EAST LANSING - The heavy rain that fell at Spartan Stadium turned into snow midway through the first half.
The result was another ugly-weather game for Michigan State and, one again, it worked out just fine for the Spartans.
Michigan State slugged out a 17-7 victory against Maryland in poor conditions in its home finale on Saturday in East Lansing. It was the Spartans' fourth wet-weather game of the season and all four resulted in victories, following wins at Michigan and Minnesota and at home against Penn State.
One week after giving up 524 yards in a 48-3 blowout loss at Ohio State, Michigan State responded, particularly defensively. The No. 22 Spartans (8-3, 6-2 Big Ten) led 17-0 through three quarters and outgained the Terrapins (4-7, 2-6) 291-204 in total yards.
After being limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in each of its last four games, Michigan State racked up 271 yards on the ground for their second-highest total of the season. Junior LJ Scott posted his second triple-digit rushing outing of the season with a career-high 29 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan State's Brian Lewerke finished 2-for-14 passing for 20 yards - all season lows, although there were multiple drops by receivers - and had five carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. Fifth-year senior Gerald Holmes had 11 carries for a season-high 64 yards.
Maryland's Max Bortenschlager was 13-for-25 passing for 121 yards while Lorenzo Harrison led the Terrapins with 13 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Although Michigan State rebounded from last week's loss at Ohio State, its slim hopes of still reaching the Big Ten championship game were dashed on Saturday as Ohio State routed Illinois 52-14 and Wisconsin beat Michigan 24-10. The Buckeyes and Badgers will play for a conference title on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis.
Michigan State reached the end zone on its first possession of the game by grinding it out on the ground. Lewerke scrambled for a 22-yard gain to reach the red zone, and Scott scored on a two-yard run as the Spartans took a 7-0 lead with 7:48 left in the first quarter.
As the heavy rain turned into snow in the first half, Lewerke scored on a 25-yard keeper on the first play of the second quarter for a 14-0 advantage that stood up as the halftime score.
Matt Coghlin made his fourth straight field goal by connecting on a 27-yard attempt with 1:32 left in the third quarter to give Michigan State a 17-point lead. He initially missed from 32 yards, but Maryland was flagged for running into the kicker and he was given another opportunity.
Maryland avoided being shut out with a fourth-quarter scoring drive that spanned 59 yards and seven plays. Harrison ran for a four-yard touchdown to make the score 17-7 with 9:50 to play in the game. The Terrapins had a chance to pull within one score but, after reaching the Michigan State red zone, their drive stalled and Henry Darmstadter missed a 36-yard field goal with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter.
GAME NOTES
* Michigan State played without a pair of true freshmen and key contributors as cornerback Josiah Scott and wide receiver Hunter Rison didn't dress and were game-time decisions, according to a program spokesman. Scott started the first 10 games of the season and has 29 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble and team-high eight pass break-ups, while Rison appeared in the first 10 games of the season and is fourth on the team in receiving with 18 catches for 223 yards.
* Michigan State honored 15 players on senior day. The group included three starters in center Brian Allen, defensive end Demetrius Cooper and linebacker Chris Frey.
* Maryland has started four different quarterbacks this season. Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill both suffered a torn ACL in September and Ryan Brand, a Lansing native who played at Detroit U-D Jesuit, started last week's 35-10 loss at Michigan because Bortenschlager sat out with an undisclosed injury. Brand replaced Bortenschlager on a pair of second-half drives.
* Holmes fumbled at the 1-yard line in the second quarter for his first fumble of the season. Nine players have fumbled for Michigan State for a total of 25 fumbles with 12 lost.