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WATCH: Illinois punter comically shanks punt into his blockers, hands Michigan State short field

On3 imageby: Andrew Graham11/05/22AndrewEdGraham
On3 image
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 05: Jarek Broussard #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the ball as Sydney Brown #30 of the Illinois Fighting Illini makes the stop during the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Things weren’t looking rosy for Illinois, punting back to Michigan State while trailing, 9-7, in the third quarter, when punter Hugh Robertson booted a snap into the behind of one of his blockers. It gifted an MSU a short a field.

And from the Illini 29 yard line, Michigan State quickly moved ball, scoring a touchdown in six plays. The Big Ten West leaders were already on the ropes, but this was just the sort of miscue Illinois didn’t need as it tries to eke out a home win.

Instead, Jarek Broussard went 11 yards and fell into the end zone, to make the score 16-7 in favor of Michigan State.

Michigan State would build the lead all the way to 23-7 before an Illinois touchdown early in the fourth quarter made it a 23-15 game — the Illini went for a 2-point conversion and got it.

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker was pleased with the first-half defensive effort against Illinois

Michigan State went to the halftime locker room in Champagne with a 9-7 lead over No. 16 Illinois after stymying the Illini run game and marching for a touchdown drive in the second quarter — the extra point was blocked. Head coach Mel Tucker had high praise for his defense in executing the game plan to slow down Illinois and wants to see a bit more from the Spartans offense in the second half.

It’s just the second time Illinois has trailed at the half this season and has been one of the best defensive efforts from Michigan State, despite missing a bevy of players due to injury and eight from suspensions stemming from the incident in the Michigan Stadium tunnel. Tucker said on the Big Ten Network broadcast that he knew this Michigan State group could hold up.

“Playing hard. We felt like we’d be able to get some stops if we set the edge, build a wall in the run game. We’re doing that,” Tucker said. “And we’re getting them into some third and longs and getting off the field.”