Big Ten & SEC Week 8 Recap: Tigers and Wolverines continue momentum
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Michigan defense stifles rival Spartans
New city, who dis?
Paul Bunyan woke up in Ann Arbor with @UMichFootball this morning. pic.twitter.com/jiI8DTbkJY
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 21, 2018
In the 111th meeting between these in-state rivals, Michigan improved to 70-36-5 all-time against Michigan State with a 21-7 win over the Spartans on Saturday in East Lansing.
The game was highlighted by defense, as the 28 total points marked the fewest in the series since 2000, when UM beat State 14-0. The Wolverines defense, ranked No. 2 nationally, yielded just 94 yards to a Spartans attack that entered the game averaging 394.5 yards of offense and 25.8 points per game.
The Wolverines defense also did not allow a third- or fourth-down conversion to MSU (0-for-13 combined) while limiting the Spartans to 15 rushing yards on 23 carries (0.7 yards per carry). The seven points scored by MSU are the fewest for the Spartans in this rivalry since 2002.
As for the offense, Michigan scored first on a six-yard strike from Shea Patterson to Nico Collins. Michigan State tied things up on a trick play following a fumble recovery deep in Wolverines territory, but Patterson then connected with Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 79-yard pass to put Michigan ahead late in the third quarter. Ben Mason’s 5-yard run in the fourth gave the Wolverines a 21-7 lead. Patterson finished 14-of-25 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Karan Higdon recorded his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing effort, with five of those contests coming in Big Ten matchups. Higdon finished the game with 144 yards on career-high 33 carries. Michigan is 10-0 when Higdon rushes for 100 yards.
Michigan has a week off before hosting Penn State on November 3, while the Spartans take on Purdue at home next week.
Ohio State upset by Purdue
PARTY ON, PURDUE!
(📍 @drpepper) pic.twitter.com/snDKRIYxqV
— ESPN (@espn) October 21, 2018
Purdue won its fourth consecutive game, including its second straight over a ranked team, as the Boilermakers pulled off their biggest upset since 1984 in a 49-20 win over No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday.
Boilermakers running back, D.J. Knox rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback David Blough was 25-43 for 378 yards and three more scores as Purdue set a school record for points scored against the Buckeyes. The previous mark of 41 points was set in 1967.
Purdue opened the scoring with its longest scoring drive of the season (98 yards). The drive was capped by Isaac Zico’s spectacular one-handed catch to make it 7-0 late in the first quarter. The Buckeyes responded by quickly marching down the before settling for a 24-yard field goal.
With 1:51 left in the first half the Boilermakers took over in good field position after a missed field goal and Blough took the Boilermakers 80 yards in 84 seconds, using punter Joe Schopper’s first-down run on a fake field goal to set up a 9-yard scoring pass to Moore.
After closing the gap to 14-6 in the third quarter, Ohio State was called for roughing the kicker and the Boilermakers capitalized on the second chance with a 1-yard touchdown run. Dwayne Haskins threw two touchdowns to Johnnie Dixon III and Terry McLaurin to make it 35-20 with 4:40 to go.
Haskins registered all-time Ohio State highs in completions (47), attempts (73) and passing yards (470) in the contest, but it didn’t prove to be enough as Purdue tacked on two more touchdowns before fans rushed the field following the final whistle.
Purdue travels to take on Michigan State next week while Ohio State has a rest week before hosting Scott Frost and Nebraska on November 3.
Defense, kicker shine for LSU against Mississippi State
In front of a homecoming crowd of 101,340. LSU contained Mississippi State, relying on its defense and the right foot of placekicker Cole Tracy to earn a 19-3 victory on a wet Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
LSU running backs Clyde Edwards‐Helaire rushed for a career‐high 145 yards for the Tigers and fellow back Nick Brossette eclipsed 1,000 career rushing yards in the win. Quarterback Joe Burrow was 16-of-28 passing for 129 yards with an interception.
The majority of the Tigers’ scoring came from kicker Cole Tracy, who was 4‐for‐4 on field goal attempts with field goals of 25, 38, 29 and 40 yards throughout the contest. He now is 21‐for‐23 on field goals as the Tigers’ kicker and 24‐of‐24 on PATs.
The Bulldogs host Texas A&M next week, while the Tigers have a week off before hosting Alabama in a critical SEC West showdown.
Auburn pulls away from Ole Miss
After a closely contested first half, Auburn outscored Ole Miss 21-3 in the third quarter to defeat the Rebels 31-16.
Auburn’s freshman receivers delivered multiple big plays on a 68-yard drive to start the third quarter rally. A 21-yard pass to Seth Williams and a 16-yard Anthony Schwartz run set up Malik Miller’s 1-yard touchdown run. Miller scored again later in the third to extend the lead to 31-9. The Tigers running game racked up 269 rushing yards on 46 carries and was led by JaTarvious Whitlow, who rushed for a career-high 170 yards on 19 carries.
Ole Miss moved the ball consistently, accounting for 447 yards in total offense, but the Rebels were stopped on three trips in the red zone and had to settle for three field goals. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was 27 of 46 for 324 yards with a 12-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth to cut the final margin to 31-16.
After an off week, Auburn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 6 for an SEC West showdown against Texas A&M. Ole Miss also has a week off before hosting South Carolina on November 3.
Vote for the Play of the Week!
Week 8 was filled with memorable plays and moments in the Big Ten and SEC. Here were two of our favorites. Make sure you vote for the best in the poll below
1.) Purdue’s Rondale Moore refuses to go down en route to a 43-yard touchdown.
How did Rondale Moore do that? #Purdue pic.twitter.com/X06xyYCB9Q
— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) October 21, 2018
2.) Alabama’s Tua Tagoviloa delivers perfect touchdown pass despite taking hit.
Look at Tua Tagovailoa just skate around the pocket, take the big hit, but obviously deliver for six: pic.twitter.com/EF6PibzK6X
— ryan (@StillRyanFive) October 21, 2018
Click here to check out weekly recaps from earlier this season.