If you’re a fan of defense... and big-haired fullbacks... and tight ends, this Michigan State-Michigan game could very well induce sensory overload. For those who aren’t enamored by old-school football? Change the channel, then get off the lawn.
In the first-ever Mark Dantonio-Jim Harbaugh matchup of the rivalry, the latter is outpunching the former as the No. 12 Wolverines have taken a 10-7 lead into the halftime locker room on the No. 7 Spartans. The first half was also the official end of a suffocating trend for U-M’s defense as they had not allowed a point since Sept. 19, a span that encompassed parts of four games and 13 consecutive quarters, prior to L.J. Scott‘s 11-yard touchdown run midway through the second to knot the game at seven-all.
After a scoreless first, the Wolverines opened the scoring in the second on a two-yard plunge by fullback Sione Houma with a little less than two minutes gone in the quarter. U-M also closed out the scoring in the half when, after Scott’s touchdown, they took the lead on a 38-yard Kenny Allen field goal.
That score was set-up by a 51-yard kick return by Jabril Peppers. Kick coverage has been the bane of the Spartans’ existence this season as they came into the weekend 72nd in the country, giving up nearly 22 yards per return.
Thanks in part to Peppers’ return abilities -- he had 89 yards on three kick/punt returns -- the Wolverines were actually outgained in the first half 142-95. The Spartans held a 94-53 edge in passing yards, and a slight 48-42 edge in rushing yards.
Perhaps the biggest blow to the Wolverines came not from the Spartans but from the officiating crew. In the middle of the second quarter, leading tackler Joe Bolden was flagged for a ridiculous targeting call. Upon further review, it was deemed ridiculous by almost everyone but the officials, resulting in the linebacker not only being forced to sit out for the remainder of the half but the rest of the game as well.
How targeting was upheld after reviewing video like below is beyond me.