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No. 21 Michigan State holds off Minnesota, 30-27

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) L.J. Scott returned from an injury to rush for a career-high 194 yards and two touchdowns , helping 21st-ranked Michigan State hang on for a 30-27 victory over Minnesota on a soggy Saturday night after kickoff was delayed 34 minutes by lightning strikes. Madre London pitched in 74 yards rushing and a score, Matt Coghlin made three field goals and the Spartans (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) maintained the momentum created by beating Michigan on the strength of a dominant performance by their offensive line. Demry Croft relieved a struggling Conor Rhoda at quarterback for the Gophers (3-3, 0-3) in the middle of the second quarter and connected with Tyler Johnson for three touchdown passes in the fourth. The late surge wasn’t enough to overcome the bruising, pulling and trapping Spartans blockers who wore down an injury-depleted Gophers defense. Scott was only a spectator for the fun in the previous game, when the Spartans went on the road and forced five turnovers by the Wolverines to hold on through a thunderstorm for a 14-10 win. That proved to be a beneficial experience, given the torrential rain that fell sideways in the swirling wind right before the game and during much of the first half. The wet weather was a major factor early. Punter Jake Hartbarger dropped a high snap after a three-and-out by the Spartans on their first possession, and the Gophers jumped on the ball at the 3. But just as they did later in the first quarter after an interception of Brian Lewerke b