|
EAST LANSING, Michigan (Ticker) -- Jeff Smoker tied a school record with 32 completions and accounted for three touchdowns as Michigan State routed Indians, 31-3, in a Big Ten contest.
Smoker was 32-of-40 for 351 yards with no interceptions, tying the mark for completions set by John Leister, who attempted 46 passes against Michigan in 1982. Smoker threw two TDs and rushed for another as the senior recorded his third 300-yard game this season and the seventh of his career.
Matt Trannon caught six passes for 82 yards and Jaren Hayes added six receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. Hayes also rushed for 55 yards as Michigan State (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) posted its third straight win for the first time since opening the 2000 campaign with three consecutive victories.
The Spartans improved to 36-14-2 all-time against Indiana and retained the Old Brass Spittoon, which has been awarded to the winner of the game since 1950.
Matt LoVecchio converted 14 of 31 passes for 168 yards, Benjarvus Green-Ellis rushed 24 times for 90 yards and Glenn Johnson caught six catches for 70 yards for the Hoosiers (1-5, 0-2), who dropped their 11th straight road game. They have not won away from home since winning at Michigan State on November 10, 2001.
In the first quarter, Smoker's 12-yard TD pass to Jason Randall capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive. Smoker connected with Hayes for a 31-yard score early in the second quarter to make it 14-0.
Indiana, the lowest-scoring team in the Big Ten, got its only points on Bryan Robertson's 21-yard field goal with 7:51 left in the second quarter.
Michigan State took a 17-3 lead on Dave Tayner's 49-yard field goal in the third quarter. Jason Teague's 11-yard TD run and Smoker's 2-yard keeper completed the scoring.
The Spartans recorded six sacks to increase their conference-leading total to 28.
|
