Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan State Spartans Match Player Stats On Nov 19, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 19, 2016

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Freshman running back Mike Weber rushed for 111 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown and No. 2 Ohio State barely escaped with a 17-16 victory over pesky Michigan State on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett gained 105 yards in 24 carries for the Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten), who face arch-rival Michigan in Columbus next Saturday. Barrett also had a passing touchdown but completed just 10 of 22 attempts for 86 yards.

The Spartans failed on a two-point conversation in the fourth quarter which would have given them the lead.

Sophomore running back LJ Scott rushed for a career-high 160 yards and a touchdown but the Spartans (3-8, 1-7) lost for the eighth time in nine games. Scott also scored on a 64-yard pass play.

Weber's 4-yard run up the middle with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter gave Ohio State a 17-10 lead. His 52-yard scamper at the start of the drive set up the touchdown.

Chris Frey's 25-yard run on a fake punt placed the Spartans in Ohio State territory early in the fourth but a holding penalty derailed that drive.

The Spartans scoring drive later in the quarter was all Scott, all the time. He carried eight times for 56 yards, including his 1-yard touchdown run with 4:41 remaining. Spartans coach Mark Dantonio opted for a two-point conversion try but Tyler O'Connor's pass was intercepted by Chris Worley.

The Spartans got the ball back with 2:04 remaining but cornerback Gareon Conley intercepted an O'Connor pass to clinch the victory.

The game was knotted at 10 at halftime.

Michigan State scored on the second play from scrimmage when Scott gathered in a screen pass from O'Connor and sped 64 yards down the left sideline.

Barrett found wide receiver Curtis Samuel open on a 24-yard scoring pass midway through the quarter to tie it.

Michael Geiger's 28-yard field goal early in the second quarter gave the Spartans a 10-7 advantage. Tyler Durkin's 39-yard field goal with 10:03 left in the half tied it.

Chris Worley's interception at the Michigan State 37 later in the quarter gave Ohio State a chance to move ahead. But Weber fumbled on a third-down carry and Spartans defensive end Dillon Alexander recovered at the 16.

NOTES: Buckeyes RB Mike Weber is the third freshman in school history to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He joins Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002). ... Michigan State DT Malik McDowell, the team's top draft prospect, missed his second consecutive game with an ankle injury. ... The road team has won each regular-season matchup between the clubs since 2008. ... Spartans coach Mark Dantonio is one of only four coaches with multiple wins against Ohio State's Urban Meyer. Nick Saban, Tommy Tuberville and Les Miles are the others. ... Meyer has an 18-1 record in November as Ohio State's coach. ... Michigan State has used a different lineup on offense and defense in each game this season. ... The Buckeyes' 465 points through 10 games is the fifth-most in school history.