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Spartans Handle Michigan Again, 35-11

NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer

EAST LANSING (AP) — Jeremy Langford ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 8 Michigan State trounced rival Michigan again, 35-11 on Saturday.

The Spartans (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) have won six of their past seven games against the Wolverines, only the second time Michigan State has accomplished that in a series that dates to 1898.

The Wolverines (3-5, 1-3) are in danger of missing the postseason in Brady Hoke's fourth year at the helm, and this game did little to ease Michigan's descent in 2014. The Wolverines were held to zero yards rushing in the first half.

Michigan State has won 14 straight against Big Ten opponents. The Spartans have next weekend off before hosting Ohio State in a rematch of last year's conference championship game.

Langford opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run on the game's first drive, then added a 1-yarder in the final minute of the first half to make it 14-3.

RJ Williamson scored on a 29-yard interception return in the third, and Connor Cook threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Tony Lippett later that quarter.

Michigan State outgained the Wolverines 446-186, and Langford's final touchdown came on a 5-yard run in the last minute of the game.

Michigan's best chance to make a game of it came in the first half, but the Wolverines essentially wasted a pair of chances with great field position.

Up 7-0, the Spartans had to punt from deep in their own territory, and Michigan State's Chris Frey was ejected for targeting.

The penalty gave Michigan the ball at the Michigan State 29, but quarterback Devin Gardner fumbled after faking a handoff and the Spartans recovered.

The Wolverines took over at the Michigan State 31 in the second quarter after the Spartans fumbled, but that drive went nowhere and Michigan settled for a field goal.

Michigan State responded with a 73-yard drive, and Langford scored his second touchdown with 21 seconds left in the half.

After winning the Rose Bowl last season, the Spartans are very much in the mix for college football's new four-team playoff. Their Nov. 8 matchup with Ohio State could be the Big Ten's biggest game this year, but first, Michigan State was focused on maintaining the upper hand against its biggest rival.

The only other time the Spartans have won six of seven over Michigan was between 1956-62. Michigan State's most recent wins in this series have been particularly one-sided. The Spartans held the Wolverines to minus-48 yards rushing last year in a 29-6 victory, and Michigan was shut down again Saturday.

For a moment, it looked as if the Spartans might be short-handed for that Ohio State game.

Standout linebacker Taiwan Jones was called for roughing the passer with targeting in the third quarter, which would have carried a first-half suspension for Michigan State's next game. But the targeting element was withdrawn after a review, and Jones played on.

The Spartans committed 15-yard penalties on the first three plays of that drive, but Michigan still didn't score, turning the ball over on downs at the Michigan State 6.

Michigan finally reached the end zone on De'Veon Smith's 1-yard touchdown run with 3:40 remaining in the fourth.

 

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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