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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 8 • 22 BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com A look back at the top plays and players from No. 8 Michigan State's 45-31 victory over Purdue on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. TOP PLAYS No.3 When Austin Ap- pleby lost a fum- ble early in the fourth quarter with Purdue trailing by three scores, the Boilermakers seemed done, con- sidering their defense was strug- gled to slow the Spartans. But on Michigan State's ensu- ing drive, Frankie Williams inter- cepted Connor Cook, who was rolling right on a third-and-five and didn't appear to see Williams hovering in the area. Then, after managing only 36 yards on its first four drives of the second half, the offense respond- ed. On fourth-and-two from mid- field, Akeem Hunt hit a huge hold opened by left tackle David Hede- lin and left guard Jason King and burst through for a 52-yard score. No.2 But the defense needed to come through again for Purdue to have a chance. Michigan State gave it some help. The Boilermakers forced a punt, but Mark Dantonio opted to fake it, needing five yards from deep in Michigan State's own ter - ritory. The direct snap to one of the wedge players, big defen- sive lineman Lawrence Thomas, went nowhere, giving the ball back to Purdue at MSU's 30. Purdue's offense again re- sponded with a short-field touchdown drive, capped by Hunt's three-yard run to pull within 38-31. No.1 Another defen- sive stop gave Purdue's offense a final chance with 2:59 remaining, buried on its 5-yard line. Appleby had two quick pass- es that managed only four yards, bringing up third-and-six. An incompletion there forced the Boilermakers into a fourth down from the 9. DeAngelo Yancey's only catch of the game came then when he made a nice reception on a ball a bit behind him to ex- tend the drive. Two more plays gained only two yards, forcing Purdue to call a timeout with 1:29 to play only on its 20. Then, on third down, Hunt ap- peared to miss a block on a charg- ing defender, allowing Appleby to get pressured on his right side. Appleby was quickly wrapped up and hit, but he still threw the ball. It wobbled out, an easy inter- ception for Darien Harris, who returned it 15 yards for a touch- down. It was the third time in the game in which Appleby attempt- ed to throw a pass while he was in the grasp of at least one defensive player — he was called for inten- tional grounding earlier in the game. The last time, it really hurt. N O . 8 M I C H I G A N S T A T E 4 5 , P U R D U E 3 1 A LOOK BACK AT SATURDAY'S TOP PLAYS AND PLAYERS PURDUE VS. MICHIGAN STATE GAME STORY