Wikipedia

1945 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1945 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College as an independent during the 1945 college football season. In their 12th season under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled a 5–3–1 record.[1][2] The Spartans lost their annual rivalry game with Michigan by a 40 to 0 score.[3] In intersectional play, the Spartans beat Kentucky (7–6), Pittsburgh (12–7), and Penn State (33–0), but lost to the Miami Hurricanes (21-7).[2]

1945 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–3–1
Head coach
Offensive schemeNotre Dame Box
MVPSteve Contos
CaptainJack Breslin
Home stadiumMacklin Field
Seasons
← 1944
1946 →
1945 Midwestern college football independents records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Michigan State Normal   –   5 – 0 – 1
Central Michigan   –   6 – 1 – 0
Miami (OH)   –   7 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Notre Dame   –   7 – 2 – 1
Detroit   –   6 – 3 – 0
Great Lakes Navy   –   6 – 4 – 1
Michigan State   –   5 – 3 – 1
Akron   –   5 – 4 – 0
Marquette   –   5 – 4 – 1
Bowling Green   –   4 – 3 – 0
Western Michigan   –   4 – 3 – 0
Cincinnati   –   4 – 4 – 0
Ohio   –   3 – 4 – 0
Ohio Wesleyan   –   3 – 4 – 0
Carthage   –   2 – 3 – 0
Wayne   –   2 – 5 – 1
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 29at Michigan
L 0–4026,076
October 6Kentucky
W 7–69,300[4]
October 13at Pittsburgh
W 12–7
October 20Wayne
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
W 27–7[5][6]
October 27Marquette
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
T 13–1312,000[7]
November 3Missouri 
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
W 14–7
November 10Great Lakes Navy
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI
L 7–27
November 17 No. 12 Penn State
  • Macklin Field
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
W 33–0
November 23at Miami (FL)
L 7–21
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries edit

Michigan edit

Week 3: Michigan State at Michigan
1 234Total
Michigan State 0 000 0
• Michigan 7 13713 40

On September 29, 1945, Michigan State lost to Michigan by a 40 to 0 score. Michigan's six touchdowns were scored by Dan Dworsky (one-yard run in first quarter), Donovan Hershberger (touchdown pass from Joe Ponsetto), Bob Nussbaumer (three-yard run in second quarter), Wally Teninga (three-yard run in third quarter and another touchdown run in the fourth quarter), and Wesley Muelder (10-yard interception return for touchdown). Ponsetto kicked four points after touchdown and completed three of four passes for 89 yards, including the touchdown throw to Hershberger. Michigan gained 274 rushing yards and 128 yards passing, outpacing the Spartans who were limited to 37 rushing yards and 48 passing yards. Michigan's rushing leaders were Dworsky (16 carries for 64 yards) and Nussbaumer (8 carries for 60 yards).[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Michigan State University. pp. 146, 153. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "1945 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Harry Warren (September 30, 1945). "Michigan Powerhouse Rolls Over Michigan State, 40 to 0". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-1.
  4. ^ "Rally wins for State". Detroit Free Press. October 7, 1945. Retrieved October 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Bob Latshaw (October 21, 1945). "Wayne Surprises but State Wins". Detroit Free Press. pp. 4-1 to 4-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Lad Slingerlend (October 21, 1945). "Spartans Turn Back Sturdy Wayne, 27-7". Lansing State Journal. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ George S. Alderton (October 28, 1945). "State Battles Marquette to 13-13 Tie: Wild Final Period Sees Rivals Grab Scoring Chances". Lansing State Journal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.


 

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