Spartans Withstand Irish’s Comeback

Not even Charlie Weis could stop Michigan State’s mastery over Notre Dame in South Bend.

The Spartans overcame a 21-point comeback by the No. 10-ranked Fighting Irish and pulled out their fifth straight win at Notre Dame Stadium with a 44-41 overtime victory Saturday.

Jason Teague dashed 19 yards with an option pitch for the game-winning touchdown, handing Weis his first loss as Irish coach after starting the season 2-0 on the road.

“I told them you don’t get any medals for trying,” Weis said. “I’m never content when you end up losing.”

Drew Stanton led the Spartans offensively, throwing for three touchdowns and running for another. Michigan State amassed 488 yards total offense. Stanton completed 16 of 27 passes for 327 yards.

“We wanted to show that this program is back in the right direction,” Stanton said. “There’s no better way to do that than a rivalry game at Notre Dame.”

The Spartans (3-0) have made a habit of beating the Irish on their home turf, joining Purdue (1954-62) as the only opponent to win five straight games at Notre Dame Stadium.

Irish fans, many of them wearing the yellow of the school’s new spirit shirt, booed as the Spartans celebrated the victory at midfield.

“It’s good coming into a hostile environment and winning a game like this,” said Matt Trannon, who had five catches for a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns.

Michigan State’s 12 wins at Notre Dame are the most by an Irish opponent.

Teague, who had been suspended a week earlier for Michigan State’s victory over Hawaii, said he had a hard time breathing as his teammates piled on him in the end zone.

“This is the best time of my life,” he said.

Teague credited Stanton for pitching the ball at the right time and his teammates for clearing his path to the end zone.

“I couldn’t have done it without these guys,” he said, pointing to his teammates.

The Fighting Irish (2-1) rallied from 21 points down in the third quarter to tie the score but had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by D.J. Fitzpatrick on their overtime possession and couldn’t make it stand up.

“When you come back like that, you’ve got a lot of emotion and you feel pretty good about yourself,” Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn said. “And then when you can’t come through with the victory, I think there’s the ability to be a big letdown.”

Quinn passed for a school-record five touchdowns and a career-high 487 yards, the second highest total in Notre Dame history. But it wasn’t enough.

The Spartans improved to 9-1 against top-10 teams since 1997.

Weis became just the third Notre Dame coach since 1913 to lose his home opener, joining Elmer Layden in 1934 and Lou Holtz in 1986.