MSU notes: Quarterbacks get experience, but suffer injuries

EAST LANSING – Mark Dantonio wanted Damion Terry and Brian Lewerke to get experience against Michigan before they return next season.

Instead, he might not have them next week.

Dantonio’s quarterback shuffling nearly worked for a miraculous comeback, but both junior Terry and redshirt freshman Lewerke were injured in the fourth quarter of the Spartans’ 32-23 loss to No. 2 Michigan on Saturday at Spartan Stadium, their sixth straight defeat.

Fifth-year senior Tyler O’Connor started and played three quarters before coach Mark Dantonio inserted Terry into the game.

“I thought it was very important for them to have game experience against U-M,” Dantonio said of Terry and Lewerke, both of whom will return next season.

Lewerke was 6 of 10 for 100 yards and a TD. Terry was 0 for 4. O’Connor finished 7 of 14 for 84 yards with a TD and an interception.

Terry marched MSU to the Michigan 8. After an 8-yard loss by LJ Scott, Terry got drilled by three Michigan defenders while throwing a third-down incompletion. The Pennsylvania product did not return, and Dantonio said he might have “the wind knocked out of him.”

Enter Lewerke. The Arizona native marched the Spartans 59 yards in five plays, throwing a 20-yard TD pass to Monty Madaris that made it 30-17 Michigan. Lewerke, who started MSU’s previous two games, moved the offense again on its ensuing drive that began with his 24-yard scramble and moved into the red zone with a 27-yard pass to R.J. Shelton.

But the drive stalled at U-M’s 13. On fourth-and-5, Lewerke tried to avoid the rush and stepped into a sack by Jabril Peppers that ended the drive. It also ended his day, as he was bent backward and had to be helped off by MSU’s training staff while not applying any pressure on his left leg.

O’Connor came back in and led a frantic final drive that resulted in a TD pass with 1 second left. He was 3 of 4 for 50 of his passing yards on that drive, then limped off the field after the 2-point attempt went awry.

Dantonio did not address his quarterbacks’ physical conditions after the game.

DOUBLE DUTY:Donnie Corley changed his number to 29. That meant the true freshman phenom would be eligible to play on offense, defense and special teams and not have to worry about sharing time with No. 9, Montae Nicholson.

And Corley did play both receiver and cornerback as well as returning one late punt. He finished with two catches for 13 yards and a TD and one carry for 23 yards on offense. Defensively, he had one coverage situation in which he looked smooth running ahead of Amara Darboh for a deep Wilton Speight incompletion. And his only punt resulted in minus-1 yards.

“He’s an athletic guy,” senior linebacker Riley Bullough said. “I think you’ll see more of him at defense. Obviously, he’s gotta get in there and learn.”

INJURY REPORT: MSU played without senior safety and captain Demetrious Cox, who did not dress along with defensive end Evan Jones and linebacker Jon Reschke. Cornerback Vayante Copeland also did not play.

The Spartans welcomed back offensive lineman David Beedle and cornerback Drake Martinez after missing last week’s game at Maryland. Safety Montae Nicholson also returned after missing the second half against the Terrapins.

Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@chrissolari.

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