelus</strong></span> at Wisconsin’s 17-yard-line and returned it nine yards before he was tackled. The Badgers managed to march the ball 32 yards on six straight rushes before the clock ran out on the first quarter.</p>
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<h3 id="dptgl7">Second Quarter</h3>
<p id="kQvoLQ">The Badgers finally aired it out on the opening play of the second quarter with a 26-yard pass to Jacob Pederson. <span><strong>James White</strong></span> proceeded to rush it another 16 yards on the next play to cross the goal line for a Wisconsin touchdown. <span><strong>Philip Welch</strong></span>’s kick was good, and it was 7-3, Badgers with the lead.</p>
<p id="pXiRHf">The Spartans woes continued on offense as Cousins connected to <span><strong>Keith Nichol</strong></span> for nine yards on third-and-five, but <span><strong>Niles Brinkley</strong></span> forced a fumble that was recovered by <span><strong>Aaron Henry</strong></span> for the Badgers. Wisconsin only managed to pick up one yard on its own series, but was in field goal range already. Welch was called on for a 49-yard field goal and he kicked it through the uprights to push Wisconsin’s lead to 10-3.</p>
<p id="aimw3E">Michigan State made quick work on its next drive, helped by Keshawn Martin’s 25 yard kick return and a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Wisconsin. Then on the opening play, Cousins connects with Martin for 30 yards. The drive stalls on the next series of downs when MSU fails to convert on third-and-eight at Wisconsin’s 23-yard-line. Dan Conroy comes out and kicks a 36-yard field goal to cut MSU’s deficit to 10-6.</p>
<p id="BpEUU3">Wisconsin picked up seven yards on its opening play, and another two to set up third-and-one. The Spartan defense came through with a huge play as <span><strong>Clay</strong></span> was tackled for a loss of four yards and Wisconsin was forced to punt on fourth-and-five. The Badgers incurred a five-yard penalty on a false start, and now Wisconsin was forced to punt on fourth-and-10 from its own 28-yard-line. <span><strong>Brad Nortman</strong></span> managed a 46-yard punt, but Martin ripped off a huge 76-yard return for a Spartan touchdown! The Spartans retake the lead 13-10.</p>
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<img alt="Wisconsin v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dE5mmeXHoPUg1ncHGXsm_iUyO_c=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21936591/105290719.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 02: Keshawn Martin #82 of the Michigan State Spartans runs for a touchdown on a punt return in the second quarter of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Spartan Stadium on October 2, 2010 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Badgers 34-24.</figcaption>
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<p id="FX4zp3">Wisconsin responded with a five-play, 23-yard drive before stalling out at its own 47 yard line and being forced to punt. Michigan State managed just two yards on its next drive before Cousins was picked off by <span><strong>Devin Smith</strong></span> on third-and-eight at MSU’s 48-yard-line. Wisconsin managed five yards on its opening play, but proceeded to incur an illegal block penalty to push it back to first-and-15. The very next play, <span><strong>Denzel Drone</strong></span> broke through with a monster 22-yard sack on Wisconsin’s <span><strong>Scott Tolzien</strong></span>. The Badgers managed to pick up six yards two plays later when it is third-and-37, but punts from its own 31-yard-line on fourth down. </p>
<p id="nERp3P">Martin picked up nine yards on the return to set MSU up at its own 31-yard-line. The Spartans make quick work of the drive as there is only 2:30 left on the clock. Cousins hits <span><strong>B.J. Cunningham</strong></span> for a quick 12-yard strike to move the chains. Bell picks up five yards the next play, but then just one yard on second-and-five. Cousins completes a three-yard pass to <span><strong>Brian Linthicum</strong></span> on third down, and the Spartans are forced to make a decision on whether to go for it on fourth-and-one from Wisconsin’s 48-yard-line or punt with just 0:49 remaining on the clock. MSU elects to go for it, and Bell rips off a 23-yard run for the first down and then some. Another 12-yard strike to Cunningham and a five yard rush by <span><strong>Larry Caper</strong></span> set up second-and-five from Wisconsin’s eight-yard-line. Cousins throws incomplete to <span><strong>Charlie Gantt</strong></span> on second down, but hits Mark Dell for the touchdown with just 23 seconds left. Conroy’s kick is good for the extra point, and it is MSU with a 20-10 lead. </p>
<p id="uWtKTN"><span><strong>Kevin Muma</strong></span>’s kick is fielded by <span><strong>James White</strong></span> at the seven-yard-line, and he manages to get it out to Wisconsin’s 24-yard-line before he is brought down. The Badgers rush it up the middle for one yard and head into the locker room for halftime.</p>
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<img alt="Wisconsin v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JBfFQc5wWjyaassC0z0tZ6qDWlM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21936684/105287242.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
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<h3 id="U4Td8s">Third Quarter</h3>
<p id="FB5tmg">The Spartans started the second half on offense. Edwin Baker picked up 16 yards rushing on the first two plays, but then three straight tackles for loss and sacks combined to cause MSU to lose a yard on the drive before punting on fourth-and-27. Aaron Henry returned it 13 yards to give Wisconsin excellent field position at MSU’s 47-yard-line. After Tolzien threw an incomplete pass to open the drive, the Badgers’ <span>James White</span> ripped off back-to-back runs for 13 and 34 yards for the touchdown. Welch hits it through the uprights for the extra point and it’s 20-17, MSU still with the lead.</p>
<p id="fxSowu">The Spartans respond with a 68-yard drive over 10 plays while eating a nice chunk of clock. Cousins opened the drive with a 26-yard pass to Dell, and two plays later, <span>Baker</span> rips off a 13-yard run. Bell ships in with his own 13-yard run three plays later to set up first and goal from Wisconsin’s seven-yard-line. The drive stalls out as Bell is brought down on third-and-goal at the one yard line. The Spartans elect to go for it on fourth down, but Bell can’t get the push to get it across the goal line and its a turnover on downs.</p>
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<img alt="Wisconsin v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hhFc8BQH5qX4bokZvx5LBQ3wa3Q=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21936707/104662626.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="LcgUks">The Badgers manage to pick up seven yards, but are forced to punt without converting for a first down and Martin fair catches it at MSU’s 49-yard-line. The offense takes the field for MSU and Cousins immediately comes up with a big play as he connects to Gantt for 28 yards. Two plays later Baker picks up another 13 yards and Cousins connects the next play to Brian Linthicum for another eight yards, and MSU is once again at Wisconsin’s one-yard-line. Bell can’t get it done the next play as he’s tackled at the line for no gain. The Spartans decide to finally air it out on third-and-goal and Cousins connects to Gantt for the touchdown! MSU extends the lead to 27-17 as Conroy’s extra point attempt is good as time expires on the third quarter.</p>
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<h3 id="R0gRAn">Fourth Quarter</h3>
<p id="Q3vghD">The Badgers open the quarter with an 11-play, 70-yard drive. On the second play Clay picks up 17 yards, and then two plays later rushes for another 11. Tolzien throws two incomplete passes before connecting with <span><strong>Lance Kendricks</strong></span> for 12 yards and a first down. Four plays later and Tolzien connects with <span><strong>Jacob Pedersen</strong></span> for 12 yards and a Badger touchdown. Wisconsin makes it a game with lots of time left in the fourth quarter and the score 27-24 MSU with the lead.</p>
<p id="6vF07M">The Spartans are called for a holding penalty on kickoff and as a result the drive starts at MSU’s 16-yard-line. Bell picks up a yard on the opening play, but Cousins throws incomplete to Martin on second down. Dell comes through with a 12-yard catch from Cousins on third down to move the chains. Three plays later Larry Caper breaks free for a 35-yard run to get the ball into Wisconsin territory. Not finished yet, Baker takes the field for back-to-back gains of eight and 18 yards. MSU commits a personal foul penalty on the next play when it’s first-and-10 on the Wisconsin 11-yard-line, pushing the Spartans back 15 yards. Baker stays on the field to gain some of the yardage back on a nine-yard run the next play. He loses four on the following play and Larry Caper takes the field and gets the first down with an 11-yard run. Three plays later and it is yet again third-and-goal on the Wisconsin seven-yard-line. Caper picks up six yards and MSU is forced to decide once again whether to go for it on fourth-and-goal a yard shy of the goal line. After taking a timeout, Cousins connects to Cunningham for another touchdown! Conroy’s kick is good and it’s 34-24 MSU! Better yet, MSU’s 15-play, 84-yard drive ate 8:10 off the clock and Wisconsin is left with just 2:20 on the clock.</p>
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<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="MtgNu6">The Badgers’ offense takes the field after kickoff from its own 23-yard-line. <span><strong>White</strong></span> immediately rushes for 11 yards on the first play. Three plays later Tolzien connects with <span><strong>Nick Toon</strong></span> for 28 yards for a first down in MSU territory at the Spartans’ 39-yard-line. The Badgers stall out as Tolzien throws incomplete, and connects with Lance Kendricks for a loss of two. After calling timeout facing third-and-12 the Badgers proceed to pick up a false start penalty and it’s now third-and-17. Tolzien throws an incomplete on third down, but manages to connect to <span><strong>David Gilreath</strong></span> for 14 yards on fourth down. The Badgers are still three yards short and its a turnover on downs. The Spartans take over with just 0:40 left in the game and Wisconsin out of timeouts. Cousins kneels it twice and that’s a victory for MSU!</p>
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<p id="ltnhIJ">This game was great for so many reasons. A win over an AP top-15 team, the first of many conference wins for MSU in a Big Ten championship season, and one of many great games against Wisconsin (<a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/7/12/21319368/wisconsin-is-michigan-states-real-rival"><strong>our true rival</strong></a>) in the first half of Dantonio’s career. Add into that the fact it was a feel good win in Coach Dantonio’s absence as he was still recovering from his heart attack, and you could tell this season was going to be a special one.</p>
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https://www.theonlycolors.com/21457525/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-fiveKevin Knight (SpartyOnHuskers)2020-09-26T12:00:00-05:002020-09-26T12:00:00-05:00Mark Dantonio’s Best Wins: Week Four
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<p><em>MSU opens conference play 1-0 with this win en route to another 10-win season, but sadly Coach Dantonio’s last.</em></p> <p id="AA9fiZ">Many of you probably remember my series from spring <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/3/21/21189453/reliving-past-tournaments-izzos-top-wins-michigan-state"><em><strong>Reliving Past Tournaments: Tom Izzo’s Top Wins</strong></em></a>. Given the lack of football this fall, I will be hitting the gridiron history each week taking a look back at all the wins we enjoyed under former head coach Mark Dantonio’s 13-season tenure. Each week of the regular season (until football officially returns), I will go through and select what I think was that corresponding week’s “best win” out of 13 seasons worth of them and recap the action. I will be pausing the series as the start date for the 2020 Big Ten season approaches, however.</p>
<p id="GRRp0I">If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the previous week’s wins here:<br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/4/21423383/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-one"><strong>Week One</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/11/21428534/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-two"><strong>Week Two</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/22/21450200/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-three"><strong>Week Three</strong></a></p>
<p id="GQWgrJ">If I am being fully honest, even as a fan, week four was a bit more on the slim pickings side compared to the first three weeks and the rest to follow. Winning is obviously the goal that matters most in college football when looking at results, but not all wins are created equal. I loved beating Notre Dame in 2007 and 2008. Who wouldn’t? I cannot in 2020 sit here and tell you that a soon to be fired Charlie Weis tenure does not take a little bit of the satisfaction out of those wins in retrospect.</p>
<p id="6AMZL8">Similarly blowout wins over un-noteworthy squads fielded by Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and other non-Power Five programs leave one wanting a little more in terms of overall importance of the win in a recap series like this. So as a result when it came down to it, the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/"><strong>Michigan State Spartans’</strong></a> 2017 win over the <a href="https://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/"><strong>Iowa Hawkeyes</strong></a> was the game that gets the nod this week. Do not take my lackluster lead-in as a detraction from the game’s importance itself, however. The eventual 8-5 Hawkeyes team had a quality season including a massive 55-24 upset over then No. 3 Ohio State (before losing to No. 6 Wisconsin the following week after finally being ranked in the AP Poll).</p>
<p id="Tu9Ag4">At any rate, for MSU this game was the opening salvo in an important rebound season for the Spartans following the 3-9 nightmare of 2016. It kicked off a four-game win streak to open Big Ten play and helped get the bad taste out of our mouths following a 38-18 loss to Notre Dame. So with that longer lead-in, let’s take a look at the game action!</p>
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<h2 id="mAWBdr">Iowa at Michigan State<br>September 30, 2017<br>Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI<br>MSU 17-Iowa 10</h2>
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<h3 id="NTrgPw">First Quarter</h3>
<p id="N6BPyw">Michigan State opened the game on offense, and did not hesitate in its opening play of Big Ten action. On the opening play of the drive, <span><strong>Brian Lewerke</strong></span><strong> </strong>threw a 31-yard pass to <span><strong>Felton Davis III</strong></span> for an immediate first down. After a two-yard run by <span><strong>Gerald Holmes</strong></span>, a six-yard pass to Davis, and a three-yard pass to <span><strong>Darrell Stewart Jr.</strong></span>, it was first-and-10 at the Iowa 33-yard-line. Another pass to Davis, this one for eight yards, and a three-yard run by <span><strong>Holmes</strong></span> and it’s another first down for MSU! Set up on the Iowa 22, <span><strong>Lewerke</strong></span> takes the snap, fakes the handoff to Holmes, rolls out to his right and catches Davis a step ahead of Iowa’s <span><strong>Michael Ojemudia</strong></span>, and hits Davis in stride and it’s good for a TOUCH-DOWN M-S-U!!! <span><strong>Matt Coghlin</strong></span> comes out and nails the extra point to make it 7-0 MSU.</p>
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<p id="cIU6Ho">Following MSU’s initial touchdown, play bogs down into a typical Big Ten showcase of field position battles against great defenses. Iowa manages just eight yards on its opening possession before being forced to punt. The Spartans manage 15 yards themselves on their ensuing possession after drawing a roughing the passer penalty on the opening play. <span><strong>Madre London</strong></span><strong> </strong>manages another three yards on the next play, but an incomplete pass and then a sack on Lewerke for a three-yard loss erases <span><strong>London</strong></span>’s gain and forces a punt.</p>
<p id="HhFXoT">MSU special teams flips the field big time on a booming 50-yard punt by <span><strong>Jake Hartbarger</strong></span> as Iowa is forced to fair catch it at its own nine-yard-line. The Spartan defense digs in on this series and Iowa ends up losing two yards on a run by <span><strong>Akrum Wadley</strong></span>, throws an incomplete pass, and loses another yard on a <span><strong>Wadley</strong></span> run before being forced to punt. Despite a respectable 36-yard punt of their own, <span><strong>Laress Nelson</strong></span> returns it 11 yards for excellent field position at the Iowa 31-yard-line.</p>
<p id="k0MF6X">The Michigan State offense returns to the field and puts together another great drive this time, eating up 4:08 off the clock.<strong> </strong><span><strong>LJ Scott</strong></span> rips off a nine-yard run on the opening play. However, <span><strong>Scott</strong></span> and then Lewerke are both stuffed for no gain to bring up fourth-and-one from the Iowa 22-yard-line. Dantonio calls to go for it, though, and Lewerke manages to convert for the first down! An incomplete pass to Davis and one-yard run by Scott follows, but offensive holding on Scott’s run pushes the ball back 10 yards to bring up second-and-19. Lewerke connects to <span><strong>Stewart</strong></span> for an eight-yard pass, and a personal foul on Iowa adds another 11 yards to make is first-and-10 from the Iowa 11. Lewerke grabs another six yards on a keeper on first down to setup second-and-four for MSU. Lewerke makes a pass attempt on the next play, but throws incomplete to Davis. Iowa is called for a pass interference penalty on the play and gives MSU another first down along with three yards. On first and goal, <span><strong>Matt Sokol</strong></span> loses two yards along with the ball on a forced fumble by Iowa’s <span><strong>Josey Jewell</strong></span>, but <span><strong>Sokol</strong></span> manages to recover. Despite the loss of yardage, Lewerke connects yet again with Davis on the next play for a six-yard touchdown pass. <span><strong>Coghlin</strong></span> comes out for the extra point attempt and makes it 14-0 MSU!</p>
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<p id="oPHPDu">Iowa comes out on offense following and manages to march the ball down to Michigan State’s 40-yard-line by the end of the quarter, helped along by a 10-yard pass from Nathan Stanley to <span><strong>Matt VandeBerg</strong></span>, eight-yard scramble by Stanley, and 10-yard pass to <span><strong>Noah Fant</strong></span>. That’s a wrap on the first quarter, and Spartan Stadium cues up “the wave” to the Iowa Children’s Hospital to mark the change of quarters just like a home game for Iowa in Kinnick Stadium.</p>
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<h3 id="dptgl7">Second Quarter</h3>
<p id="vhBAH7">Iowa started the quarter at MSU’s 40-yard line and managed a one-yard pickup, before Stanley connected to <span><strong>Ihmir Smith-Marsette</strong></span> for a huge 32-yard gain. After Wadley loses a yard on the next play, he manages to break through the Spartan defense for a nine-yard touchdown run to make it a 14-7 MSU lead.</p>
<p id="QB9i4K">The Spartans manage a hard-fought 30-yard drive on the ensuing possession. The longest play on this one was a pass to <span><strong>Sokol</strong></span> for six yards. However, MSU stalled out at the Iowa 45 and had to punt it. <span><strong>Hartbarger</strong></span> hung it in the air to make sure Iowa was forced to fair catch it at its own eight-yard-line.</p>
<p id="UNvwzM">The Hawkeyes managed just one yard of their own before being forced to punt as well. MSU responded with two yards before a three-and-out forced another punt. This one was fair caught again by Iowa at its own eight-yard-line. The Hawkeyes end up losing five yards on the possession and <span><strong>Colten Rastetter</strong></span> manages just a 33-yard punt that is downed at the Iowa 36-yard-line.</p>
<p id="hTet6J">The Spartan offense took the field, but managed just an incomplete pass to Davis and a one-yard sack to open the series. Then Lewerke comes up big with an 11-yard pass to Davis for the first down at Iowa’s 26-yard line. A four-yard run by Stewart and two-yard run by London followed to setup third-and-20 from Iowa’s 20-yard-line. Lewerke throws an incomplete to Davis, and the field goal unit comes on the field. Coughlin boots a 38-yarder between the uprights and it is 17-7 MSU.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Iowa v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AAZLTybE0cIpVJ7Cw_WinQ_5-Pk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21913797/859988116.jpg.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="tTnhR3">Iowa fields the kickoff and <span><strong>Amani Jones</strong></span> manages to pickup 15 yards to begin the Hawkeye drive from its own 40-yard-line. <span><strong>Khari WIllis</strong></span> quickly eats into that with a seven-yard sack. Iowa calls a timeout, then Wadley picks up eight yards and another Hawkeye timeout. Stanley tries for a pass on third-and-nine, but throws incomplete to <span><strong>Nick Easley</strong></span> and elects to punt, which runs out the clock and it’s off to the locker rooms for halftime.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="UeRRYs">
<h3 id="U4Td8s">Third Quarter</h3>
<p id="T6yFx2">Iowa received the ball to open the second half. The Hawkeyes managed to drive it 62 yards over 12 plays, mostly in small chunks. However, Stanley did connect to <span><strong>Nick Easley</strong></span> for 32 yards and again to AJ Epenesa for 15 yards for big plays. The Hawkeyes proceeded to fumble on third-and-goal at the MSU five-yard line and <span><strong>Joe Bachie</strong></span> recovered it for a MSU takeaway.</p>
<p id="EBxA8k">Michigan State responded to the Hawkeyes on offense with three straight huge plays. Lewerke connected to <span><strong>Laress Nelson</strong></span> for 23 yards, <span><strong>Cody White</strong></span> for 17 yards, and <span><strong>Felton Davis</strong></span> for 13 yards. The drive stalled out shortly thereafter at the Iowa 30-yard-line as MSU tried to convert on fourth-and-one, but <span><strong>LJ Scott</strong></span><strong> </strong>couldn’t find the yard.</p>
<p id="GMv1x1">Iowa ripped off 40 yards over a five-play drive to follow. Most of those yards were accounted for by a 22-yard pass to <span><strong>T.J. Hockenson</strong></span>. On the very next play, Iowa’s <span><strong>Brandon Smith</strong></span> caught a three-yard pass, but MSU’s <span><strong>Josiah Scott</strong></span> forced the ball out and <span><strong>Chris Frey</strong></span> scooped up and ran it back 11 yards before being tackled.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 30 Iowa at Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I1he7Gnlkmt3VuMoD35vgolcuyI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21913798/856100136.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="8AINFq">The Spartans started the drive from its own 44-yard-line and managed to get the ball to third-and-one from the Iowa 30-yard-line. However, on an incomplete pass to Davis in the end zone, MSU picked up a holding penalty and was pushed back to third-and-11 from Iowa’s 30 and failed to convert for the first down as Lewerke threw the ball well past a covered <span><strong>Matt Dotson</strong></span>. <span><strong>Matt Coghlin</strong></span> came out for the 48-yard field goal attempt, but it sailed just a bit too far to the right of the upright.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HG3eZe">
<h3 id="R0gRAn">Fourth Quarter</h3>
<p id="MqBhmb">The Hawkeyes picked up 45 yards on the ensuing drive, using up 4:56 off the clock over eight plays. Big passes to <span><strong>Matt VandeBerg</strong></span> for 16 yards, <span><strong>Hockenson</strong></span> for 13 yards, and<strong> </strong><span><strong>Ivory Kelly-Martin</strong></span> for 10 yards were the highlights on this one for Iowa. The Hawkeyes stalled out at the MSU 25-yard-line after Stanley failed to convert on third-and-two with an incomplete to Easley. Miguel Recinos took the field with the field goal unit and the kick was good from 43-yards out to make it 17-10 MSU.</p>
<p id="e5vkeT">MSU responded with a 33-yard, eight-play drive that stalled out at the Iowa 40-yard-line. Hartbarger came out and punted 33-yards to force the Hawkeyes’ <span><strong>Joshua Jackson</strong></span> to fair catch the ball at its own seven-yard line. The Spartan defense held Iowa to just five yards and forced a three-and-out. The Michigan State offense began its next drive from its own 48-yard-line and managed to advance as far as Iowa’s 37-yard-line before getting pushed back by both loss of yardage plays and penalties to the point where the Spartans ended up having to punt from their own 43-yard-line. Iowa begin the final drive of the game, and proceeded to lose three yards on three plays before the clock ran out. That’s a victory for MSU!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="5459DZ">
<p id="ltnhIJ">While this may not have been the most exciting game score-wise, it was a classic Big Ten slug-fest and battle of field position. Michigan State started off conference-play with a win and would go on to upset No. 7 Michigan the following 14-10 in Ann Arbor while eventually finishing the season 10-3 and ranked No. 18 in the final AP Poll. It marked MSU’s sixth 10-win season in the last eight years, and was the last double-digit win season of the Mark Dantonio era. Coming off a loss to Notre Dame the prior week made this an important bounce back win for MSU as well.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/26/21450194/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-fourKevin Knight (SpartyOnHuskers)2020-09-22T09:30:00-05:002020-09-22T09:30:00-05:00Mark Dantonio’s Best Wins: Week Three
<figure>
<img alt="Notre Dame v Michigan State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-0pSdDzZYsrqvmdvjpoSHvWLERc=/0x64:2575x1781/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67448678/104257493.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><em>With the initial absence of Big Ten football this fall, we continue to fill the (temporary void) with our look back at the best win each week during the Mark Dantonio era.</em></p> <p id="AA9fiZ">Many of you probably remember my series from spring <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/3/21/21189453/reliving-past-tournaments-izzos-top-wins-michigan-state"><em><strong>Reliving Past Tournaments: Tom Izzo’s Top Wins</strong></em></a>. Given the lack of football this fall, I will be hitting the gridiron history each week taking a look back at all the wins we enjoyed under former head coach Mark Dantonio’s 13-season tenure. Each week of the regular season (until football officially returns), I will go through and select what I think was that corresponding week’s “best win” out of 13 seasons worth of them and recap the action. I will be pausing the series as the start date for the 2020 Big Ten season approaches, however.</p>
<p id="GRRp0I">If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the previous week’s wins here:<br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/4/21423383/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-one"><strong>Week One</strong></a><br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/11/21428534/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-two"><strong>Week Two</strong></a></p>
<p id="GQWgrJ">Just like for week two, there was not much out there to compete with the obvious winner of this week. There was 2007’s win over Pitt, while 2015’s win over Air Force, and 2018’s win over Indiana were nice and all, but the game that won for week three put Mark Dantonio’s Spartans on the college football map. You have all seen the play I am talking about countless times by now on highlight reels. The 2010 <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/"><strong>Michigan State Spartans</strong></a> hosted the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com/"><strong>Notre Dame Fighting Irish</strong></a> in this week’s selection and emerged victorious in overtime on a stunning trick play you surely all know the name of by now a decade later!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Q3uUwS">
<h2 id="mAWBdr">Notre Dame at Michigan State<br>September 18, 2010<br>Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI<br>MSU 34-ND 31</h2>
<div id="DkyGDC"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_yR4FRgLxF0?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="OGsAX5">(Watching the highlights reminds me how much I miss that MSC smokestack) </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="oP9V4Q">
<h3 id="NTrgPw">First Quarter</h3>
<p id="MA3ES4">This game was off to a slow start in terms of scoring. Notre Dame started on offense and managed a 19-yard drive on eight plays before punting. The Spartans responded with a three-and-out after gaining just seven yards of their own. Notre Dame responded with another clunker of a drive for just 22 yards and one first down before punting on the next set of downs. Michigan State picked up a first down finally on its first play of the drive with a 19-yard pass by <span><strong>Kirk Cousins</strong></span> to Keshawn Martin. However, three incomplete passes to <span><strong>Mark Dell</strong></span> resulted in another punt.</p>
<p id="8ASHmM">The Irish finally struck gold on their next possession. On a nine-play drive that took just 2:24 off the clock, Notre Dame marched 80 yards down the field. <span><strong>Dayne Crist</strong></span> completed passes of 12, 17, 17, 18, and finally seven-yards, assisted along the way by a personal foul penalty by MSU that moved the ball from the Spartans’ 15-yard-line to the seven. The extra point was good and it was a 7-0 ND lead.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Notre Dame v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Bo76XfEtaQng-oZzvD4EU_c8Ot8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21900913/105457323.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="BJsKSi">The Spartans responded with a 16-play, 72-yard drive of their own, eating up 8:18 off the clock and rolling over into the second quarter. The highlight plays of this drive included a 16-yard run by <span><strong>Le’Veon Bell</strong></span> and a 17-yard pass to Martin. After the first down pass to Martin set MSU up on Notre Dame’s nine-yard-line, however, disaster struck. <span><strong>Larry Caper</strong></span> managed just one yard on a first down rush and Cousins threw an incomplete pass to <span><strong>Charlie Gantt</strong></span> setting up third-and-goal. Cousins proceeds to throw a pick to the Irish’s <span><strong>Zeke Motta</strong></span> in the end zone for a touchback.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="RuJKXN">
<h3 id="WlknIM">Second Quarter</h3>
<p id="aF19eb">After the interception in the end zone by Cousins, Notre Dame started its drive from its own 20-yard-line. The Irish managed 69 yards on the ensuing 13-play drive. Notre Dame’s second play of the drive was a 12-yard run by <span><strong>Armando Allen Jr</strong></span><strong>.</strong>, while a 15-yard strike to <span><strong>Theo Riddick</strong></span> and 16-yard strike to <span><strong>Michael Floyd</strong></span> rounded out the top plays. However, MSU’s defense struck pay dirt when an 11-yard pass to Floyd was then fumbled at the MSU 11-yard-line and MSU recovered.</p>
<p id="6OLUBG">Unfortunately, the Spartans failed to take advantage and punted after a three-and-out. The Irish were generous, though, as <span><strong>Johnny Adams</strong></span> picked off Crist’s pass on the first play of Notre Dame’s drive at MSU’s six-yard-line.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Notre Dame v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ymtk7ZW0JRk1CkGtEXU_7Y2bUTo=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21900984/104334859.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="Iw3NBB">Michigan State responded to the pick play by Adams with a 94-yard drive of its own. Edwin Baker ripped off a 10-yard run to start the series, assisted by a Notre Dame 15-yard penalty to gain 25 yards. The next play Cousins throws a 27-yard pass to <span><strong>B.J. Cunningham</strong></span> for 27-yards and the ball is already at the Notre Dame 42-yard-line. Bell then ran for back-to-back 16-yard runs to set MSU up at the Notre Dame 10-yard-line before finally being tackled for just a four-yard gain. The Spartans called for a timeout after Bell was stuffed at the line on second down, but come out and Cousins threw a six yard pass to Martin for the touchdown! The game is tied up at 7-7 after <span><strong>Dan Conroy</strong></span> made the extra point.</p>
<p id="TXBOcI">With just 2:22 left in the half after MSU’s touchdown, not much happened afterwards before heading into the locker room. Notre Dame managed a three-and-out on its ensuing possession, while MSU responded with an eight-play, 25-yard drive before punting from the Irish’s 44-yard-line. Cousins did throw a 14-yard pass to Martin on the opening play, and Bell managed a 12-yard gain on fourth-and-one from ND’s 46-yard-line not long after to keep the drive alive. However, MSU punted on fourth-and-20 from Notre Dame’s 44-yard-line. Notre Dame kneeled it on their first play as there was just five seconds left in the half.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="IDYZv7">
<h3 id="EA9Enn">Third Quarter</h3>
<p id="wqgNk2">The Spartans started the second half on offense, and did not mess around coming out of the locker room. Cousins threw an 18-yard pass to B.J. Cunningham on the opening play and <span><strong>Edwin Baker</strong></span> proceeded to take it 56 yards for the touchdown the very next play. Conroy nailed the extra point and suddenly it is MSU 14-ND 7.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Notre Dame v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6LTxE8CKBmMoAUK8Ij4oWYn1WXY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21900970/104255191.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="hJ3Z71">Unfortunately, MSU’s defense fell short on its opening series of the half. Notre Dame marched 75 yards in six plays for the touchdown. The Irish did get a scare as the eight-yard pass to Armando Allen Jr. on the third play of the drive was fumbled, but Allen managed to recover it. Riddick proceeded to catch back-to-back passes for 18 and then 24 yards for first and goal at MSU’s 10-yard-line before <span><strong>Kyle Rudolph</strong></span> caught the 10-yard touchdown pass to tie it up.</p>
<p id="56PxUl">Michigan State answered with an 11-play drive of its own that methodically marched 73 yards for the touchdown. Martin caught an eight-yard pass, Cunningham a 12-yard pass, and then Cousins, Baker, and Bell rushed it most of the rest of the way, minus a four-yard pass to Cunningham at one point. Bell ripped off 16 yards for the touchdown to cap the drive with just 5:51 left in the third quarter and a 21-14 lead for MSU.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Notre Dame v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4VrK4NW1NaPPp3tEXni7i1dHdJE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21901026/104257492.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="qoGPmX">Unfortunately the Irish responded with a touchdown drive of their own. Notre Dame marched 77 yards over an 11-play drive while eating 4:22 off the clock to tie it up at 21 apiece. The Spartans ran the clock out on the third quarter with their next drive, but were forced to punt on a three-and-out after failing to convert for a first down. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="BBvEpD">
<h3 id="QwmDOu">Fourth Quarter</h3>
<p id="Trt7EY">The Irish struck gold with their opening possession in the fourth quarter. ND marched 52 yards on just five plays to take the lead. Back-to-back big throws of 17 yards to Allen and 24 yards to Floyd put it in the end zone for the Irish, and the score tipped to the Irish, 28-21. MSU made a quick strike with a 21-yard pass to Martin on its opening play, but then stalled out and was forced to punt on the next series. The defense held and forced a three-and-out by Notre Dame, however.</p>
<p id="bUKAi4">Michigan State did not wait around on offense. Cousins threw a five-yard pass to <span><strong>Brian Linthicum</strong></span>, then Notre Dame committed a 15-yard pass interference penalty on second down. Baker proceeded to pick up 14 yards, but Cousins was then sacked for a two-yard loss. No setback for the Spartans as Cousins threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Cunningham on the next play. MSU ties it up at 28-all.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Notre Dame v Michigan State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5DESknFqmNGaho3fwG2kD1EwUD8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21901025/104258240.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="PlSjo2">Notre Dame proceeded to fumble on the next drive while trying to convert on fourth-and-one from its own 44-yard-line. However, MSU managed just two yards and had to punt as well. Did the Irish manage anything next? Well, unfortunately Notre Dame picked up two first downs on its next drive, but were forced to punt from the ND 42-yard-line.</p>
<p id="f1PUyd">The Spartans picked up five yards on a pass to Martin and 12-yards on a pass to Gant on their first two plays. Then Cousins was sacked for an eight-yard loss and MSU got pushed back another 10-yards on a holding penalty. Now facing second down with 28 yards to go, the Spartans call timeout with 1:10 left in the game. State draws a holding penalty on the next play, and Notre Dame calls timeout with only 1:00 left. Bell rushed for two yards, ND timeout, and MSU is penalized for an illegal forward pass on third-and-26. <span><strong>Aaron Bates</strong></span> is called on to punt from the MSU 10-yard-line. Notre Dame rushes for six yards and then lets the clock run out in the process. It is heading to overtime tied up at 28!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="D2CPs6">
<h3 id="J0wiJA">Overtime</h3>
<p id="11QCa8">The Irish manage to pick up nine yards on their drive in overtime, but fail to convert for the first down and opt for the field goal. <span><strong>David Ruffer</strong></span> strikes home and Notre Dame pulls ahead 31-28.</p>
<p id="FGhdJv">On the Spartans’ possession in overtime, Baker loses two yards on the opening play. Cousins recovers the yardage and then some on a seven-yard keeper to setup third-and-five. Seemingly disaster strikes, though, as Cousins is sacked for a nine-yard loss by Darius Fleming. No big deal, MSU fans can rest assured the Spartans are likely to respond with a field goal of their own to force double-overtime when kicking it from the ND 29-yard-line. Get ready for another overtime period of football Spartans fans! But wait, the placeholder, Michigan State’s punter and former high school quarterback Aaron Bates immediately stands up with the ball! It can’t be! Do my eyes deceive me? IT IS A FAKE! OH MY GOD CHARLIE GANT IS WIDE OPEN DOWN THE FIELD! BATES THROWS IT AND THE PASS IS COMPLETE! GANT RUNS IT INTO THE END ZONE! SPARTANS WIN! SPARTANS WIN!!!!!!!!!!</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTD?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OTD</a> in 2010: "Little Giants" happened.<br><br>To celebrate its th anniversary, join us in reliving the iconic <a href="https://twitter.com/MSU_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MSU_Football</a> fake FG that stunned Notre Dame.<a href="https://t.co/2jJvfzU7JQ">pic.twitter.com/2jJvfzU7JQ</a></p>— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1306951175615516673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2020</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="CwPmvz">So the play wasn’t named “The Annexation of Puerto Rico,” but frankly the Ice Box has nothing on this when it comes to “Little Giants” folks. Maybe the play clock expired before the snap, but with all the horrid luck MSU has had with referees in clutch moments over the decades, who cares. That is a victory for MSU, folks!</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="XCyeFT">
<p id="U6cTq3">Looking back on it, this game put Michigan State on the map in the Mark Dantonio era. The 2007 and 2008 seasons were marked improvements for the Spartans before a mild regression in 2009. But 2010 was the year the flag was planted and notice given to the Big Ten the Spartans were past the dark days of the Bobby Williams and John L. Smith eras. </p>
<p id="bDKJt9">With the benefit of hindsight this trick play was the quintessential moment that signaled that golden era of Michigan State football under Coach Dantonio. MSU would go on to its first Big Ten title since 1990, first 10-win season since 1999, first of six under Dantonio mind you, and if I am being honest, the simple fact is that making making <span><strong>Brian Kelly</strong></span> sad is one of the greatest joys to be had in life (the stupid car thief of CMU). Though all of that was not apparent to Spartan fans in the moment. Following the game, Coach Dantonio <a href="https://msuspartans.com/news/2010/9/19/dantonio_hospitalized_following_heart_attack.aspx"><strong>suffered a minor heart attack</strong></a> and went to Sparrow Hospital emergency room that evening. He made a full recovery per reports, but missed a few of MSU’s games as a result. Luckily, he returned to the sideline and had an incredible run to follow that all started with the trick play at the end of this game.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/22/21450200/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-threeKevin Knight (SpartyOnHuskers)2020-09-11T08:00:00-05:002020-09-11T08:00:00-05:00Mark Dantonio’s Best Wins: Week Two
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JmtNDZVSf31BO15I29jNR1CCR0o=/252x0:1211x639/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67388646/Oregon_Game.10.jpg" />
</figure>
<p><em>With the absence of Big Ten football this fall, we continue with our look back at the best win each week during the Mark Dantonio era.</em></p> <p id="AA9fiZ">Many of you probably remember my series from spring <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/3/21/21189453/reliving-past-tournaments-izzos-top-wins-michigan-state"><em><strong>Reliving Past Tournaments: Tom Izzo’s Top Wins</strong></em></a>. Given the lack of football this fall, I will be hitting the gridiron history each week taking a look back at all the wins we enjoyed under former head coach Mark Dantonio’s 13-season tenure. Each week of (what would have been) the regular season, I will go through and select what I think was that corresponding week’s “best win” out of 13 seasons worth of them and recap the action.</p>
<p id="GRRp0I">If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the previous week’s wins here:<br><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/4/21423383/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-one"><strong>Week One</strong></a></p>
<p id="ljNqxp">While 2016’s win over Notre Dame felt pretty great for the first week or so following the win, there was truly no competition for the game selection in Week Two. Michigan State’s 2015 top-ten showdown against Oregon stands atop the list of candidates unrivaled in every category. Let’s start with the fact it is the first, and sadly only thus far, top-10 showdown in Spartan Stadium history since 1966’s “Game of the Century.” The stripe the stadium theme was a smashing success. ESPN GameDay was on hand. The prime-time night start provided a full day of tailgating fun to get ready for the matchup, and the atmosphere in Spartan Stadium for the game was one of the most electric I have ever experienced as a fan.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="BZDNhL">
<h2 id="mAWBdr">No. 7 Oregon at No 5 Michigan State<br>September 12, 2015<br>Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI<br>MSU 31-Oregon 28</h2>
<div id="GI5kaD"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V6yzGvAqn5o?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="fOXoht">The <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/"><strong>Michigan State Spartans</strong></a> had revenge on their mind after the late fourth quarter collapse in Eugene against the <a href="https://www.addictedtoquack.com/"><strong>Oregon Ducks</strong></a> in 2014. While Connor Cook would not get the opportunity to best Marcus Mariota, The Ducks’ Vernon Adams was a capable quarterback successor for the national runner-up Oregon. The back and forth game did not disappoint for excitement and hype, but the Spartans emerged victorious this time in the closing minute with a strong defensive series.</p>
<h3 id="b0hV4s">First Quarter</h3>
<p id="twPFfL">Oregon started the game on offense, and made quick work. The Ducks drove 75-yards over 13 plays to strike first with a touchdown. On just the second play, Adams completed a 19-yard pass to Charles Nelson for the first down. Three downs later he connected again, this time to Royce Freeman for 10 yards and another first down. On the next set of downs, MSU manages to force another third-and-long after Oregon’s Matt Pierson drew a false start penalty, but Adams comes up big yet again with an 11-yard pass to Nelson to convert and move the ball to MSU’s 31-yard-line. Just five plays later the Ducks cross the goal line for the touchdown on a two-yard run by Freeman and it’s 7-0 Oregon.</p>
<p id="iMVAO9">Were you hoping for a typical grinding, clock-eating drive from the Spartans? I am sure none of you were disappointed this was not the case. MSU started their drive with a 62-yard run by Madre London on the opening play until he was brought down at Oregon’s 13-yard-line!</p>
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<p id="JqBoYv">After London went for just one yard on the next play, Cook connected to Josiah Price for a 12-yard pass and it was “Touch-Down MSU!” The score is all tied-up at seven points each.</p>
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<p id="gQaKRf">After the quick opening action from each offense, the defenses started slowing them down. Oregon’s next series saw great field position after Kevin Cronin’s kickoff was returned 49 yards to the Oregon 49-yard line by Byron Marshall. A quick first down strike on an 11-yard pass to Nelson on the opening play put the Ducks in dangerous territory, but then on second-and-eight on the next set of downs Joel Heath forced a fumble by Freeman that Oregon recovered after an 11-yard loss. That set-up third-and-19 at the MSU 49-yard line, but Shilique Calhoun broke through for a one-yard sack on Adams to force the Oregon punt.</p>
<p id="lFVWy0">MSU proceeded to go three-and-out, forcing a punt. Oregon did the same. The next Spartan series got exciting, however. After an initial loss of two-yards on the opening run by London, Cook connected to Aaron Burbridge for 13-yards and a first down. London ripped off an 11-yard gain, and two plays later managed another six-yard run. However, on third-and-four from the Oregon seven-yard line the Ducks tackled Damion Terry for a four-yard loss. Michael Geiger came out for the 28-yard field goal attempt, but missed.</p>
<p id="QNX42W">The Spartan defense came up big on the next series when Vernon Adams dropped back to pass from the 23-yard line on second-and-seven, but was picked off by Montae Nicholson who ran it back to the Oregon 30-yard line. The Spartans start their drive deep in Oregon territory with just 56 seconds left on the clock for the first quarter. As the closing minute unfolds, Cook throws an incomplete, connects with R.J. Shelton for a loss of one-yard, then finally connects to Macgarrett Kings for 10-yards to set up fourth-and-one at the start of the second quarter.</p>
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<h3 id="fOtuRg">Second Quarter</h3>
<p id="u1O3a8">MSU ended the first quarter with the ball on Oregon’s 21-yard line, but the down marker on fourth down. The Spartans decide to risk it and Cook keeps the ball for a two-yard gain and the first down. After LJ Scott managed just two-yards on first down, Cook throws another outstanding pass to Burbridge for 17-yards and the touchdown. The Spartans make it 14-7 MSU!</p>
<p id="Xnqug7">On Oregon’s ensuing drive, the Ducks marched it 82-yards down the field on 10-plays. It was a disappointing drive for Spartan fans right up until the end. The Ducks ripped off a 17-yard run, a 12-yard pass, a 25-yard pass, and a 16-yard pass all in a row to set up first-and-goal on the MSU three-yard line. After a two-yard gain by Adams on the keeper, a false start penalty on second-and-goal from the 1=one-yard line moved it back to the six. While Adams gained those five-yards back on another keeper, the Spartans proceeded to stuff the Ducks at the one-yard line for two straight plays for a goal line stand.</p>
<p id="FgH2Q4">MSU managed a 20-yard drive on six plays to help win the field position battle at least. After stalling out at the MSU 21-yard line, Jake Hartbarger came out and booted a 53-yard punt that was fielded for no gain by Bralon Addison at the Oregon 21-yard line. However, the Spartans had a helping had in the form of an illegal block by the Ducks to further push them back to their own 16-yard line. While Oregon managed to push the ball 29-yards over the next four plays, helped by a 25-yard pass to Addison, the drive ended in disaster for the Ducks. MSU’s RJ Williamson picked off a pass by Adams at State’s own 27-yard line.</p>
<p id="LKKGqb">The Spartans rattled off a 33-yard drive of their own, but Oregon’s Ugo Amadi returned the favor by picking off Cook and returned it 25-yards to the Oregon 49-yard line. With just 1:41 left on the clock for the first-half, Oregon managed to push the ball 17-yards over a six-play drive. However, after a big 17-yard pass to Freeman on second down with nine yards to go, Oregon stalled out and turned the ball over on downs after Adams threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-11. Michigan State brought the offense out to kneel and heads into the locker room with a 14-7 lead.</p>
<h3 id="ePRlCQ">Third Quarter</h3>
<p id="bnzm2B">Michigan State received the ball to start the second half. The Spartans managed just nine yards and were forced to punt. Unfortunately, for the second straight game MSU’s special teams faced an elite returner and fell short on the task. Addison returned the kick 81-yards for a touchdown, though there were a few questionable blocks that failed to draw a flag. The Ducks, however, tied it up at 14-all.</p>
<p id="eYTXy4">The Spartan offense came out with a new focus for their next drive. After a touchback on kickoff, MSU proceeded to march the ball 75 yards on their drive to take the lead back. The highlight of the drive hands down was when the Spartans decided to go for it on fourth-and-six from the Oregon 34-yard-line. Yet again, but oh so early in a long, long list of these types of plays to occur throughout 2015, Cook connected with Burbridge for a huge 29-yard gain and a Spartan first down! LJ Scott on the next play finished off the final six yards needed to cross the goal line, and just like the MSU seized back the lead 21-14.</p>
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<p id="9Fwb15">The Ducks failed to convert for a first down on their next series and were forced to punt. Michigan State kept the pressure on the Ducks on offense. The Spartans ate 5:29 off the clock with a 12-play, 59-yard drive of their own. The highlight of the drive was a catch by Jamal Lyles for 18 yards to bring MSU solidly into the red zone on the Oregon 19-yard-line. MSU failed to convert for a fresh set of downs, but Geiger came out to nail a 36-yard field goal attempt and open the lead to 24-14 MSU with just 1:08 left in the third quarter.</p>
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<h3 id="NTrgPw">Fourth Quarter</h3>
<p id="aPXJ75">Oregon’s drive started with just over one minute left in the third quarter, and the Ducks managed to pick up 15-yards before the end of the third. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Ducks continued to move the chains. Over the next nine plays, Oregon moved the ball another 63-yards, highlighted by a 21-yard pass to Addison and a 25-yard pass to Marshall, before Adams finally finished it off with a two-yard run into the end zone. Oregon made the extra point and it was just 24-21 MSU. </p>
<p id="NTc202">If anyone was still unfamiliar with freshman running back LJ Scott, this next Spartan drive sure fixed that. Scott returned the kickoff 25-yards to the Michigan State 35-yard line. Then R.J. Shelton ran it another 18-yards on the opening play of the drive to the Oregon 47-yard line.</p>
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<p id="uD0H2d">Still another 47-yards to go for the Spartans, Scott lined up for the hand-off on first-and-10 and rattled off nine yards on the gain. Still with another yard to gain for the first down, Scott gets the hand-off again. Did you expect him to only manage a first down? Think again folks! LJ Scott breaks out for a 38-yard run, and cue that George Blaha voice: “TOUCH-DOWN M-S-U!!!” MSU extends its lead 31-21.</p>
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<p id="hMGcGB">The Ducks manage an 11-play drive on their ensuing series. MSU’s defense was helped by the Ducks’s Marshall getting tackled at the Oregon 17-yard line when he tried to field the kick. Still, the Ducks move the ball 40-yards over 11-plays. They finally fail to convert on fourth-and-one for the first-down and turn it over on downs at the MSU 43-yard line. The Spartans are forced into a three-and-out of their own and punt as well.</p>
<p id="q4cEFJ">Oregon then manages a nine-play, 80-yard drive in just 2:49 in response. On the opening play of the Ducks’s drive, Adams connects with Addison for a 30-yard gain. The next play MSU assists the Ducks five-yard run with a holding penalty that makes it 15-yards. Additional big plays of a 21-yard pass to Addison and the final 15-yard pass from Marshall to Adams for the touchdown brings Oregon within striking distance of the MSU lead with 3:25 left on the game clock. It’s 31-28, MSU with a narrow lead.</p>
<p id="ObIzv5">Can the Spartans offense eat the clock and ice the game? Unfortunately MSU manages a five-yard loss on the opening set of downs and is forced to punt. Addison catches the 50-yard punt by Hartbarger and manages to pick up 19 yards for the Ducks to start their drive at the Michigan State 48-yard line. The Ducks pick up another first down immediately after Freeman rips off 11-yards on a run. However, MSU keeps him to just four yards on his next attempt. Adams tries to air it out on second-and-six, but the pass is incomplete to a wide open Byron Marshall. Third down sees Chris Frey and Lawrence Thomas both break free to combine for a 10-yard loss by Oregon as they sack Adams for the big loss. With just 1:06 left on the game clock, both Oregon and then MSU burn a timeout. Finally, with the game on the line, Oregon attempts to go for it on fourth-and-16 from MSU’s 43-yard line, but Adams fails to complete the pass to Addison and it is a turnover on downs!</p>
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<p id="Trt7EY">Oregon has two timeouts left, so Michigan State’s offense needs to convert for a first down on the ensuing drive to ice the game and seal the victory. Right off the bat the Ducks throw some assistance with a substitution penalty. London proceeds to pick-up three-yards to setup second down with two yards to go. Oregon uses its second-to-last timeout with 52 seconds left. London gets the handoff again and manages the first down and a yard extra for good measure. Oregon uses their final timeout with 47 seconds left, but a fresh set of downs for MSU. The Spartans proceed to kneel it, and run the clock out on their opening down. That’s a “Victory For M-S-U!”</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="D2CPs6">
<p id="aoIrho">This was Michigan State’s fifth win over an AP top-10 team since 2011. It also continued MSU’s record setting streak from the week prior of scoring 30-plus points to a 10th-straight game. The previous record was eight games between the 1978 and 1979 seasons. The Spartans also avenged the loss from 2014 and established themselves solidly in the conversation as a contender for a berth in the College Football Playoff.</p>
<p id="oHaJg6">If you want to relive the game in full, you can rewatch it on the Big Ten Network tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 at 4:00 pm ET. It will also re-air September 14 at 12:00 pm ET.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/11/21428534/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-twoKevin Knight (SpartyOnHuskers)2020-09-04T17:45:00-05:002020-09-04T17:45:00-05:00Mark Dantonio’s Best Wins: Week One
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<img alt="Michigan State v Western Michigan" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I5f30Lw333mV2zCBsioJi1Q659s=/0x0:4929x3286/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67357939/488478806.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>Fall football is cancelled for the Big Ten (for now)? Let’s all take a look back at the best win each week under the Mark Dantonio’s era!</em></p> <p id="AA9fiZ">Many of you probably remember my series from spring <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/3/21/21189453/reliving-past-tournaments-izzos-top-wins-michigan-state"><em><strong>Reliving Past Tournaments: Tom Izzo’s Top Wins</strong></em></a>. Given the lack of football this fall, I will be hitting the gridiron history each week taking a look back at all the wins we enjoyed under former head coach Mark Dantonio’s 13-season tenure. Each week of (what would have been) the regular season, I will go through and select what I think was that corresponding week’s “best win” out of 13 seasons worth of them and recap the action.</p>
<p id="ljNqxp">While there were some great candidates for the best Week One win such as 2012’s season opening victory over Boise State complete with Le’Veon Bell leaps, which also featured the new video boards debut, or 2014’s win over Jacksonville State which saw <span><strong>Connor Cook</strong></span> slinging balls all over the field as a preview to what would be a record setting offensive season, there have been a lot of great games to open the season. However, when it came down to it for me, Week One’s best win was an easy choice. Which one did I choose?</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="BZDNhL">
<h2 id="mAWBdr">No. 5 Michigan State at Western Michigan<br>September 4, 2015<br>Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI<br>MSU-37-WMU 24</h2>
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<p id="GI5kaD">I admit this was not the prettiest win ever. The final score also did not feel like it reflected how well the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/western-michigan-broncos"><strong>Western Michigan </strong><strong>Broncos</strong></a> played. However, even watching this one on television the atmosphere was truly a special setting. Western was starting to show growth under head coach P.J. Fleck and his phenomenal recruiting at one of MSU’s in-state Mid-American Conference foes. However, the eventual Big Ten champs and College Football Playoff team did enough to get the win to kick off the season.</p>
<p id="kmNAAy">In front of an intimate crowd of 30,885 compared to the Spartans’ usual stadium settings, Michigan State played what would become the final road game in its <a href="https://msuspartans.com/news/2009/8/20/MSU_Announces_Celebrate_the_State_Football_Series"><strong>“Celebrate the State”</strong></a> tour as Eastern Michigan eventually cancelled the game scheduled for Ypsilanti. Waldo Stadium, the smaller MAC stadium that is home to Western Michigan was a unique game opportunity for fans and viewers at home, and was a special event in its own right. As for the action on the field? The Spartans finished the first half with a strong lead, but couldn’t do much after a three-touchdown performance in the first quarter.</p>
<h3 id="b0hV4s">First Quarter</h3>
<p id="twPFfL">Michigan State started the game on offense, but could only manage a six-play, 20-yard drive before punting from their own 44-yard-line. The Spartans’ defense started the season strong as the first series resulted in a one-yard loss on Western’s opening play, held them to a four-yard run the second play, and then <span><strong>Montae Nicholson</strong></span> intercepted the ball to set up MSU’s offense at Western’s 17-yard-line. Two plays later <span><strong>Madre London</strong></span> was running 24 yards for his first career touchdown that saw <span><strong>Michael Geiger’s</strong></span> kick make it 7-0 MSU.</p>
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<p id="XKjLew">However, disaster struck right after as Western’s <span><strong>Darius Phillips</strong></span> took <span><strong>Kevin Cronin’s</strong></span> kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to immediately tie the score up 7-7. MSU kept its cool and responded with an eight-play, 65-yard drive over the next 3:49 of game play to take back the lead. The drive included an opening 20-yard run by <span><strong>Gerald Holmes</strong></span> and a 20-yard pass completion to <span><strong>Macgarrett Kings Jr</strong></span>. to convert on third-and-11. Add in a defensive holding call on the play following Kings catch, and <span><strong>London</strong></span> proceeded to run it in for his second touchdown from the seven yards out. The Spartans failed to convert a two-point attempt, however.</p>
<p id="zGzcIq">The defensive unit continued its strong start, holding Western to a three-and-out and forcing a punt from Western’s 21-yard-line. The Spartan offense struck quickly again with a six-play drive, spanning 73 yard, that took just 1:41 off the clock. <span><strong>Aaron Burbridge</strong></span> came through with a huge 56-yard-catch from <span><strong>Cook</strong></span><strong> </strong>to convert a third-and-seven from the MSU 30-yard-line and set up another touchdown on the ensuing set of downs. The Spartans scored with 1:24 left in the quarter on a nine-yard pass to <span><strong>Josiah Price</strong></span>. A Geiger kick made it 20-7 MSU for the final scoring drive of the quarter.</p>
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<h3 id="fOtuRg">Second Quarter</h3>
<p id="u1O3a8">Western maintained possession into the second quarter. The Broncos’ seven-play, 25 yard drive ended on MSU’s 48-yard-line, however. The Spartans ensuing drive started off on a promising note. MSU drew a pass interference play on the second play of the drive, and then on the next set of downs, a holding penalty against the Broncos continued to march MSU down the field. However, the next play saw RJ Shelton lose the ball as <span><strong>Keion Adams</strong></span> forced the fumble at MSU’s 41-yard-line.</p>
<p id="VMxg0o">The defense came out and held Western to a three-and-out with no gain. <span><strong>Connor Cook</strong></span> came out on the ensuing drive for MSU and quickly hit <span><strong>Josiah Price</strong></span> for a 25 yard gain on the first play. Eight total plays on the drive saw MSU move the ball 80 yards for their final touchdown of the half to make it 27-7.</p>
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<p id="rY1e44">The Broncos got on the board again on their next drive. Their 12-play, 88-yard drive managed to eat up 5:14 off the clock and ended with a 22-yard field goal by Andrew Haldermann after Western Michigan failed to convert on two consecutive pass attempts from the three-yard-line. The Spartans had their own five-play drive, gaining just 10 yards before punting before Western ran the clock out on a six-play drive to head into the locker room.</p>
<h3 id="ePRlCQ">Third Quarter</h3>
<p id="bnzm2B">Michigan State started the second half with a 13-play, 75-yard drive for another touchdown. The drive was capped off by two catches by <span><strong>DeAnthony Arnett</strong></span>. A 15-yard pass from <span><strong>Cook</strong></span> converted a third-and-eight from MSU’s 49-yard-line. Then later on the drive Cook connected with <span><strong>Arnett</strong></span> again for a 21-yard touchdown. The Spartans pulled ahead with another Geiger extra point to take a 34-10 lead over the Broncos.</p>
<p id="k7aE4K">Western Michigan finally responded big with a 15-play drive that covered 75 yards and took 7:48 off the clock. The Broncos clinched the drive off a 17-yard pass from <span><strong>Zach Terrell</strong></span> to <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20840806/corey-davis-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019"><strong>Corey Davis</strong></a> for the touchdown. Halderman’s extra point was good and Western made it tighter with a score of 34-17. The Spartans responded with a five-play, 21-yard drive before being forced to punt 20 seconds into the fourth quarter.</p>
<h3 id="NTrgPw">Fourth Quarter</h3>
<p id="aPXJ75">WMU strung together another long drive, but this time the Broncos made it a quicker strike with just eight plays, going 80 yards in just 3:31. This time it was <span><strong>Jeremiah Mullinax</strong></span> catching a 29 yard pass from <span><strong>Terrell</strong></span> for the touchdown. Suddenly the Spartans were only up by 10 points as Western made it 34-24.</p>
<p id="it0T3j">The final scoring drive of the game followed, as Michigan State drove 71 yards over nine plays to set up a 21-yard field goal by <span><strong>Michael Geiger</strong></span>. <span><strong>LJ Scott</strong></span> gained 17 yards on the opening play of the drive, but then <span><strong>Burbridge</strong></span> caught another big pass from Cook o nthe next play, this one good for 28 yards. When Geiger finally scored it would be the final scoring play of the game and give MSU a 37-24 lead.</p>
<p id="OO1Sty">Western Michigan came face to face with a tough <span><strong>Shilique Calhoun</strong></span> on their following drive as the Broncos managed to lose nine yards on a sack by MSU’s standout defensive end, before finally being forced to punt after a quick three-and-out. The Spartans fared no better as they initially gained six yards before London was tackled on second down for a loss of six. An incomplete pass forced an MSU punt.</p>
<p id="CFGKZd">The Broncos made it interesting as their final drive of the game marched down 83 yards over 11 plays to the seven-yard-line. However, with 1:36 left in the game and Western Michigan with a chance to bring the score within five with a two-point conversion, <span><strong>Vayante Copeland</strong></span> came up with a huge interception as he picked off Terrell in the end zone for a touchback. The Spartans managed to get a first down when <span><strong>LJ Scott</strong></span> broke free for 11 yards to convert on third-and-five and proceeded to run the clock out for the win.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="D2CPs6">
<p id="aoIrho">This was Michigan State’s first win en route to Dantonio’s third Big Ten title, third division title, fifth 10-win season, and a College Football Playoff appearance. It was also a record setting game as MSU scored 30-plus points for its ninth straight game. The previous record was eight games between the 1978 and 1979 seasons. MSU also moved to 12-2 all time over the Broncos.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/9/4/21423383/mark-dantonios-best-wins-week-oneKevin Knight (SpartyOnHuskers)