Field Level Media
Sep 28, 2019
Brian Lewerke threw for three touchdowns and had a 30-yard run in the final minutes to set up No. 25 Michigan State's winning score in a 40-31 victory over Indiana on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.
Junior kicker Matt Coghlin converted from 21 yards with five seconds left for a 34-31 lead, and Michigan State recovered a fumble for a touchdown on Indiana's final play for the final margin.
Lewerke passed for 300 yards, connecting for a pair of scores with fifth-year senior Darrell Stewart, who had five catches for 117 yards. Redshirt freshman running back Elijah Collins rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown for Michigan State (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten).
Redshirt freshman Michael Penix Jr. was 33 of 42 for 286 yards and three touchdowns for Indiana (3-2, 0-2). Junior Whop Philyor had 14 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
Indiana struck first on the opening drive of the second half, getting a 26-yard field goal from Logan Justus with 8:23 to play in the third quarter, then went ahead 24-21 on Penix's 12-yard pass to Donavan Hale early in the fourth quarter.
Michigan State answered with Lewerke's 10-yard touchdown pass to Matt Seybert for a 28-24 lead with 12:12 left.
The Spartans added a 44-yard field goal from Coghlin with 3:33 to play, but the Hoosiers, with the benefit of three 15-yard penalties against Michigan State, went 78 yards in six plays to tie the game at 31 with 2:00 to play on an 11-yard pass from to Philyor before Michigan State's winning drive.
The Spartans got on the board first with Collins' 4-yard touchdown run with 8:04 left in the first quarter.
Michigan State was up 14-7 when the Hoosiers evened things with 4:07 left in the first half as Penix dashed around left end for a 2-yard touchdown run. Michigan State executed an impressive two-minute offense with Lewerke and Stewart connecting from 26 yards out to give Michigan State a 21-14 lead heading to halftime.
--Field Level Media