3 Up, 3 Down: Michigan State's 4th Quarter Collapse Spoils Katin Houser's First Start
What else can we say at this point...
Michigan State just suffered one of the most embarrassing losses in program history after a collapse of epic proportions in the fourth quarter today against Rutgers. The Spartans led 24-6 with 15 minutes remaining, and proceeded to get outscored 21-0 in less than five minutes of game play.
The loss, MSU's fourth in a row, spoiled what had been a promising first career start for redshirt freshman Katin Houser, and three quarters of excellent defense by the Spartans. However, catastrophic mistakes continue to plague this program, and any hope Michigan State had of reaching bowl eligibility likely went out the window.
Here are three positive and three negative takeaways from today's debacle of a game...
Three Up
1.) Katin Houser looks the part
Michigan State made a change at quarterback during its bye week, electing to give Houser a shot at leading the offense over incumbent starter Noah Kim. Despite the way this game finished, Houser proved he should be the guy for MSU for the remainder of the season.
Houser led the Spartans on a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on Michigan State's opening possession, capped by a 13-yard laser from Houser to wide receiver Montorie Foster between two defenders. It was the team's first opening drive score of the entire season, and the first offensive touchdown scored by the Spartans since Sept. 23.
The freshman wasn't done there. After a muffed punt by Rutgers set up MSU in the red zone, Houser took a designed quarterback draw up the middle for a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Adjusting for the four yards lost on a sack, the freshman finished with 31 yards on seven carries.
In the third quarter, Houser threw his second touchdown pass of the day, finding senior Tre Mosley on a four-yard score to cap an impressive 14-play, 80-yard drive to start the second half. In addition to the two touchdown tosses, Houser finished with 133 yards threw the air while completing 18-of-29 attempts (62%). He got away with a few poor throws today, and that has to be noted. However, Houser's arm talent, poise and playmaking abilities were all on display today. The only question now is, why wasn't he the starter all the way back in Week 1?
2.) 3 sacks for MSU defense
Getting to the quarterback has been a struggle for Michigan State against Power Five competition. In their previous three games, the Spartans had been held to just a single sack total.
Today, MSU got home on multiple occasions, finishing with three sacks of Rutgers' quarterback Gavin Wimsatt. Safety Khalil Majeed, who replaced a banged up Malik Spencer in the second quarter, had a strong day with two sacks and five total tackles for the Spartans. Defensive end Brandon Wright also had a sack for MSU.
3.) Chance Rucker, Jaden Mangham each grab an INT
Like Houser's performance, the effort we saw from Michigan State's defense is going to get mostly overlooked due to the unbelievable blunders which cost the Spartans the game.
That's unfortunate, because MSU was very stout through the vast majority of this game. Much-maligned defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton had a pretty good game plan in this one. The Spartans were keyed in on stopping the run, and hell-bent on forcing Wimsatt to beat them through the air. Through three quarters, that was working, as the mistake-prone Wimsatt coughed up the ball twice.
Those turnovers were forced by young defensive backs Chance Rucker and Jaden Mangham, each of whom came down with an interception in this game. Rucker's came on after a high throw was deflected up into the air, as the freshman adjust his body to come down with the ball. Mangham's, meanwhile, was a textbook case of being in the right spot — his perfect positioning allowed an easy INT on an overthrow from Wimsatt.
On what ended up being a bleak afternoon for the program, these were a few of the positives for Michigan State.
Three Down
1.) Turnovers and special teams miscues
Michigan State showed improvement in a lot of areas today, but the turnovers and awful special teams play continue to kneecap these Spartans. It started with special teams coordinator Ross Els' much-maligned punting unit. At the start of the fourth quarter, with the Spartans in complete control, Ross' unit got hit with an illegal formation that wiped out a clean punt. On the ensuing attempt, the snap slipped right through the hands of punter Michael O'Shaughnessy and was recovered in the end zone for a Rutgers touchdown.
Then, after another Rutgers touchdown cut MSU's lead to 24-21, Ross' kick return unit looked like it had never seen a 'pooch kick' before. Returner Tyrell Henry let the kickoff bounce, and the Scarlet Knights recovered easily, setting up Rutgers to take its first lead of the game. Just a comedy of errors for the Spartans' special teams.
The Spartans also have two fumbles following receptions by wide receivers Alante Brown and Tre Mosley. Those two miscues did not result in any points for the Scarlet Knights, but Michigan State's propensity for turning the ball over remains a major problem.
2.) Run game regresses back to form
Two weeks ago, it looked like Michigan State had found something with its run game. Taking on the traditionally tough Iowa defense, the Spartans managed to run for 4.9 yards per carry on their way to 156 rushing yards. Tailback Nathan Carter led the way with 108 yards on 20 carries.
But, on Saturday in Piscataway, Michigan State's run game regressed back to form. Even adjusting for the sack MSU allowed, and subtracting the loss of 22 on the fumbled punt snap, Spartans were limited to only 3.5 yards per carry today against Rutgers. Carter was held to 52 yards on 20 carries, while Jalen Berger added 49 on 11 carries.
Michigan State's inability to run the ball exasperated those fourth quarter miscues. A good run game can help a team settle back in after mistakes happen, but this team simply can't run the ball on a consistent basis.
3.) Late game run defense
It should have never gotten to this point, but Michigan State's defense allowed Rutgers to burn the final seven minutes of the game, and the Scarlet Knights did nothing but run the ball up the middle continuously.
That speaks to the mental makeup of this Spartans squad. Even before Rutgers took the lead, Michigan State was getting pushed back on its heels following the disastrous muffed snap on the punt. It's almost like there was a collective 'here we go again' moment for MSU, and they were never able to gather themselves. Before Wimsatt began taking a knee to run out the clock, the Scarlet Knights ran the ball 16 times for 102 rushing yards in the fourth quarter. That's just under 6.4 yards per carry.
This team has no idea how to finish or win a football game, and that's a direct reflection on this coaching staff that has outstayed its welcome in East Lansing.
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