Etheart moving the ball from a ruck
A strong Michigan State squad ran through the Maize and Blue en route to a 50-0 halftime lead and an eventual 71-5 victory.
The Michigan Wolverines fell to cross-state rivals Michigan State Friday afternoon in their first match against them in a year. Some quick hands and shifty footwork by the Spartans’ scrumhalf and flyhalf put Michigan State up 12-0 in just ten minutes. Not long after, a successful grubber followed by four strong crash balls by the Michigan State forwards opened up a gap for the inside center to score a try and conversion, 19-0.
LaCivita with a nice line-out take
Missed tackles proved to be the bane of Michigan’s game. A long streaking run down the left sideline by a State back left four Wolverines on the ground after they missed their tackles, 24-0. Minutes later, Michigan State played strong crash balls into the Michigan defense resulting in another try, 29-0. Again, another deep run down the left sideline by a Michigan State wing left defenders strewn across the field. After the kick off, a Spartans’ outside center received the ball and kicked a beautiful grubber in-between the Michigan back line for a 40 meter gain. Swift passing along the line allowed State to score a sixth try, 43-0. Two missed tackles by the flailing Michigan defense gave up another score in the 35th minute. The first half ended right after Michigan’s best chance so far, a lineout on the MSU 5 meter line, was stolen.
The second half started on a brighter note. Both teams fought hard back and forth with no scoring in the first ten minutes. Sophomore CJ Stock streaked 20 meters down the left sideline to 10 meters out of the try line only to lose the ball to penalty. However, he managed to steal the ball and bring it to the 5 meter line, but lost it to second penalty. Unfortunately, three missed tackles later, Michigan State burst through the heart of the Wolverine’s defense for the first score of the half, 57-0. Coach Trenary subbed in Sophomore Mark Borowski in the 57th minute with great results. Borowski’s first touch of the ball began with a brilliant run by Matthew Crabtree to the Spartans’ 22 meter line. An offload found the ball in freshman Joel Conzelmann’s hands and he spread the ball wide to Borowski for a try in the right corner, 57-5.
Senior Matt Crabtree's last match was an inspirational one
The revitalized Michigan Wolverines continued to put the pressure on the Spartans until a State back broke two tackles en route to a try down the middle. Freshman John Palladino worked with Conzelmann to bring the ball to the Michigan State 5 meter line, where a penalty was drawn by the Wolverines. Another great run by Borowski almost found the try zone but he was denied by superior Spartan tackling. After State got the ball back, a potential try from 20 meters out was saved after a great team tackle brought down the hard runner. Michigan State finished the match off after they managed to overload the left side of the Michigan defense for a final try at the 80 minute mark to end the match 71-5.
Michigan looks forward with their heads held high as they begin to practice for their final match next week at Miami of Ohio.
Vecchio attacking down the sideline
1. Chris Vasileff
2. Pete Melgren
3. Zach Kendall
4. Sebastian Harrison
5. Drew Vecchio
6. Dave Hiltzik
7. Cole Van Harn
8. Mike LaCivita
9. Ian Etheart
10. Jared Bosma
11. Karl Boothman
12. Grady Bridges
13. Matt Crabtree
14. CJ Stock
15. Joel Conzelmann
16. Ben Shapiro
17. Evan Rourke
18. Matt Pilon
19. Kenny Andutan
20. Chad Kelsey
21. Evan Noon
22. John Palladino
23. Mark Borowski
Try: Mark Borowski 58′
Second Side Match
After watching the Michigan first side struggle against a strong MSU team, the UM second side took the pitch hoping for better fortunes. Unfortunately, the beginning of the game was characterized by some of the same mistakes that plagued the A side. Six minutes into the first half saw several missed tackles on UM’s behalf, resulting in a deep run and try for MSU, putting them up 7-0. Despite some solid rucks and ball movement for U of M, MSU managed to run in another unconverted try and convert a penalty goal, raising their lead to 15. Just before half, Evan Noon had a nice 30m run and offload to John Palladino, however it did not result in any points.
Three minutes into the new half found MSU in the try zone again, a result of another deep break away run. Shortly afterwards, the Maize and Blue answered with a try of their own, this one coming from Oliver Gregerson on a slow ball down by MSU’s try-line. The game ended with a great goal line stand by UM, denying MSU another try, for a final score of 20-5.
Try: Gregerson 45′
