Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
Oregon
Spartans Storm Back To Claim Opener
9/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 1999
? Game Stats
? More Photos
? Coach Saban Postgame Audio
Download Windows Media Player for Audio Clip
By HARRY ATKINS
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Amp Campbell's prayers were answered, and Michigan State came out a winner.
Campbell, who broke his neck in a loss to Oregon last season, returned a fumble 85 yards in the fourth quarter Thursday night, lifting the Spartans to a 27-20 payback victory over the Ducks.
"It felt great," said Campbell, a sixth-year senior who had to graduate over the summer in order to return and attempt to earn back his cornerback slot. "I couldn't ask for a better night than tonight."
The Spartans, who trailed 17-7 in the opener for both teams, came back with 17 unanswered points, taking a 24-17 lead on Campbell's return of Herman Ho-Ching's fumble. Linebacker Julian Peterson set up the return by stripping the ball from Ho-Ching.
"I came out in the first half and played a little sluggish and I went back in the locker room and prayed and God answered my prayers again," Campbell said.
The game marked the return for Campbell, who fractured his sixth and seventh vertebrae while attempting a tackle on Oregon's second touchdown of a 48-14 rout last season. He required spinal fusion surgery that night.
"If I didn't even score tonight or get an interception or anything, the only thing I wanted was the W," Campbell said. "This is a dream come true. Right now, I say if I wouldn't have graduated, God knows what I'd be doing. Thank God I graduated and got the opportunity to be play again and be part of this football team.
"I feel like a little kid again because everything is going right for me and I'm just so glad."
Even the opponents went away impressed.
"Even though he hurt us in this game, I am very happy to see Amp back on the field," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. "It is great when you see a guy fight through such adversity and come back and play football."
A.J. Feeley, in his first start as the replacement for the departed Akili Smith, was 27-of-49 for 343 yards and two touchdowns for Oregon, which was 8-4 last season. Bill Burke was 17-of-30 for 205 yards and two touchdowns for the Spartans.
"Our offense proved a lot," Feeley said. "Everybody was doubting us because Akili is gone and thought maybe our offense would take a drop. But I think we proved tonight without him we can do a lot of stuff, still."
Still, the Ducks rushed for only 28 net yards as Michigan State zeroed in on tailback Reuben Droughns. Droughns, who rushed for two touchdowns and caught a pass for one in last season's game at Eugene, Ore., was held to 59 yards on 23 carries this time.
"Our running game needs some work," Bellotti said. "We can't put ourselves in the position where the defense knows we are going to throw the football."
A pass interception by Oregon free safety Justin Wilcox set up a 43-yard field goal by Nathan Villegas, cutting the gap to 24-20 with 10:27 left.
Most of the 72,923 in Spartan Stadium booed the officials on the interception call. Wilcox got up with the ball, but the fans saw only a second ball which had bounced onto the field and mistook it for the one in play.
The Spartans, 6-6 and left out of the bowl picture last season, responded with a 55-yard drive for Paul Edinger's 30-yard field goal field goal that restored the seven-point lead with 5:11 remaining.
Michigan State mistakes set up the first two Oregon scores, helping the Ducks take a 10-7 lead at the half.
The Spartans, on their first possession, stalled at their 30 and Craig Jarrett went in to punt. The snap from Kyle Rance was high and wide and Jarrett tried to run but was tackled at the Spartans 15 by Sonny Cook.
On the first snap, Feeley found LaCorey Collins over Aric Morris in the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 8:06 left in the first quarter.
Michigan State, with Burke 4-of-4 for 52 yards, responded with a 78-yard, nine-play drive, tying it 7-all on Burke's 14-yard scoring flip to Gari Scott.
Oregon had two chances early in the second quarter but Villegas missed a 41-yard field goal attempt and the Spartans later mounted a goal-line stand, dropping Reuben Droughns on fourth down for a 2-yard loss at the 5 with 8:05 to go in the half.
A fumble by Little John Flowers was recovered a few minutes later by Oregon cornerback Brian Johnson and returned 15 yards to the Spartans 30. Five snaps later, Villegas was good from 23 yards for a 3-point lead.
On the Ducks' first possession of the third quarter, Feeley was 4-of-5 for 62 yards, capping a 76-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring strike to Tony Hartley - again over Morris - for a 17-7 lead.
A 51-yard pass play from Burke to Scott helped the Spartans drive to the Oregon 5, where they settled for Edinger's 22-yard field goal.
Scott's 49-yard punt return set up the Spartans at the Oregon 29, and six plays later he snagged a 12-yard touchdown toss from Burke to tie it 17-all with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
