Football Comes Up Short at Michigan State, 14-10

Saturday, November 24

East Lansing, Mich.

4:00 PM

Rutgers University

1-11 , 0-9

Michigan State

7-5 , 5-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rutgers

Michigan State

Photo by: Brett Dunbar

Football Comes Up Short at Michigan State, 14-10

Nov 24 | Football

Box Score Box Score Chris Ash Press Conference Photo Gallery Season Statistics

MICHIGAN STATE 14 (7-5, 5-4), RUTGERS 10 (1-11, 0-9)
SPARTAN STADIUM • EAST LANSING, MICH.
NOVEMBER 24, 2018 • ATTENDANCE: 64,951

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Rutgers football (1-11, 0-9) took the lead on a field goal with 7:52 remaining, but Michigan State (7-5, 5-4) scored a touchdown with 3:57 left to capture a 14-10 victory on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

Senior quarterback Giovanni Rescigno made his first start of the season for the Scarlet Knights, and 13^th overall, in his final collegiate game in his home state. He accumulated 170 yards of total offense with 109 passing yards on nine completions and a career-high 61 rushing yards. Sophomore Travis Vokolek was on the receiving end of a 27-yard touchdown, totaling a career-high 69 receiving yards.

The Scarlet Knights picked up 108 rushing yards on a Spartan unit that entered the week ranked first in the nation with only 78.9 allowed per game.

On defense, senior Trevor Morris ended his career with eight tackles, two pass breakups and an interception, while classmate Isaiah Wharton also had eight stops and two passes batted away. Fellow senior Saquan Hampton added his fifth career interception. RU finished with a season-high 12 passes broken up and had six tackles in the backfield.

FIRST QUARTER
After each team punted on its opening drive, Michigan State was held back on fourth down when Wharton recorded a tackle-for-loss to give Rutgers the ball at the MSU 33. Rescigno ran for nine yards to convert on third down before finding Vokolek in the end zone two plays later for a 27-yard passing score.

.@RFootball opens up the scoring in East Lansing!

Travis Vokolek hauls it in, and it's 7-0 Scarlet Knights: pic.twitter.com/G35nbLSjT5
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) November 24, 2018

SECOND QUARTER
Michigan State put together an 81-yard drive on seven plays to even the game on an 18-yard touchdown reception by Matt Sokol with 7:04 until halftime.

The RU defense held it at 7-7 right before the break. A deflection off a punt allowed the Spartans to pick up possession at the 13, but the Scarlet Knights held ground to force a field goal attempt. The hold was bobbled and Morris picked off the pass off the scramble for his first career interception.

Michigan State thought they'd have a lead heading into half.@RFootball's special teams had other ideas: pic.twitter.com/EOaaaELZ9F
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) November 24, 2018

THIRD QUARTER
Each team recorded an interception in the period, with Hampton picking off his fifth career pass for Rutgers. Neither side scored to keep it knotted at seven.

This @RFootball defense is stepping up tonight! 💪 pic.twitter.com/YOdwh9XBAX
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) November 24, 2018

FOURTH QUARTER
The Scarlet Knights took the lead with 7:52 remaining on a 34-yard field goal by sophomore Justin Davidovicz. The field position was setup by a punt from Adam Korsak downed at the eight, a three-and-out by the defense and a 14-yard punt return by freshman Avery Young.

However, the Spartans used a 22-yard rushing touchdown from Cody White for the deciding score.

NOTES

Started all 12 games in 2018 on offense or defense (8): DT Jon Bateky, FS Saquan Hampton, SS Damon Hayes, LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams, C Michael Maietti, LB Trevor Morris, RT Kamaal Seymour, CB Isaiah Wharton
LB Rashawn Battle made his first career start.
DB Isaiah Wharton started all 48 games of his career at cornerback. The last Scarlet Knight to start every game of their career on offense or defense was Courtney Greene (51 from 2005-08).
LB Trevor Morris also appeared in all 48 games of his career with 335 tackles, ranked ninth in Rutgers history. He led or tied the team lead in tackles in 17 games.
RB Raheem Blackshear finished the season with 143 carries, 586 rushing yards, 44 receptions and 367 receiving yards to become the first Scarlet Knight to lead the team in all four offensive categories since Albert Smith in 1985. He also ended with a team-high 1,136 all-purpose yards.
PK Justin Davidovicz went 9-for-11 on field goals on the season.
Rutgers did not allow a sack for the fourth game this season.
Rutgers totaled 14 passes defended, the most by the Scarlet Knights this century and tied for fourth-most nationally by a team in a game this season.

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