Jeremy Langford had a big game on the ground against the Huskers. (Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports)
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Tony Lippett scored on a 55-yard pass reception and a 32-yard run and No. 10 Michigan State held off a furious rally by No. 19 Nebraska to collect a 27-22 victory on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans led by 24 in the fourth quarter behind a strong defense that forced four turnovers and racked up five sacks. But they barely hung on.
Lippett, a senior wide receiver, caught three passes for 104 yards and increased his season touchdown total to eight for Michigan State (4-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten), which has won 11 consecutive conference games.
Senior running back Jeremy Langford gained 111 yards on 29 carries, including a 31-yard touchdown run, and junior quarterback Connor Cook completed 11 of 29 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown.
Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong completed 20 of 43 passes for 273 yards but committed three turnovers.
Senior running back Ameer Abdullah, who was averaging 166.6 rushing yards, scored twice in the fourth quarter but was held to 45 yards on 24 carries. Cornhuskers wide receiver Kenny Bell, who caught three passes for 31 yards, was injured in the first half and did not return.
The Cornhuskers (5-1, 1-1) were averaging 45.4 points, 572.6 total yards and 354.8 rushing yards but they were limited to 329 total yards, including 47 rushing.
With a steady light rain falling, the teams combined for five first-half turnovers, but the Spartans emerged with a 17-0 halftime lead.
Cook and Lippett, a connection that produced six scores in Michigan State’s first four games, struck again for the first points of the game. Lippett used a double move to get past backup cornerback Jonathan Rose, who had just entered after Daniel Davie limped off the field.
Lippett was fortunate not to be called for stepping out of bounds before gathering in Cook’s heave along the left sideline on the 55-yard play with 8:22 left in the opening quarter.
Langford’s 31-yard scoring run early in the second made it 14-0. Macgarrett Kings Jr.’s 19-yard punt return, after the Spartans’ defense bottled up the Cornhuskers inside their 10, set up the touchdown.
Michael Geiger’s 28-yard field goal completed the first-half scoring.
Armstrong’s fumble deep in his territory early in the second half led to Geiger’s 27-yard field goal and a 20-0 lead for Michigan State. Drew Brown’s 40-yard field goal midway through the quarter ended Nebraska’s drought.
Lippett’s end around to make it 27-3 was aided by Cook’s block with 2:02 remaining in the quarter.
Abdullah’s touchdowns cut the Cornhuskers’ deficit to 11. After Nebraska’s defense forced a three-and-out, De’Mornay Pierson-El returned a punt 62 yards to make it 27-22 with 3:22 remaining. A two-point try failed.
Geiger missed a 36-yard field goal attempt with 1:07 left, giving the Cornhuskers one last chance. But Trae Waynes’ second interception of the game with 30 seconds left sealed Michigan State’s victory.
NOTES: Michigan State’s 41-28 win at Lincoln last season was its first in eight meetings between the schools. … MSU WR Tony Lippett has caught a touchdown pass in seven consecutive games. … The Spartans have won six of their last seven night games at Spartan Stadium. … The Cornhuskers have not gone 6-0 to start a season since 2001. … Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah surpassed 6,000 all-purpose yards for his career during the second quarter. He entered with 5,974. … The Cornhuskers are 2-9 against Top 10 opponents under coach Bo Pelini.
