Error processing SSI fileMichigan State: Notebook
Kicking troubles wound Spartans
Smith sticks with Goss even though he missed a 23-yarder in fourth and was replaced by Mayer.
Michigan State's Kerry Reed runs 61 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter on a pass from quarterback Drew Stanton.
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EAST LANSING -- Michigan State's kicking problems came back to burn the Spartans in Saturday's 34-31 overtime loss to Michigan.
John Goss missed a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter with the game tied, and then a 37-yarder in overtime before U-M won it.
"I have no excuses for the way I did today," said Goss, a junior who has replaced NFL draft pick Dave Rayner.
"I feel bad for letting my teammates down."
After Goss' first miss, coach John L. Smith called on walk-on Kyle Mayer to kick an extra point for a 31-31 tie with 6:43 remaining.
"He came over to me and said, 'Get ready, you're in next,'" Mayer said. "I don't know if he was really upset with Goss. I'm sure he was."
However, Smith chose to go with Goss over Mayer in overtime.
"I thought of going with Mayer until he came up and said, 'My groin hurts, I don't know if I can kick it,'" Smith said.
Mayer and Goss have been in a close competition for the job since the start of training camp.
Mayer got the first crack in the opener, but his duties have been limited since missing an extra point in that game against Kent State.
He said he injured his left (kicking leg) groin a few weeks ago before the Hawaii game and then tweaked it again last week in practice before the Big Ten opener against Illinois.
"I've been hurting a little bit for about a week and a half," Mayer said. "My groin's been tweaking up on me. I told coach (before overtime), 'Forty-five (yards) and in, I'm pretty consistent. I don't want to be the one to take a long field goal.'
"I didn't want to be the one who was letting my team down. I wanted the healthiest guy to be in there. I didn't want to be selfish."
Although the distance was 37 yards, within the distance that Mayer said he felt comfortable, Smith chose to give Goss another try.
Goss' first miss came from a difficult angle and was wide left. The overtime miss was wide right by a small margin.
"I didn't hit it right," he said. "I missed it."
Goss and the Spartans have to regroup before their next game on Oct. 15 at Ohio State.
"I'll just continue to do my best," Goss said. "That's all I can do."
Said quarterback Drew Stanton: "It's a tough position to be in. Hopefully, he'll bounce back for us. We can only see."
Peko goes all the way
For a while, it appeared that Domata Peko would be the hero for the Spartans.
Peko, a 320-pound defensive tackle, picked up a fumble and ran 74 yards to tie the game with 6:43 remaining.
The fumble was forced when end Clifton Ryan sacked Michigan quarterback Chad Henne.
"I didn't know if he was going to get there," Smith said of Peko's run down the right sideline into the end zone.
Peko looked completely exhausted after the mad dash.
"That's the fastest I've run in awhile," he said. "I was hurting."
But, somehow, he made it.
"Coach Mannie helped me out with our winter conditioning program," Peko said, referring to strength-and-conditioning coach Ken Mannie. "I didn't see anybody in front of me. I just took it to the crib. I had great blocking."
Stanton for Heisman?
The Drew Stanton hype was reaching new levels before Saturday's game. Some fans were wearing T-shirts with "STANTON FOR HEISMAN" printed on the front.
He was featured prominently in a Sports Illustrated story this week on the Spartans' early-season success.
Then there was NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. saying Stanton "would be in the mix to be the third- or fourth-highest-rated QB" in the draft.
Stanton, a fourth-year junior, will have the option of returning to MSU for another year or entering the NFL draft.
"His mobility and toughness is why Stanton is so highly respected," Kiper wrote in an article on ESPN.com.
According to Kiper, the two quarterbacks ranked higher than Stanton are Southern California senior Matt Leinart and Texas junior Vince Young, who will be eligible for the draft if he chooses to leave school.
Quotable
Receiver Matt Trannon, on the mood in the locker room: "Everybody is hurting really bad. We've got to take it like a man and come in (today), get ready for Ohio State."
Briefly
Linebacker David Herron Jr., who was held out of contract drills during the week after suffering a concussion against Illinois, led the Spartans with 13 tackles.
... With no game next Saturday, the Spartans coaches will be on the road recruiting Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
You can reach Dave Dye at dave.dye@detnews.com.
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