Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke out for season with broken leg

Michigan State can’t catch a break this season.

The Spartans dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-5 in conference play with a 32-23 loss to rival Michigan on Saturday, and they lost promising young quarterback Brian Lewerke to a season-ending injury in the process.

MSU coach Mark Dantonio announced Sunday that Lewerke, a redshirt freshman, broke his tibia.

.@DantonioMark announced on his Sunday teleconference that QB Brian Lewerke will miss remainder of season after suffering broken tibia v UM.

— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) October 30, 2016

Lewerke came off the bench with his team down in the second half, but was injured late in the fourth quarter when he was sacked by Michigan star Jabrill Peppers on a fourth down play in the red zone.

Dantonio told reporters Lewerke’s injury will not require surgery, but he will miss the rest of the season.

Dantonio said Lewerke's injury will not require surgery and that he should be available for spring practice.

— Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) October 30, 2016

Senior Tyler O’Connor started against the Wolverines on Saturday and junior Damion Terry also saw action. Lewerke was inserted into the lineup early in the fourth with the Spartans trailing 30-10 and led the offense on a quick five-play, 59-yard scoring drive to cut the lead to 30-17.

He then moved the offense back into Michigan territory on its next drive, but the comeback effort came up short with Peppers’ sack.

Lewerke finished the game 6-of-10 throwing for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also had 24 yards rushing on three attempts.

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Lewerke previously started games against Northwestern and Maryland this season and finishes the year with 381 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 54.4 percent passing. He also added 149 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Lewerke is considered by many to be the program’s quarterback of the future and could have potentially gained valuable experience as the Spartans enter the stretch run of a disappointing season. Now MSU will continue to start O’Connor, who has struggled for much of the season, or give Terry a shot.

The Spartans have to win out just to reach a bowl game, but with games against No. 6 Ohio State and No. 20 Penn State still on the schedule, that seems unlikely. Next on the schedule for MSU is a game at another 2-6 team, Illinois, on Saturday.

For more Michigan State news, visit SpartanMag.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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