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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Jeff Smoker made up for two mistakes
with one big play.
|  | | Little John Flowers and his Michigan State teammates love playing in Spartan Stadium, where they have won nine straight. |
The freshman quarterback threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Herb
Haygood with 1:48 left, lifting Michigan State to a 27-21
victory over Notre Dame on Saturday.
Smoker threw a perfect pass to Haygood on fourth-and-10 after
turning the ball over twice in the final 13 minutes -- a fumble at
Michigan State's 12 and an interception at the 2.
"It was great to have them put the ball in my hands on fourth
down," Smoker said. "I'm just glad I could come through after
making those two mistakes. I didn't want to let my teammates down,
but at the same time, I knew I had to come back and make a big
play."
T.J. Duckett had 26 carries for 141 yards and a touchdown for
the Spartans (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today, No. 23 AP), who have beaten Notre Dame (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP) four years in
a row. It's the longest losing streak the Fighting Irish have had
against a team since Miami beat them four times between 1983-1987.
Michigan State (3-0) has won nine consecutive games at home, while the
Irish (2-2) have lost eight straight on the road.
Midway though the fourth quarter, it appeared Notre Dame would
come out of a tough four-game season-opening schedule with three
wins. But it wasn't to be.
"It hurts, it stings," Notre Dame coach Bob Davie said. "We
did so much to scratch, claw and fight our way back into the game.
Then, we lost it just when it looked like we had it won."
Notre Dame was stopped on a fourth-and-1 at Michigan State's 3
after Smoker's first turnover, but was able to convert the second
into a go-ahead touchdown.
Julius Jones' 2-yard TD run put Notre Dame ahead 21-20 with 7:59
left, one play after Anthony Weaver's interception. Jones gained
126 yards on 26 carries.
After the Spartans took the lead, Notre Dame was unable to
complete a pass when it got the ball back with 1:48 left after
Haygood's touchdown.
Michigan State coach Bobby Williams is 4-0, including a win over
Florida in last season's Citrus Bowl, since taking over after Nick
Saban left for LSU.
"I think our team really grew up today," Williams said. "We
have learned from our first three games how to play a complete
football game."
Smoker has had to grow up on the job since replacing Ryan Van
Dyke, who has a bruised right thumb, in the second quarter of the
season-opening win over Marshall.
The Manheim, Pa., native completed 12 of 24 passes for 181 yards
with two TDs and one interception.
The Irish lost Arnaz Battle, who broke his wrist in the overtime
lost to Nebraska on Sept. 9, and hoped Gary Godsey would come
through again like he did in last week's win against Purdue.
Godsey, who rotated with Matt LoVecchio in the second half, was
4-of-15 for 20 yards with one TD and one interception. LoVecchio,
who basically handed the ball off to Jones, completed the only pass
he threw for 43 yards.
Notre Dame did not complete a pass in the second or third
quarters and didn't have a first down over the same period until
there was less than a minute left in the third.
The Irish took a 7-0 lead on their second possession on Godsey's
6-yard pass to Jason Murray. Duckett tied it midway through the
second quarter on a 6-yard run.
David Schaefer kicked a 50-yard field goal to give Michigan
State a 10-7 lead with 1:29 left in the half.
Schaefer kicked a 36-yard field goal midway through the third to
put the Spartans ahead 13-7. Cedric Henry intercepted Godsey's pass
and returned it 10 yards to Notre Dame's 35 to set up the score.
The Spartans went ahead 20-7 on their next possession on a
10-yard pass from Smoker to Travis Wilson on a play-action pass.
Notre Dame answered with a TD on the ensuing possession. Jones
capped a 68-yard drive with a 2-yard run to cut Notre Dame's
deficit to six.
Cornerback Brock Williams blitzed on Michigan State's
game-winning play and free safety Tony Driver was unable to get to
Haygood in time to defend the play.
"The corner who was covering me blitzed so I was wide open,"
Haygood said. "I caught the ball, I looked up and all I saw was
cheerleaders."
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ALSO SEE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Scoreboard
Notre Dame Clubhouse
Michigan State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Michigan State's Jeff Smoker connects with Herb Haygood on a 68-yard TD to beat Notre Dame.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Michigan State's TJ Duckett goes 6 yards for the touchdown.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
The College Game Day crew reviews today's top games.
RealVideo: | 28.8
 Coach Bobby Williams felt Jeff Smoker learned a lot playing against Notre Dame.
wav: 78 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Michigan State QB Jeff Smoker made up for two mistakes with a touchdown pass late in the 4th quarter.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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