Michigan State Vs. Iowa: Spartans Make Hawkeyes Pay For Turnovers, Hang On For 37-21 Win

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Michigan State's Mike Sadler Named Big Ten Freshman Of The Week

Michigan State was able to take firm control of the Big Ten legends Division with a dominant 37-21 road victory at Iowa on Saturday, and the Spartans were also able to earn another weekly Big Ten honor. Freshman punter Mike Sadler kept the Hawkeyes at bay with a solid exhibition, and as a result he earned his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week award according to an official release from the conference:

Freshman of the Week

Mike Sadler, Michigan State

P, Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern

·         Averaged a season-best 46.2 yards per punt on six kicks for 277 yards in Michigan State’s win over Iowa

·         Placed three punts inside the Hawkeye 20-yard line, increasing his total to 17 such efforts this season

·         Claims his second Freshman of the Week honor

·         Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Mike Sadler (Oct. 17, 2011)

Michigan State can clinch a berth in the first ever Big Ten championship game this week with a win over Indiana and a loss by Nebraska at Michigan.

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Michigan State Vs. Iowa Score Update: Hawkeyes Showing Life; Spartans Up 34-21 After Three Quarters

Up 31-7, after a punt from each team to start the third quarter, Michigan State dug into its old bag of tricks again.

On the first play of their second possession of the half, wide receiver Keshawn Martin completed a pass to Brian Linthicum for 28 yards to the Iowa 33 yard line. Then, on fourth-and-two at the Iowa 25, the Spartans ran a fake field goal run by the holder, Brad Sonntag, which they of course converted. Despite the successful fake, MSU couldn't pick up another first down and wound up kicking a 33 yard field goal to make it 34-7. Kirk Cousins was 0-for-2 passing on the drive, one less completion than his wide receiver Martin.

Iowa answered the three with seven of their own, thanks in large part to a 61 yard return by Jordan Bernstine on the ensuing kickoff. Iowa was stopped at the MSU three yard line, but the Hawkeyes went for it on fourth-and-goal and completed a score to Marvin McNutt to make it 34-14 Spartans with under six minutes left in the third quarter.

After holding the Spartans to a three-and-out, Iowa scored again to make it a football game. Marcus Coker, who has been relatively quiet today (19 carries, 51 yards) scored from two yards out to make it 34-21. 

That's where we stand going into the fourth quarter, MSU holding on to the football.

For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Michigan State blog The Only Colors and Iowa blog Black Heart Gold Pants. Here’s the complete Week 10 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

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Michigan State Vs. Iowa Score Update: Spartans Taking Advantage Of Hawkeyes Turnovers, Up 31-7 At Half

Iowa didn't take long in the second quarter to get back into the game, scoring on the very first play from scrimmage. James Vandenberg found his sophomore tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz on third-and-two open around the five yard line, and Fiedorowics took care of the rest. 

The Spartans nearly coughed up the ball on the first play of their next possession in their own territory, but Cousins was able to fall on it to prevent the turnover. Spartans had to punt two plays later, though. 

With momentum clearly starting to sway in Iowa's favor, the Spartans forced a three-and-out and put the pressure back on Iowa by driving it down inside the Hawkeyes' five yard line. The big play that got the Spartans there was a 67 yard pass to Keshawn Martin, who made a spectacular grab and run after the catch. Two broken plays and an incomplete pass later, though, the Spartans were forced to kick it for three -- Dan Conroy's 23 yard field goal made it 17-7 Spartans with 7:37 left in the half. 

The Spartans scored twice again in less than a minute on a La'Veon Bell 25 yard touchdown run and a 22 yard touchdown reception by B.J. Cunningham. The Spartans got the ball back after Bell's touchdown when a review indicated Iowa fumbled the ensuing kickoff return and it was recovered by MSU. 

The Hawkeyes took advantage of a personal foul penalty by the Spartans at the end of the half to set up a 50 yard field goal try, but it was blocked by the Spartans.

Kirk Cousins is 13-for-20 for 178 yards and three touchdowns (no interceptions) through one half of football. Le'Veon Bell had 71 yards and a touchdown on 11 first half rushes. B.J. Cunningham had two touchdown receptions.

For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Michigan State blog The Only Colors and Iowa blog Black Heart Gold Pants. Here’s the complete Week 10 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

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Michigan State Vs. Iowa Score Update: Spartans Up 14-0 After First Quarter

Looking to avenge their embarrassing 37-6 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2010, the Michigan State Spartans came out prepared and firing on all cylinders today. 

After holding the Hawkeyes to a three-and-out on their first possession, the Spartans marched down the field in just eight plays. On first-and-goal from the Hawkeyes' six yard line, Kirk Cousins found wide receiver B.J. Cunningham wide open in the back of the end zone for the early score. On the drive, Spartans' sophomore running back Le'Veon Bell had 24 yards rushing on four carries and a reception for four yards. 

Up 7-0, Spartans' Johnny Adams picked off Hawkeyes' quarterback James Vandenberg on the second play of the ensuing possession and returned it to the Iowa 19 yard line to give the ball right back to MSU.

The Spartans only needed three plays from there to take a 14-0 lead just halfway through the first quarter, scoring on a 17 yard touchdown pass from Cousins to junior running back Edwin Baker on third-and-eight.

Iowa picked up a first down on their next possession, but had to punt it back to MSU three plays later. Spartans were forced to punt themselves, though, after getting pushed back into a third-and-sixteen and failing to convert. 

Iowa's offense finally got going near the end of the first quarter, taking the ball from their own 17 yard line all the way down to the Michigan State eight yard line. That's where they will start, third-and-two, when the second quarter begins.

For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Michigan State blog The Only Colors and Iowa blog Black Heart Gold Pants. Here’s the complete Week 10 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

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Michigan State Vs. Iowa Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Saturday's trip to Iowa City is a critical one for the Spartans if they are going to win the Big Ten Legends Division. The Spartans currently lead the division by one game over Michigan, Nebraska, and Iowa, but they cannot afford a loss tot he Hawkeyes. A victory by Iowa would be damaging, as Nebraska already owns the tiebreaker over the Spartans and Iowa would gain the tiebreaker as well with the win. The Hawkeyes are playing well at home, as evidenced by last week's upset of Michigan.

Game date, time: 12 p.m. ET, Saturday, November 12, 2011

Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA

TV channel: ESPN2

Spread: Michigan State favored by 2.5

Series history: Iowa leads 22-18-2

For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Michigan State blog The Only Colors and Iowa blog Black Heart Gold Pants. Here’s the complete Week 10 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

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Michigan State Injury Update: Spartans Shorthanded Vs. Hawkeyes

If MIchigan State is going to get revenge for its lone regular season loss against Iowa last season it will have to do so while slightly shorthanded on offense. The Spartans have an injury to all three tight ends as they prepare to head to Iowa City, the worst being a wrist injury to Dion Sims:

Dion Sims has a broken wrist, Brian Linthicum has been limited by a back injury and Garrett Celek suffered a concussion in the win over Wisconsin on Oct. 22.

Sims has caught three passes for 19 yards over the past five games, but he has had multiple dropped passes int hat time. It is expected that tight end Derek Hoebing could see action on Saturday versus the Hawkeyes. Saturday's game with Iowa is a critical one in the Legends Division race. Michigan State leads the Division by one game over Iowa, Michigan, and Nebraska with three games to play.

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Michigan State Vs. Iowa: Spartans Try To Stay In First Place In Legends Division

For more on Michigan State, check out The Only Colors, and for more on the Big Ten, check out Off Tackle Empire.