Keshawn Martin scored twice in the third quarter on similarlunges to the end zone, and No. 23 Michigan State held off Denard Robinson andNo. 11 Michigan 28-14 on Saturday for its fourth straight victory over theWolverines.
The Spartans (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) equaled their longestwinning streak over their in-state rivals.
Michigan (6-1, 2-1) lost for the first time under coachBrady Hoke. The Wolverines had a chance to tie it, but Robinson was sacked onfourth-and-1 from the Michigan State 9-yard line with 6:16 to play.
Robinson later threw an interception, and Isaiah Lewisreturned it 39 yards for a touchdown with 4:31 left to make it 28-14. Shortlyafter that, Robinson was shaken up by a hit and left the game.
Edwin Baker ran for 167 yards and a touchdown for theSpartans.
Robinson ran for a first-quarter touchdown but was mostlyineffective through the air, going 9 for 24 for 123 yards and a touchdown on awindy day in East Lansing.
Down 21-7, Robinson found Roy Roundtree for a 34-yardtouchdown with 9:49 left in the game. Martin then fumbled on an end around,giving Michigan the ball at the Michigan State 32.
After converting fourth-and-1 from the 23 with a short run,Robinson faced the same down and distance from the 9. Michigan called aslow-developing play-action attempt, and Johnny Adams sacked Robinson to endthe drive.
After Michigan got the ball back, Robinson's pass wasintercepted by Lewis, who took it back for a touchdown. Lewis risked a penaltyby holding the ball out before crossing the goal line, but the touchdown stood.
Robinson's day ended a short while later when he was throwndown by Marcus Rush, who was called for roughing the passer. The Michigan quarterbackstood on the sideline, grass stains all over his uniform, as the Spartansfinished off another win over the Wolverines.
Michigan State hasn't had a four-game winning streak in theseries since 1959-62 — which was part of a 6-0-2 stretch against Michigan.
With the game tied at 7, Michigan State went on a 54-yarddrive to start the third quarter. On third-and-goal from the 10, Kirk Cousinsfound Martin, who caught the ball at the 5 near the right sideline and managedto stay in bounds before extending the ball across the goal line while beingknocked backward toward the end zone.
Martin caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Cousins in thefinal minute of the third, dodging a tackler and diving to that same frontcorner of the end zone.
Michigan State entered the game ranked No. 1 in the nationin total defense, and its defensive line gave Robinson problems all day.
Each team scored on its first possession of the game.Robinson gave Michigan a 7-0 lead with a 15-yard run, slipping away fromMichigan State's Anthony Rashad White in the backfield and racing to the frontcorner of the end zone.
The Spartans answered with a 63-yard drive that ended withBaker's 1-yard scoring run.
The teams combined to punt four times from the defense'shalf of the field in the first half. One of those punts — by Michigan — cameshortly after Devin Gardner had Stephen Hopkins open over the middle but threwincomplete toward the sideline instead.
Gardner went 3 of 7 for 45 yards for Michigan. He also camein after Robinson departed late in the fourth. With the Wolverines desperatelytrying to rally, Gardner had a touchdown pass called back because he was wellpast the line of scrimmage when he threw the ball.
On fourth-and-21 from the Michigan State 44, Gardner beganrunning to the right sideline, then doubled back to the middle of the field,then circled back again to the same sideline before being stopped. Gardner hada receiver open deep down the field toward the end of the play but eithercouldn't see him or couldn't get rid of the ball.