2008 Week 17

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Aaron Bates might as well have stayed home in East Lansing and gotten himself smashed at a New Year's Eve party along with the rest of the raving drunks who pass as Michigan State's student body.

Bates, you see, is the punter on Michigan State's football team. His services were not required in the team's Insight Bowl matchup with Eastern Michigan on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium, because the Hurons' defense couldn't force a single punt all day in an embarrassing 52-27 loss to the Spartans.

It was a far cry from the 16-7 defensive battle that MSU won on opening day at Spartan Stadium. Granted, B-Dawg has since switched from seven- to eight-minute quarters, but an extra four minutes of game time couldn't have produced such a dramatic turn of events. B-Dawg also made some slider changes since then, which helped his offense, but didn't do a blasted thing for his defense.

"We made tremendous strides as a program this year, but then we got out here in a rare televised game and humiliated ourselves," B-Dawg said. "I am ashamed of our defense. This is two straight games that we've been lit up and forced only one punt the entire time. I've never felt so helpless on defense my entire life. I knew they were going to score every time they had the ball. It just seemed inevitable."

Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer managed to survive two matchups with Eastern Michigan without throwing an interception. That's a remarkable accomplishment, given the fact the Hurons have 47 interceptions in the other 23 games they've played in B-Dawg's two years at the helm.

Hoyer was automatic, going 24-for-29 for 334 yards and two touchdowns, pushing his season total to a school-record 24 touchdown passes. On the ground, Javon Ringer ran 15 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns, while A.J. Jimmerson ran eight times for 45 yards and two scores. Ringer also caught four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

It looked like it might be the Hurons' day when they marched 70 yards in eight plays on their first drive, with every play being a run. An option pitch to Terrance Blevins went 26 yards for a touchdown, putting EMU up 7-0 with 5:40 left in the first quarter.

But Michigan State (7-6) marched right down the field, scoring on a 9-yard pass from Hoyer to tight end Charlie Gantt. The Spartans settled for a field goal after having first-and-goal at the 7-yard line on their next drive.

Then came the play that probably turned the momentum irreversibly in the Spartans' favor.

Quarterback Tyler Jones attempted to pitch the ball to Dwayne Harrison, who was too close to the quarterback. The ball sailed past Harrison and was scooped up by defensive lineman Justin Kershaw for a 20-yard touchdown, giving MSU a 17-7 lead with 47 seconds left in the first quarter.

"It felt like we were doomed after that play," B-Dawg said. "I might as well have put down the controller when we were on defense and let the CPU call plays. It couldn't have done a worse job than I did."

Jones, who had gone without an interception in four of his previous five games, wound up throwing three picks and losing a fumble. Ross Weaver picked off two passes for the Spartans.

The only times Michigan State did not score was when time ran out in the first half before the Spartans could get a spike and kick a field goal and when they took a knee at the end of the game.

The Hurons kept battling in the second half, but couldn't keep up with the super-juiced-up Spartan offense. Jones tried to end his career on a high note, scoring on a 3-yard run in the third quarter and throwing a short comebacker to Dontayo Gage that became a 59-yard touchdown with 6:20 left in the game.

But, quite appropriately, Jones' final play as a Huron was an interception by Enrique Shaw with 12 seconds left and EMU at MSU's 10-yard line.

Not only did EMU not get a turnover, but the Hurons didn't get a sack. The Hurons did OK running the ball, gaining 178 yards not including sacks, but got down by too much for the ground game to be effective.

Eastern finished with a 6-7 record and is 10-15 in B-Dawg's two years.

"We made huge strides offensively this year," B-Dawg said. "I know it's going to take a while to get through the offseason and do all the necessary reports, but I really can't wait to get back on the field and take another step toward greatness."