Flea-flicker gave U-M a dramatic win in '64

In the 1950s and '60s, Michigan State ascended to national elitehood under Biggie Munn, then Duffy Daugherty, and assumed control of the Michigan rivalry in the process.

The Spartans were 14-4-2 against the Wolverines in those two decades.

"We expected to beat them every time," said former MSU All-American fullback Bob Apisa. "It's what we did."

Apisa was a standout from 1965-67 on teams that pounded U-M each time and got shares of two national titles. But he was an inactive freshman (they were ineligible then), watching as the Wolverines scored a dramatic comeback win in 1964 at Spartan Stadium.

MSU quarterback Steve Juday scored on goal-line dive in the first quarter, and the Spartans clutched a 10-3 lead with less than seven minutes to play.

The Wolverines finally put together a sustained drive midway through the fourth quarter, marching 73 yards. It was capped by a 1-yard run from Rick Sygar with 6:42 left on the clock.

U-M decided to go for two "because we wanted to win it right then and there," coach Bump Elliott said after the game.

But MSU's Charles Migyanka stuffed Mel Anthony at the goal line, keeping the Spartans up 10-9.

MSU then went three-and-out on its next possession, and the Wolverines drove to the Spartans' 31. Sygar took a pitch, pulled up and heaved a flea-flicker to end John Henderson.

He walked into the end zone with 2:33 to play. A two-point conversion provided the final margin of victory.

The Wolverines had a rare win over their rivals - their first in East Lansing since 1948 - and a ticket to their first Rose Bowl since 1950.

Contact Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@lsj.com.