Spartans' first loss at hand of nemesis Wolverines

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Mike Hart's return and Garrett Rivas'

redemption gave Michigan a win it desperately needed.

Hart ran for 218 yards and a touchdown in his first game back

from an injury, and Rivas made up for missing a field goal in the

final minute of regulation by kicking a 35-yarder in overtime to

give the Wolverines a 34-31 win over No. 11 Michigan State on

Saturday.

"All I wanted was another chance," Rivas said. "Luckily,

overtime went our way and we were able to get another shot."

John Goss narrowly missed a 37-yard field goal in overtime and

didn't connect on a 23-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter

that would have given the Spartans their only lead.

"I have no excuses for how I did," Goss said with watery eyes.

"I feel bad for letting my teammates down."

Hart's return from a hamstring injury after missing two-plus

games allowed the Wolverines (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) to avoid their

worst start since 1967.

"I'll never forget this day," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

Coach John L. Smith hopes the Spartans don't either.

"It hurts real bad, and it should hurt," Smith said. "I hope

the players feel it and I hope they don't forget the feeling."

Drew Stanton was 20-of-30 for 282 yards with a TD pass and an

interception for the Spartans (4-1, 1-1), who lost their fourth

straight game in the rivalry.

"They just outplayed us," Stanton said. "They made fewer

mistakes."

The Wolverines were ranked as high as third but losses to Notre

Dame and Wisconsin dropped them out of the poll for the first time

since 1998, snapping the nation's longest streak of 114-straight

poll appearances.

The Spartans were in the Top 25 and Michigan was not -- and

Michigan State was the favorite -- in the annual matchup for the

first time since 1968, the year before Bo Schembechler began

coaching the Wolverines.

"When Michigan State is ranked ahead of you and you're

Michigan, it's not good. That's pressure in itself," Hart said.

"We were 2-2. That's pressure within itself.

"We don't ever lose three games a year. If we lost three, what

would that make us look like? We knew it was a must-win."

Last year, Michigan State had a 27-10 lead against Michigan with

8:43 left before losing in triple overtime.

The Wolverines led by 14 twice in the first half on Saturday and

were ahead 24-21 at halftime after both teams combined for 610

yards of offense.

After a flawless first half in which Michigan's Chad Henne threw

three TD passes without a turnover, his interception led to a

game-tying field goal early in the third quarter and his fumble

midway through the fourth was returned 74 yards by defensive tackle

Domata Peko for a TD, knotting the game at 31. Henne's fumble stood

after a replay.

Rivas missed a 27-yard field goal to the right with 48 seconds

left, but with no timeouts left, the Spartans couldn't get past

midfield.

Henne was 26-of-35 for 256 yards. Jason Avant caught 10 passes

for 96 yards and a TD.

Facing a crossroads, the Wolverines started and finished well.

"It was a great win," Hart said. "Everyone was doubting us."

Michigan went ahead 14-0 after its first two possessions on

Avant's leaping, 2-yard catch in the corner of the end zone and

Mario Manningham's 43-yard reception.

After two stalled drives and with momentum firmly on the

Wolverines' side, Michigan State converted two third downs and made

it 14-7 on Stanton's 4-yard run.

The Spartans were driving deep when a halfback pass by Jerramy

Scott was intercepted at Michigan's 4 by Willis Barringer, whose

fumble was recovered by the Wolverines on a play that stood after a

replay.

Michigan State was called for roughing the kicker on the ensuing

possession. The Wolverines decided to take the points off the

scoreboard, and the move paid off when Henne threw a 5-yard pass to

Brian Thompson for a 21-7 lead.

Jehuu Caulcrick's 1-yard run for the Spartans made it 21-14

midway through the second quarter and they tied the game on their

next possession on Stanton's 61-yard pass to Kerry Reed.

Rivas' 20-yard field goal with 9 seconds left in the half put

Michigan ahead 24-21.

The Wolverines were without receiver and kick returner Steve

Breaston because of an undisclosed injury, but Hart's return more

than made up for it.