University of Missouri
Michigan State
Tigers Fall To Spartans, 55-7
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2001
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - T.J. Duckett and Charles Rogers each scored three touchdowns Saturday as Michigan State beat Missouri 55-7 to become bowl eligible.
The Spartans (6-5) might receive a bid as soon as Sunday to play No. 21 Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Bowl on Dec. 31 in San Jose, Calif., after routing the Tigers (4-7).
"We feel very, very good that we'll play in the Silicon Valley Bowl," Michigan State associate athletic director Mark Hollis said.
Michigan State's seven TDs were on drives of 1:32 or less. The Spartans amassed 639 yards on offense and were not forced to punt until early in the fourth quarter.
Duckett ran for 149 yards on 25 carries and his third TD at 9:53 of the third quarter gave Michigan State a 45-0 lead.
Rogers caught seven passes for 168 yards and two TDs and his 20-yard double-reverse gave the Spartans a 31-0 halftime lead. Rogers set a school record with 1,200 receiving yards this season, surpassing Plaxico Burress, who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his 12 receiving TDs tied Burress' record.
Michigan State's Jeff Smoker was 14-of-17 for 317 yards with two TDs, an interception and a fumble.
Missouri ended the Spartans' shutout hopes with 48 seconds left on Kirk Farmer's 2-yard run. Farmer was 10-of-25 for 74 yards and an interception.
Missouri's Justin Gage caught six passes for 37 yards. He made 74 receptions this season, one short of the school record.
Saturday's game originally was scheduled for Sept. 15 but was postponed because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
