Ringer's rushing leads Michigan State past Indiana, 52-27
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Javon Ringer rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries Saturday to help Michigan State end a six-game Big Ten losing streak and beat Indiana 52-27.
Brian Hoyer was 20-for-23 for 190 yards and a TD for the Spartans (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten), who led by as many as 32 points in the third quarter. Jehuu Caulcrick rushed for three TDs and Devin Thomas caught 13 passes for 148 yards and a TD.
Indiana's high-powered offense was kept off the field much of the game by Michigan State, which dominated time of possession. Kellen Lewis ran for a TD and passed for another for the Hoosiers (5-2, 2-2). James Hardy caught six passes for 121 yards and a TD.
Michigan State is trying to get back to a bowl game after missing out on the postseason the past three seasons. The Spartans need one more win in their last five games to become bowl eligible.
Indiana hasn't been in a bowl since 1993, by far the longest drought in the Big Ten. One more win would make the Hoosiers bowl eligible.
The Spartans, coming off two straight losses and hoping to fire up themselves and a homecoming crowd, used a fake field goal on the game's opening possession to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Caulcrick. Aaron Bates, the team's punter and holder on field goal attempts, took the snap and scampered 14 yards to give the Spartans a first-and-goal inside the 5 yard line.
But Indiana answered immediately on its first play from scrimmage. Lewis faked an inside handoff then cut hard to his right, streaking down the sideline 59 yards to tie the game at 7.
Then Michigan State took over with a ball-control offense, chewing up clock and keeping the ball away from the explosive Hoosiers. The Spartans had the ball for just over 41 minutes.
Ringer's 64-yard TD run early in the second quarter gave the Spartans a 24-10 lead. He started to his right, cut back left all the way across the line of scrimmage, then streaked down the left sideline, aided by receiver Terry Love's key block.
Michigan State stretched the lead to 45-13 in the third quarter when Jonal Saint-Dic caused a Lewis fumble deep in Indiana territory. The fumble was scooped up by Ervin Baldwin and returned 12 yards for a touchdown.
Indiana crept back to within 45-27 late in the third quarter, which ended with the Hoosiers' Tracy Porter returning a Michigan State fumble 76 yards for a TD.
Michigan State has dominated the series against Indiana, winning nine of the last 11.
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