By John Raffel

East Lansing, MI

Mark Dantonio and his Michigan State Spartans had more reason to be excited than having dealt arch-rival Michigan its first loss of the season.

The Spartans have now done it four straight times over the Wolverines.

Kirk Cousins tossed two third-quarter touchdown passes to Keshawn Martin to lead No. 23 Michigan State to a 28-14 victory Saturday over No. 11 Michigan at Spartan Stadium.

It was the first loss for Michigan, which is 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. MSU is 5-1 and 2-0 and has beaten its cross-state rival four straight seasons.

"Beating them the fourth straight time is amazing," Dantonio said. "Our team goal is to be able to play competitively against anyone in the country anytime, anyway, anywhere."

"I think they were definitely more physical," said Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs. "They pounded us and ate us up. But we're going to take it and improve from here. You have to give (Michigan State) a lot of credit."

Michigan and Michigan State both scored on their first drives of the game and were tied 7-7 at halftime.

Michigan State took a 14-7 lead early in the third on a 10-yard pass from Cousins to Martin. Late in the quarter, the same combination hooked up for a 13-yard scoring pass and a two-touchdown lead.

The Wolverines cut it to 21-14 on a Denard Robinson 34-yard pass to Roy Roundtree early in the fourth quarter. Later in the quarter, Isaiah Lewis intercepted a Robinson pass and returned it 39 yards for the game's final touchdown.

"We have to move forward," Robison said. "We have to learn from this game. The Big 10 championship is still out there. We have to play Michigan football. We didn't do that today."

Michigan took the opening kickoff 80 yards and Denard Robinson ran it from 19 yards out for a touchdown. The Spartans retalliated with a 63-yard drive to tie the game on Edwin Baker's 1-yard run.

"Our offensive scoring on the initial drive gave us confidence," Dantonio said. "This is a good feeling. We're very excited. It all came to fruition for us."

"It was a collective thing," said Michigan senior defensive tackle Mike Martin. "As a defense, we didn't execute. I didn't watch the film but I'd put money on it that guys weren't where they're supposed to be. Our guys weren't executing what we need to do and we weren't playing Michigan defense."

Cousins was 13-of-24 in passing for 120 yards while Robinson passed for 123 yards on 9-of-24 and had 42 yards rushing. Baker had 167 yards rushing for MSU.

"I just have to make the throw," Robinson said. "We aren't going to quit. We hold each other accountable. We have to keep things going."

Today is going to be tough but you have have to bounce back," said Michigan senior defensive tackle Mike Martin. "Guys are hungry for the next game, and that's the biggest difference in this team."

 

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Victory Over Michigan Excites Michigan State Coach Dantonio