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Paul Bunyan Trophy — Looking Back – 2012

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins

The fifth and final installment of this year’s series looking back at the Michigan-MSU football rivalry takes us to 2012. Brady Hoke announced his presence with authority during the previous season, but the Wolverines were routed by Michigan State that year. Michigan’s ascendence set the Wolverines on the trajectory for a head-on collision with the Spartans, and their 2012 matchup would prove to be a slugfest.

The Wolverines and the Spartans might adapt to high-scoring, flashy, modern football against other opponents, but when they play each other the game is usually decided by hard-nosed blocking and tackling. The game remained scoreless throughout the first quarter, but Michigan was able to find some success in the passing game when Denard Robinson connected with wide receiver Drew Dileo, who would play a much larger role later in the game. With the defense concentrating on Dileo, Fitzgerald Toussaint rumbled 36 yards on a trap play, taking the ball to the Michigan State 6-yard line. The drive stalled as the Michigan State defense stiffened, and Michigan settled for a field goal from Brendan Gibbons, who would also play a very big role late in the game.

But Michigan State wouldn’t go quietly. Spartan quarterback Andrew Maxwell connected with Bennie Fowler for a 45-yard gain, and Michigan State was marching down the field. This time, the Michigan defense rose to the occasion and the Spartan drive ended when Dan Conroy missed a critical field goal. The game continued in that vein until Maxwell found tight end Paul Lang in the end zone on a play action pass in the third quarter, giving Michigan State its first lead. A lonely cheer went up in The Big House, but most in the crowd of 113,833 remained silent, concerned by Michigan State’s sudden rally. The Spartans threatened to extend their lead, but Jordan Kovacs put an end to that when he intercepted a Maxwell pass and returned it 34 yards to the Michigan State 38-yard line, shifting the possession and the momentum back to Michigan.

With 18 seconds remaining in regulation time, Robinson connected with Dileo for a 20-yard gain to the Michigan State 21-yard line, setting up a field goal attempt. Gibbons then knocked a 38-yard field goal through the uprights, and Michigan held on for a 12-10 victory in a classic defensive struggle.

Thanks to the Big Ten Network, YouTube, and YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti for the broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

About Jeff Cummins

Jeff Cummins has written about football since 1998, including nine years with The Record of Hackensack, N.J. He frequently contributes feature stories to Touchdown Illustrated, an insert in the national college football game program, published by University Sports Publications, and he has also written the official pregame stories for the game programs of the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Gator Bowl, and the BCS National Championship game. He has written the preview story for the official program for the NHL Winter Classic at MIchigan Stadium, and numerous college basketball feature stories for College Hoops Illustrated, another game program insert published by University Sports Publications. In addition, he has written stories about theater, music, physical therapy, and newsletter marketing. He’s an avid Michigan football fan and long-time New York Jets season ticket holder, and he can be reached at jeffcummins@optonline.net.

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