Michigan State was comfortably ahead of in-state rival Michigan in the fourth quarter when it drove deep into Wolverines territory. Instead of taking a knee, RB Jeremy Langford took another handoff and scored from five yards out with 28 seconds to go, ballooning the Spartans lead to 35-11.

After the game, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said the decision to go for the end zone again was in response to something that happened pregame. A Michigan player apparently “threw a stake or dagger” of some sort into the turf at Spartan Stadium, causing the Spartans to pile on.

Per SpartanMag.com:

The Wolverine player, with more than two or three teammates around him offering encouragement, threw the dagger into the grass on the Michigan sideline near the 20-yard line and looked across the field to the Spartan sideline, pointed and yelled. He was joined by teammate Frank Clark in shouting across the field while the Spartans were lined up for the playing of the National Anthem.

When asked about it, Dantonio did not hold back.

“As far as the score at the end, it just felt like we needed to put a stake in ‘em at that point,” Dantonio said. "To throw the stake down in our backyard out here and coming out there like they're all that, it got shoved in the last minute and a half and we were not going to pull off of that. Wasn't going to line up and kick a field goal, but if our guys could get it in (the end zone), we were going to get it in."

The win improved Michigan State’s record to 7-1 on the season, while Michigan dropped to 3-5. With the Wolverines struggling as much as they have this season, plus the recent lopsidedness of the series (MSU has won six of the last eight meetings), it’s perplexing to hear the Wolverine players acted like that before the game.

Dantonio alluded to the Spartan program being thought of as the “little brother” in the state. After a win like this, that perception is looking more and more like a thing of the past.

For more Michigan State news, visit SpartanMag.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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