2007 Week 12

The Michigan State Spartans (8-3) hosted their annual rivalary against the #20 Penn State Nittany Lions (8-3), in what turned out to be a classic overtime thriller.

It was a game of responses, right from the opening kick. WR Carl Grimes returned Penn State's opening kick 87 yards for the touchdown, giving MSU the 7-0 lead. Penn State QB Darryl Clark would answer, running it in from four yards out to tie it at 7.

Late in the second, PSU was able to get a 41 yard field goal with 49 seconds left. The Spartans rushed down the field and got their own, tying it up as time expired.

In the 4th, Michigan State broke the 10-10 defensive battle with a 22 yard pass from QB Brian Hoyer to TE Charlie Gantt. Once again, Penn State would answer as Clark hit WR Deon Butler on a 17 yard pass to send the game into overtime.

The Spartans drove inside the 10 but failed to score, leading to a field goal and a three point lead. On Penn State's drive, QB Darryl Clark was knocked out of the game on 3rd down and 17, and Senior QB Anthony Morelli entered the game. In what had been a career of unfulfilled expectations, Morelli temporarily shined in the sun, when he rifled a 17 yard dart between three Michigan State defenders into the endzone, giving the Nittany Lions a 23-20 win.

For Morelli, it was his first touchdown pass of the year in playing backup to Clark. Clark will be back from injury when their Bowl Game comes, but this game will be something no one can take from Morelli.

"I feel bad for these guys, but at the same time I want them to reflect on the kind of season they had. They went from 4-8 last year to 8-4 this year, establishing themselves as a Big Ten contender. They should be proud of themselves and look forward to whatever bowl game we get," stated Dr. P.