A questionable targeting penalty helped Michigan State end Michigan’s lengthy shutout streak.
On a second-and-nine play from Michigan’s 45, MSU quarterback kept the ball on a designed quarterback run and slid down just past the 40. He took a big hit from Michigan’s Desmond Morgan and also drew contact from linebacker Joe Bolden while he was already on the turf, drawing a flag.
It wasn’t Morgan’s hit that caused the targeting call, it was Bolden’s contact with Cook’s head after the whistle. Even though it looked like Bolden was blocked into Cook by a Michigan State offensive lineman, the call stood after a review and Bolden, a senior captain, was ejected.
The targeting penalty advanced the Spartans to the UM 24-yard line. Two plays later, the Spartans scored on an 11-yard run from L.J. Scott.
Scott’s touchdown tied the game 7-7 and also snapped a shutout streak for the Michigan defense that had entered its 14th quarter. The Wolverines had put up three straight shutouts and hadn’t allowed a point since the fourth quarter of their game against UNLV on Sept. 19. That's 212 minutes of game action.
For more Michigan news, visit TheWolverine.com.
For more Michigan State news, visit SpartanMag.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
