No. 12 Michigan State cruises past Maryland 37-15
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Whether the Spartans were immediately ready or not Saturday at Maryland, the Terrapins were probably never going to be ready for the Michigan State defense.
Yes, the same MSU defense that gave up 49 points to Ohio State a week earlier in a loss that killed the Spartans' Big Ten and playoff hopes. It was back closer to the norm in a 37-15 win in front of 51,802 fans at sold-out Byrd Stadium.
The No. 12 Spartans (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) got stifling rush defense and three interceptions — one of them tipped by Taiwan Jones into the hands of RJ Williamson, who returned it 22 yards for a touchdown — to advance toward the scaled-down goal of a nice bowl game.
Maryland sixth-year senior quarterback C.J. Brown, the son of former MSU quarterback Clark Brown and a former MSU recruiting target, had a tough night overall as he tried to deliver a program win. But he did throw for 246 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, including one with 4:07 left, followed by a 2-point conversion pass, to make the final score more respectable.
And the performances of Brown and MSU's defense must be viewed in light of the absence of Maryland's best player, receiver Stefon Diggs. Suspended for this game and out for the rest of the season because of a lacerated kidney, Diggs' absence certainly didn't help a Terps offense that managed a total of 252 yards.
The Spartans had much to do with that lack of success, though, and they set the early tone with a Kurtis Drummond interception on Maryland's first offensive series. They also needed a night like this, with MSU's offense struggling through its least productive night since a 27-22 win over Nebraska in the Big Ten opener.
If there was a letdown, it was on that side of the ball. Connor Cook was off the mark often and finished 14-for-31 for 240 yards. MSU had to settle for short field goals on its first three possessions — allowing sophomore Michael Geiger to work out of his slump with three conversions — and it wasn't until well into the second half that MSU's running game really got going.
It did get going, though. Senior running back Jeremy Langford ended up with 138 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. That gave him 14 straight 100-yard rushing games against Big Ten teams, including 13 straight Big Ten regular-season games.
Like Langford, senior Nick Hill broke free for a late touchdown run, helping the Spartans finish with 242 of their 482 total yards on the ground.
Joe Rexrode writes for the Detroit Free Press.
GALLERY: HIGHLIGHTS FROM WEEK 12