FIRST DOWNS................... 9 22
Rushing..................... 3 12
Passing..................... 6 9
Penalty..................... 0 1
NET YARDS RUSHING............. 59 229
Rushing Attempts............ 28 47
Average Per Rush............ 2.1 4.9
Rushing Touchdowns.......... 0 1
Yards Gained Rushing........ 70 263
Yards Lost Rushing.......... 11 34
NET YARDS PASSING............. 126 193
Completions-Attempts-Int.... 12-24-1 15-23-1
Average Per Attempt......... 5.2 8.4
Average Per Completion...... 10.5 12.9
Passing Touchdowns.......... 0 2
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS........... 185 422
Total offense plays......... 52 70
Average Gain Per Play....... 3.6 6.0
Fumbles: Number-Lost.......... 0-0 2-1
Penalties: Number-Yards....... 2-25 7-35
PUNTS-YARDS................... 8-328 5-217
Average Yards Per Punt...... 41.0 43.4
Net Yards Per Punt.......... 36.2 39.0
Inside 20................... 2 3
50+ Yards................... 2 2
Touchbacks.................. 0 1
Fair catch.................. 0 3
KICKOFFS-YARDS................ 4-254 5-339
Average Yards Per Kickoff... 63.5 67.8
Net Yards Per Kickoff....... 51.8 47.8
Touchbacks.................. 0 2
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD. 1-2-0 3-38-0
Average Per Return.......... 2.0 12.7
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD 3-60-0 4-47-0
Average Per Return.......... 20.0 11.8
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD.. 1-54-1 1-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD. 1-25-1 0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards........... 0 0
Possession Time............... 25:45 34:15
1st Quarter................. 5:18 9:42
2nd Quarter................. 8:19 6:41
3rd Quarter................. 6:37 8:23
4th Quarter................. 5:31 9:29
Third-Down Conversions........ 3 of 13 7 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 0 1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 0-0 2-3
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 2-13 4-9
PAT Kicks..................... 2-2 3-3
Field Goals................... 1-1 1-2
THE STAT: The Spartans' 59 yards rushing. Going in, they were second in the Big Ten at 242.7 yards per game. The Ohio State defense got to running backs Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick where they lived. Ringer, who averages 133.1 yards, was limited to 49 on 18 carries. Caulcrick had 9 yards.
THE MISMATCH: Ohio State's defense has not met its match this season. It didn't give up a TD for the fifth game.(Source: Columbus Dispatch)
BOTTOM LINE: Remember two years ago, when MSU came into Columbus, controlled much of the day, possessed the ball for 40-plus minutes and outgained the Buckeyes by 70 yards - but lost 35-24? The Spartans' spread offense did a lot of damage to an Ohio State defense loaded with future pros. MSU lost on a few big plays, including the infamous 'Fast Field Goal.' After watching what the Buckeyes did to this MSU offense - the Big Ten's most productive entering the day - you have to wonder if there's a better defense anywhere. OSU defensive starters with apparent NFL futures: 11 (Source: GreenandWhite.com)
Postgame Transcript From No. 1 Ohio State vs. Michigan State- Coach Tressell October 13, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Well, it was an interesting game we played today. I thought our guys came out, played very, very solid first half and defensively I thought we played solid the whole game. Offensively, unfortunately, we gave away 14 points, which you can't do if you want to be the Big Ten champions..."
Postgame Audio - Coach Tressell & Players October 20, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Ohio State Postgame Press Conference following football game vs. Michigan State - Jim Tressel, Kirk Barton, Dionte Johnson, James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins..."
Buckeyes running back Beanie Wells wants to carry team's water October 21, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ohio State knew it was entering a stretch Saturday of facing five of the best running backs in the Big Ten over the next five weeks. So the Buckeyes took the opportunity to show off their guy in the backfield. This is what OSU fans should know about sophomore Beanie Wells after his career-high 31 carries for 221 yards in Ohio State's 24-17 win over Michigan State. He feels he can lug it 30 times whenever his team needs him over the next month. 'I'm very confident I can,' he said..."
Defense gets no satisfaction, and that's why it's so good October 21, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - The question that has hung around like a mooching relative -- Is No. 1 Ohio State that good? -- received at least a partial answer yesterday. It's still hard to be sure whether the unbeaten Buckeyes have played an opponent strong enough to prove much, but their 24-17 win over Michigan State made a convincing point: Their defense is no impostor. Two weeks ago, Ohio State faced a Purdue team that boasted the No. 1 offense in the Big Ten and shut it down in a 23-7 win. Yesterday the Spartans had that same designation, and the same thing happened..."
Buckeyes defense keeps them in the game October 21, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - Rarely has a No. 1 team erred by keeping its defense off the field with the lead, but in a year of upheaval in college football, Ohio State reached the brink of ruin Saturday by doing just that..."
The Bottom Line October 21, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Just when it seemed time for a nation of skeptics to acknowledge Ohio State's position as college football's top dog, the Buckeyes go and leave a mess on the carpet. Bad boys! Finishing school for you! Leaves are awarded on a zero-to-five basis..."
Report Card October 21, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Overall, the defensive line did a very good job against the Michigan State running game. Javon Ringer, after running for 203 yards against Indiana last week, was limited to 49 yards on 18 carries. That broke his streak of 100-yard rushing games at four and represented, by far, his lowest rushing total of the season, his previous low being 83 yards against Bowling Green..."
Captain's Corner: Defense Gets It Done October 21, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "The only reason Michigan State made their game against Ohio State threatening was due to two big Buckeye turnovers for touchdowns. That's because the Buckeye defense played lights out once again, shutting down one of the better offenses in the Big Ten. Jerry Rudzinski talks about the Buckeye win over MSU in this version of the Captain's Corner..."
Not easy being No. 1: Ohio State holds off Michigan State October 20, 2007 Source: USA Today - "Ohio State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) was ahead 24-0 late in the third quarter when in the span of four plays, Michigan State made it a 10-point game. 'When your foot is on that jugular, you have to kill that fool,' Buckeyes offensive tackle Kirk Barton said. 'You don't just back off, let him stand up and punch you a couple of times and then knock him back down.'..."
Buckeye Defense Dominate Spartans; Buckeyes Claim Eighth Win October 21, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "...With OSU leading 24-0, Boeckman was intercepted by Michigan State's Otis Wiley. Wiley returned the ball 54 yards for MSU's first score of the game. 'I know I made a bad throw there, I made a bad read,' said Boeckman. 'There was a little miscommunication between me and Brian. That stuff is going to happen and unfortunately it happened today,' Boeckman said. 'I think they were in zero coverage, they were bringing six or seven guys or so. I was trying to get a quick throw to Hartline and they guy stepped in front of it and made a pretty good play,' said Boeckman..."
Buckeyes Hold On, Turn Back MSU 24-17 October 20, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "...Wells’ 221-yard game ranks as the ninth best single-game rushing total in program history. His previous high of 143 yards came against Akron earlier this season (Sept. 8). It was the first 200-yard rushing performance for a Buckeye since Maurice Clarett ran for 230 yards on 31 attempts against Washington State Sept. 14, 2002, and the 15th 200-plus yard rushing day for a Buckeye all-time. Wells recorded his longest run of the season with a 47-yarder on the second play of the game against Michigan State.
Ohio State has yet to allow an offensive touchdown in five home games this season. Ohio State's defense has allowed just two offensive touchdowns over the past 20 quarters of play. They have allowed just four offensive touchdowns through eight games..."
Offense overpowered October 21, 2007 Source: GreenandWhite.com - "'That defense was amazing,' says Ringer after Buckeyes dominate...Michigan State's offense looked helpless on Saturday against a swarming Ohio State defense. The Spartans couldn't pass. Or run. Or block. They couldn't do anything...MSU came into the game with the Big Ten's most explosive offense, averaging 37 points per game. That big-play ability was nowhere to be seen, as the Spartans failed to score an offensive touchdown, and didn't produce a single offensive point unitl there were less than four minutes remaining..."
Opposite sideline October 21, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "...Coach-speak:
'Our strength as a football team right now has got to be running the football. We've done that every single game. Because of that, we were able to open up the passing lanes and create big plays. We were unable to do that today. Give credit to Ohio State.' -- Dantonio..."
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook October 21, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "Hissy Fit, Defense Strong, High Standards, Wringers, Hawkism (Former OSU linebacker A. J. Hawk was in Columbus this week and had a chance to impart a few words of wisdom to the OSU defense, words the Buckeyes apparently took to heart. 'A. J. Hawk was in and he talked about how it was disrespectful for a team to want to run the ball on any defense, especially if you're considered a great defense. He just said hit them in the mouth and play four quarters of football,' said OSU defensive tackle Doug Worthington.), Pressure, and Closing it Out; they're all covered in the-Ozone Note and Quotebook..."
Mr. Bucknuts' Bucket Of Bullets October 21, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "Mr. Bucknuts debut his 8-0 #1 ranked Bucket of Bullets and unveils a special memo he found detailing the OSU strategy for the Michigan State game. Also: he talks about the national dissing of the Buckeyes, Ohio State and big money, he piles on the hapless Irish, talks new features and facts and trivia..."
Freudian slip October 21, 2007 Source: Men of the Scarlet and Gray - "Want more proof that ESPN is the source of the 'SEC superiority' myth? Watch Chris Fowler (video link) as he calls the BCS poll the 'SEC poll' without realizing it (slip-up is at the 1:15 mark)...A few of our commenters have noticed a trend occurring...OSU is playing a team with a lot of 'talent,' that should 'test' the Buckeyes. When that happens, 'we'll know what kind of team the Buckeyes have.' After dispatching said team, the ESPN folks say 'Ohio State survived the test, but we won’t know until next week what kind of team they have.'..."
OSU-Michigan starting time is set for noon October 19, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "After finishing under the lights last season, the Ohio State-Michigan game is back on its usual time schedule. The Big Ten announced yesterday that the Buckeyes and Wolverines will play at noon Nov. 17 in Ann Arbor, Mich., and that ABC will televise the game nationally. For years, noon or 1 p.m. was the game time, but last year's game in Ohio Stadium was moved to 3:30 p.m. to accommodate ABC. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said ABC had wanted a prime-time start last year to showcase No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan. He said 3:30 was a compromise, 'and that was hard for me to do.' Smith said he did not expect that Ohio State-Michigan would ever be a night game, because the game's tradition assures it would get good TV ratings in any time slot."
MICHIGAN STATE vs. OHIO STATE
Top-Ranked Buckeyes Host Michigan State Saturday October 15, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - " No.-1ranked Ohio State (7-0/3-0 in the Big Ten) hosts Big Ten opponent Michigan State (5-2/1-2) in a 3:30 p.m. Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at Ohio Stadium (102,329) in Columbus..." Press release in PDF
Talkin' Tressel: Thursday Edition October 18, 2007 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "Prior to Thursday's practice, head coach Jim Tressel gives the latest updates on the team before Saturday's game against Michigan State...."
Transcript From Coach Tressel Weekly Press Conference October 16, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "'I started thinking about talking about last week's game and I thought, I don't even remember who got the awards because it was so long ago. We played at noon so I had to go back and write them down. I apologize, I won't have eye contact with you back...'..."
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel conference call October 16, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel addressed the media today in a Big Ten conference call. Tressel discussed the upcoming game against Michigan State, the challenges of going undefeated and why his team has been so successful this season despite losing so much talent..."
Michigan State at Ohio State: Coaches Preview Source: Big Ten Network - "Coming of another win, Ohio State knows that Michigan State is an opponent to not take lightly. both Coach Tressel and Dantonio preview their game..."
Injuries, Michigan State and More October 16, 2007 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "The final non-conference game of the regular season has come and gone, and now the Buckeyes have nothing but familiar foes the rest of the way. At his weekly press luncheon, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel spoke about getting back into conference play, updated his team's injuries and more..."
Injury update "Tressel called starting defensive tackle Todd Denlinger doubtful to play Saturday against Michigan State. Denlinger has missed two games because of a deep thigh bruise. On Tuesday, Tressel said he thought Denlinger might return this week." (Source: Columbus Dispatch)
Cordle Displays Unexpected Side Skills Source: The Ozone - "Look at the picture of Jim Cordle (64) snapping the football and figure out what's out of whack. Got it yet? No? Here's a hint. Look at this hands. If you haven't gotten it yet, we don't have any more time to fool around with you, so here it is. Jim Cordle is right handed, but he's snapping the ball to Todd Boeckman with his left hand..."
Center Jim Cordle has a right thumb injury and has been forced to snap the ball the last two games with his opposite hand. 'I've never seen that done before,' Tressel marveled. The Buckeyes initially considered switching guard Ben Person to center, but Cordle proved he could master even shotgun snaps with his left hand. 'He's a good athlete,' Tressel said. 'I've been pleased with him mentally and physically.'
Russell might play Saturday "Don't scratch Ohio State safety Anderson Russell just yet from the starting lineup for a game Saturday against Michigan State. 'He's going to be OK come Saturday,' cornerback Donald Washington predicted yesterday after practice. 'He did a couple of things today.'
That's not to say Russell was going around laying licks on people. But considering that he was carried off the field last week after suffering a sprained right ankle against Kent State, it's remarkable that he's doing anything that looks like he might play this week. Russell left that day on crutches. 'I'm not surprised,' Washington said. 'It maybe wasn't as bad as it looked. Anderson is a tough guy, and he is going to do everything he has to do to get himself better.'
Coach Jim Tressel said, 'I don't expect him to miss a beat on Saturday.'
Laurinaitis, Denlinger ready
Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who sat out the second half Saturday after suffering a hip pointer, practiced. Tressel also said defensive tackle Todd Denlinger, out the past two weeks because of a deep thigh bruise, should play.
(Source: Columbus Dispatch)
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook October 19, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "First-year starting quarterback Todd Boeckman is looking less and less like a first-year starter and more and more like a veteran as the season progresses...Offensive lineman Ben Person said Boeckman's jitters showed early, but he has now settled in to a leadership role...
'Anderson Russell is fine, James Laurinaitis fine,' said Tressel. The news is also good on Beanie Wells. 'I think he (Beanie) looks like he's back to full go,' said Jim Bollman...
Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Dexter Larimore has been a pleasant surprise this fall. 'I've put on about 20 or 30 pounds. Right now I'm about 305,' said Larimore...(more)..."
Ohio State Football Quotes, Oct. 16, 2007 October 16, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Buckeyes Todd Boeckman and Dexter Larimore speak to the media following Jim Tressel's weekly press luncheon..."
Football: Tuesday Player Interviews October 16, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "'I am happy with the way things are for me and the team right now. We need to keep doing what we are doing,' Ryan Pretorius, junior kicker..." (plus Ben Person, Todd Boeckman and Donald Washington quotes.)
THE SERIES
Ohio State leads, 35-12-2 The Buckeyes lead the series with Michigan State 25-12, and Ohio State has a 13-7 lead in all games played in Columbus. Ohio State has won the last five games in the series.
SERIES INFORMATION
Overall .............................Ohio State leads, 25-12
In Columbus .......................Ohio State leads, 13-7
In East Lansing ...................Ohio State leads, 12-5
Last Ohio State Win ........................... 38-7, 2006
Last MSU Win ................................... 23-7, 1999
Biggest Margin of Victory for OSU ....... 42-0, 1979
Biggest Margin of Victory for MSU ...... 32-7, 1965
Longest Winning Steak for OSU ........ 8, (1975-84)
Longest Winning Steak for MSU ........ 3, (1912-53)
Current Win Streak ......................... Ohio State, 5
Matchup Edge
MSU
Edge in:
OSU
Points/Game
Yards Gained
Yards Allowed
Time of Possession
Penalties
Punting
Fumbles
Last Time Out... October 16, 2007 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "Ohio State gets back into Big Ten play with a homecoming date vs. Michigan State. Check out how the Buckeyes did against the Spartans in their last meeting in this edition of "Last Time Out..."..."
Schedule & Results To Date
Ohio State 7-0 Youngstown St. W: 38-6
Akron W: 20-2
Washington W: 14
Northwestern W: 58-7
Minnesota W: 30-7
Purdue W: 23-7
Kent State W: 48-3
Michigan St. 5-2 UAB W: 55 18
Bowling Green W: 28 17
Pittsburgh W: 17 13
Notre Dame W: 31 14
Wisconsin L: 34 37
Northwestern L: 41 48 OT
Indiana W: 52 27
Why to watch: Is Ohio State next? In a strange year with upset after upset, Ohio State has managed to avoid the pitfalls of the other top teams, but the best win so far is only over Purdue, or maybe on the road against Washington. While the college football world has begrudgingly accepted the Buckeyes on the top of the BCS rankings, everyone's waiting for the moment when they looking like a number one team. That might not happen, and that's not a slight in any way. This year, just being consistently great is enough, and OSU's defense is playing light's-out. It'll get its best test yet against a Michigan State offense that's the best in the Big Ten, and has exploded for 37 points and 467 yards per game. Basically, this is a living, breathing test for OSU, who hasn't lost to the Spartans since 1999.
Why Michigan State might win: No one has hit OSU QB Todd Boeckman yet. Outside of Washington, maybe, the Buckeyes haven't faced anyone who can consistently get to the quarterbacks. That's not Michigan State, who's second in the nation in sacks and third in tackles for loss. The secondary is burnable, and the run defense will get pounded on from time to time, but if Jonal Saint-Dic and the line can somehow pressure Boeckman, this could be the toughest game yet for the Buckeye offense.
Why Ohio State might win: Has anyone made any real attempt to run on the Ohio State defense? Minnesota tried with it's anemic spread thing it does, and the same goes for Kent State and Washington, but no one's been able to lineup and blast out yards like Michigan State can. Until this week. The Buckeye speed and experience in the linebacking corps should be enough to keep Javon Ringer from cranking out huge run after hug run, and if the ground game isn't working, and the game is on the shoulders of MSU QB Brian Hoyer, OSU's defensive front should be able to tee off. MSU's pass protection has been lacking.
Who to watch: With Ringer cranking out big yards as a runner and receivers, and Jehuu Caulcrick pounding the ball, and the aggressive defense, the big start to Brian Hoyer's season has been overlooked. Drew Stanton might have been a special talent, who simply never got a good break, but he wasn't consistent. Hoyer has been steady, throwing just three interceptions on the year, with two coming against Bowling Green, while doing a great job of taking what the defenses are giving him completing 61% of his passes with 11 touchdowns. He's coming off a special day against Indiana, completing 20 of 23 passes, and now he's going to need to be even sharper for the Spartans to penetrate the Buckeye defense. He'll have his chances.
What will happen: Michigan State might be the Big Ten's most dangerous offensive team, but it's also flaky defensively. The offense will do more than anyone else has on the OSU brick wall, but it won't have enough success running the ball to overcome two huge Brian Robiskie catches that'll break the game open in the second half.
CFN Prediction: Ohio State 31 ...Michigan State 17 ... Line: Ohio State -17
Spartans come to run October 20, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Instead of spread, Ohio State will face Michigan State's 9th-ranked rushing game...Michigan State is second in the conference in rushing and ninth in the nation, averaging 242.7 yards. The Spartans are led by 5-foot-9, 200-pound Dayton native Javon Ringer (932 yards) and supplemented by Jehuu Caulcrick (499 yards, 13 touchdowns), a 255-pound bruiser...As well as Ohio State's defense has played, this is the last unknown: Can it stop a power team?..."
The Essentials: Michigan State October 18, 2007 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "Players to watch, themes to know - its the essential guide to Michigan State, the most important notes about the Spartans before Ohio State hosts an important member of the Jim Tressel coaching tree Saturday in the Horseshoe..."
Ohio State vs. MSU Preview October 17, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "Tony Gerdeman's preview of the Michigan State game..."
Preview: #1 OSU vs. Michigan State October 18, 2007 Source: Eleven Warriors - "After chewing up their first seven opponents, giving up less than a touchdown per game along the way, the Buckeyes are finally set to enter the meat of their schedule..."
Game Data: Michigan State at Ohio State October 16, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "The easy number to focus on is 1 - for the Buckeyes' ranking in the polls and several defensive categories. Of course the Spartans can brag of being best in a phase or two of the game as well. For specifics on that and much more, read on..."
Crunching The Numbers: OSU-Michigan State October 17, 2007 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "We have the pertinent information, depth charts and a prediction on Saturday's game between No. 1 Ohio State and Michigan State at Ohio Stadium (3:30 p.m., ABC in Midwest, ESPN2 outside the region). Click this link for more...."
Spartans Aim To Shoot Down #1 Bucks October 17, 2007 Source: GoSpartans.net - "If Michigan State is going to upset #1 Ohio State (7-0) it must contain the Buckeyes run attack and eliminate the big plays that it has allowed throughout the season. MSU head coach Mark Dantonio talked about MSU's upset of then #1 OSU in 1998. 'I would use (that game) as a motivational tool in the fact that you can get things done. We were 28 point underdogs at that time. They were the No. 1 ranked team, and we were a 4-4 team at that time. We went down there, and Julian Peterson sort of had a breakout game as I remember, and it came down towards the end and they had four shots at the end zone. We had five sacks. Turnovers are obviously key to any game, so we played very well in that area...'..."
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Run Game Key to Victory October 17, 2007 Source: GoSpartans.net - "Javon Ringer is third in the country with 932 rushing yards, averaging 133 a game and seven a carry; Jehuu Caulcrick leads the nation with 13 rushing touchdowns; and even wide receiver Devin Thomas has gotten in on the action with 160 ground yards on the season, averaging eight yards every time he’s handed the ball..."
C-J's Ringer wanted to go to Ohio State October 17, 2007 Source: Dayton Daily News - "Ohio State's defense may have a hard time getting its hands on Michigan State running back Javon Ringer on Saturday. But if coach Jim Tressel had his way, the Buckeyes wouldn't have let Ringer slip through their grasp in the first place. The former Chaminade-Julienne star said Tuesday he wanted to play for his home-state team. But OSU's admission standards have risen since the late 1990s, placing some limits on the football program's ability to bring in academically borderline players, and ex-C-J coach Jim Place said Tressel couldn't get Ringer in school. 'He went to the president on it,' Place said, referring to former OSU President Karen Holbrook, who refused to budge. 'They loved the kid, and the kid loved Ohio State.' Ringer was so sold on the Buckeyes that he wasn't even interested in hearing a recruiting pitch from Southern Cal..."
Grid Insider: Player One-on-Ones October 17, 2007 Source: MSU Official Site - "Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer and senior defensive lineman Ogemdi Nwagbuo met with the media this week in the LaSalle Bank Club at Spartan Stadium to talk about Saturday's game at No. 1 Ohio State. After Tuesday's practice, msuspartans.com caught up with junior defensive lineman Justin Kershaw and senior tight end Kellen Davis..."
Mark Dantonio Weekly Press Conference Transcript October 17, 2007 Source: MSU Official Site - "Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio addressed the media Monday, Oct. 15 in the LaSalle Bank Club in Spartan Stadium. Dantonio talked about the Spartans' game against Indiana and previewed this week's game at No. 1 Ohio State. In additional Spartan football news, Javon Ringer was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 203 yards in MSU's 52-27 win over Indiana ..."
Spartans bursting with Ohio flavor October 19, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "From Brian Hoyer to Javon Ringer to head coach Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has a strong Ohio flavor..."
#23 Javon Ringer RB Dayton OH Has rushed for 955 yards this season...averaging 7.1 yards per carry and 133.1 yards per game...Explosive runner provides home-run threat in the offensive backfield . . . described as a "complete back" by running backs coach Dan Enos . . . rated as the Big Ten's most elusive running back by Street & Smith's and the league's fastest running back by The Sporting News . . . preseason third-team All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele's College Football Preview . . . two-year letterman has rushed for 1,314 career yards (208 carries) and six TDs . . his 6.32 yards per carry ranks as the third-highest rushing average in school history ...
#7 Brian Hoyer QB North Olmsted OH Has thrown for 210.9 yards per game, havng completed 115 of 188 attempts, with 3 interceptions, for 1476 yards and 11 TDs...Takes over starting role at quarterback after serving as Drew Stanton's understudy for the past two seasons . . . two-year letterman has appeared in 13 career games, completing 58 percent (97 of 167) of his passes for 1,030 yards, six TDs and three interceptions . . his .581 completion percentage ranks ninth on MSU's career chart . . . AS A SOPHOMORE: Appeared in eight games and completed 82-of-144 passes (.569) for 863 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions . . . earned his first career starting assignment in the season finale at Penn State with Drew Stanton sidelined with a concussion . . . threw for 291 yards and a TD against the Nittany Lions, setting personal bests for pass attempts (school-record 61) and completions (30)...
#38 Kendell Davis-Clark CB Alliance OH Starting boundary corner has 46 tackles, 29 solo and 17 assisted, 3.5 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks so far this season...as a sophomore played in all 12 games . . . finished sixth on the team in special teams production points with 85 . . . started three games at cornerback (vs. Northwestern, Indiana and Penn State) . . . finished seventh on the team in tackles with 39 (30 solos, 9 assists) . . . recorded a career-best seven solo hits vs. Penn State . . . produced six tackles each vs. Purdue and Northwestern . . . forced two fumbles . . . led special teams in tackles with 14 . . .
