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Michigan beats MSU for the third straight year to retain the Paul Bunyan Trophy

Vaseline October 27, 2024

Ann Arbor — These were two teams with identical records playing for two different things, but with one shared goal: the Paul Bunyan Trophy.

Michigan looked to bounce back amid a tough season and back-to-back losses. Michigan State set out to prove that reducing turnover is better than many might have thought.

Michigan won its third straight in-state rivalry, defeating Michigan State 24-17 at Michigan Stadium on Saturday night in the 117th meeting between the teams and the 72nd Paul Bunyan Trophy game.

This was the first time since 1995 that the rivalry included new coaches, with Michigan’s Sherrone Moore and Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith. At the time it was Lloyd Carr at Michigan and Nick Saban at MSU.

BOX SCORE: Michigan 24, Michigan State 17

Michigan, which has started three quarterbacks this season, went back to Davis Warren, who started the first three games of the season at quarterback. Alex Orji started the next three and Jack Tuttle, who started last week at Illinois, was listed as “out” on the availability list, indicating he suffered an injury.

Entering the game, Warren had completed 66.7% of his passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns, but he had six interceptions.

Against Michigan State, Warren was 13 of 19 for 123 yards and a touchdown, and Orji ran for 64 yards and a score on six carries to lead the Wolverines (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten). Tight end Colston Loveland had six catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns, including one off a pass from running back Donovan Edwards.

Aidan Chiles was 17 of 23 passing for 189 yards and one touchdown for Michigan State (4-4, 2-3). Nick Marsh had four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown and Nate Carter rushed 19 times for 118 yards and a score.

Michigan extended its lead to 24-10 early in the fourth quarter with a little trickery. Warren threw to Edwards, who completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Loveland. Edwards is now 4-for-4 on passes for his career, with two touchdowns. Warren then hit Loveland for the 2-point conversion.

But Michigan State responded on its next possession, converting three times on third down, including on third-and-12, when Chiles connected with Marsh on a 20-yard touchdown to pull within 24-17 with 6:12 left.

After a Michigan three-and-out, a bad kick by Tommy Doman gave MSU a starting position at midfield with 4:34 left. The Spartans were sparked by a 30-yard completion to Carter, who broke two tackles, to the UM 21-yard line. On fourth-and-5 at the 16-yard line, Chiles’ pass in the end zone was interrupted by safety Quinten Johnson.

The Wolverines led by two at halftime and extended their lead on the first drive of the second half. Orji had a 29-yard run and on the next play, after a flea flicker, Davis hit Tyler Morris for a 23-yard gain. Semaj Morgan and Kalel Mullings each had critical third-down conversions before Orji scored on a 2-yard run on third down. Michigan went 75 yards on 11 plays to take a 16-7 lead.

Michigan State responded with a 46-yard field goal to get within 16-10. The Spartans reached the Michigan 26-yard line, but on third-and-1, Kenneth Grant stuffed Carter for a 2-yard loss to force the field goal. However, MSU attempted an onside kick that Michigan’s Tavierre Dunlap recovered at the MSU 47-yard line. Michigan and MSU each went three and out on their next two possessions.

It was a strange first half with Michigan, which was not active on offense in the first quarter and led 9-7 at halftime. The Spartans outscored Michigan, 160-116, rushing for 119 yards to Michigan’s 37. Warren was 10-of-11 passing for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Trailing 7-0, the Wolverines finally got a drive going with 2:58 left in the first half. They got a key third-down call from Morgan, who had fallen but got up to make a six-yard catch. On the next play, Warren connected with Peyton O’Leary for a 15-yard reception. Loveland scored on a 10-yard pass with 29 seconds left to culminate the 10-play, 64-yard drive. Dominic Zvada missed the extra point when Doman, the holder, misplayed the snap.

Michigan State, starting its final drive of the half from its 21-yard line, got the ball back and made a costly mistake. Chiles was chased by Josaiah Stewart and fumbled. Grant recovered at the MSU 34-yard line. Two plays later, Zvada made a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left for the lead.

The Spartans dominated the first quarter and had the ball for 13 minutes and 21 seconds while amassing 135 yards. They averaged 6.1 yards per play and built a 7-0 lead that could have been 10-0, but Jonathan Kim missed a 25-yard field goal after the Spartans drove 68 yards in 14 plays on the first drive of the competition. Kim went 15-for-16 on field goals coming into the game, and the week before against Iowa he made six field goals and missed one of 55, although he also made a 55-yarder.

The Spartans took the 7-0 lead when Carter ran in from 2 yards out for the score on fourth-and-1. At that point, Michigan had gone three-and-out and had one yard. Michigan ended the quarter with 15 yards of offense.

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@chengelis