EAST LANSING, Mich. _ Rocky Lombardi got the start, and more injuries occurred.
Michigan State's offense sputtered and stalled under its new quarterback, but the Spartans moved the ball enough for a 23-13 victory over Purdue on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans' Mike Panasiuk blocked a game-tying field goal attempt with 3:42 to play, and Jalen Nailor turned Lombardi's "pop pass" into a cutback, field-weaving 48-yard touchdown to seal the win with just under two minutes remaining.
And it was a critical win for bowl eligibility for MSU (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten). The Spartans travel to Maryland next week needing just one more victory to qualify for postseason play for the 11th time in coach Mark Dantonio's 12 seasons.
MSU and the Terrapins kick off at noon next Saturday.
Purdue (4-4, 3-2) beat then-No. 2 Ohio State last week, 49-20.
MSU kept everyone guessing up until kickoff time, not even informing its radio broadcast team whether Lombardi or Brian Lewerke would start at quarterback.
Lombardi got the ball when MSU went on offense with 13:10 to go in the first quarter. The redshirt freshman moved the Spartans 24 yards, including a 9-yard scramble and a 14-yard pass to Darrell Stewart Jr. However, the drive stalled.
Enter Lewerke on fourth down _ he continued his role as the holder on place-kicks. Matt Coghlin made a 43-yard field goal to cap that drive, then a 48-yarder for his 18th straight as MSU took a 6-3 lead.
After Purdue tied it, Lombardi guided the Spartans on a late-half drive that started at their own 13. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder from Iowa connected on 6 of 7 passes on the drive, including a 27-yarder to Stewart, while hitting receivers and tight ends.
Lombardi finished the drive with an 11-yard scoring strike to Stewart, who dove into the end zone with 56 seconds left in the second quarter to send MSU into halftime with a 13-6 lead.
After gaining just 94 yards last week in a 21-7 loss to Michigan, the Spartans put up 426 yards against the Boilermakers. Lombardi finished 26 of 46 for 318 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.
MSU lost a number of players to the game, with a number of them returning. That list included Stewart, linebacker Joe Bachie, corner/receiver Justin Layne and right tackle Jordan Reid.
The Spartans' offense played without starting center Matt Allen and starting fullback Collin Lucas, as well as offensive lineman David Beedle, wideouts Cody White, Felton Davis III and Laress Nelson.
Purdue posted 539 yards against Ohio State last week.
The Spartans kept QB David Blough and receiver Rondale Moore in check Saturday. Blough threw for 277 yards, and the Boilermakers had just 77 yard rushing for 339 total yards.
Moore had 11 catches for 74 yards and no touchdowns. The Boilermakers' only score was a 1-yard run by Terry Moore in the third quarter that cut MSU's lead to 16-13.
The Spartans never trailed and held a 38:13-21:47 edge in time of possession.
