Michigan State Football's Second Jersey Scrimmage: Defense Wins 78-44

Defense Wins Second Preseason Jersey Scrimmage, 78-44

 

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State football team conducted its second jersey scrimmage of preseason camp Sunday afternoon.

Utilizing a modified scoring system, the defense came away with a 78-44 victory over the offense in a nearly three-hour, 183-play “situational” scrimmage.

A majority of the scrimmage was held at Spartan Stadium, while the remainder of the plays were run on the grass practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Building.

Sophomore linebacker Max Bullough recorded a team-best 11 tackles (three solos, eight assists), while fellow linebackers TyQuan Hammock (five solos, four assists) and Taiwan Jones (nine assists) tallied nine tackles apiece.

Four turnovers helped fuel the win for the defense, which avenged a 67-63 loss to the offense in the first preseason jersey scrimmage held last Saturday.

Tony Lippett and Johnny Adams made the two biggest plays of the day, as they each returned an interception for a touchdown. Lippett ran back his TD 33 yards, while Adams closed out the scrimmage with a 32-yard score.

Hammock also picked off a pass and returned it 26 yards, and Taylor Calero recovered a fumble.

Overall, the first-team defense didn’t allow a touchdown.

Offensively, Kirk Cousins completed 11-of-25 passes for 153 yards and one interception. Andrew Maxwell was 10-of-23 for 126 yards and two interceptions.

B.J. Cunningham (96 yards), Keith Mumphery (58) and Keith Nichol (50) each caught four passes to lead the receiving corps.

Chris D. Rucker had the longest reception of the day, a 58-yarder from Maxwell, that helped set up a Le’Veon Bell 2-yard touchdown run. Larry Caper scored the other touchdown for the offense, running it in from 2 yards out during a goal-line situation.

Nick Hill led the rushing attack for the second scrimmage in a row, compiling 85 yards on 25 carries. Bell and Caper finished with 68 yards and 66 yards, respectively.

The Michigan State football team returns to action for their 18th practice of preseason camp on Monday afternoon.