Hip Injury Ends Season for Michigan State Hero in Stunning 27-23 Win

Dearborn native Jalen Watts-Jackson grabbed the ball in the last seconds of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry game, scoring the winning touchdown in spectacular fashion. (Photo via Michigan State University.)

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Michigan State University redshirt sophomore Jalen Watts-Jackson was the hero of Saturday’s stunning 27-23 rivalry victory against the University of Michigan, but the season is over for the Dearborn native and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s graduate.

Watts-Jackson scored a spectacular, game-winning touchdown with seconds to go, but had surgery Sunday. His sister said in a Twitter response to the Lansing State Journal’s Eric Lacy that Watts-Jackson is expected to be on crutches for about three months, but should return to the Spartans’ roster next year, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio told the Free Press Watts-Jackson’s hip was broken or dislocated, but he wasn’t sure if the injury occurred when he fell into the end zone after the spectacular touchdown, or if it occurred when his teammates piled on him afterward.

The play was something to see.

The No. 7 Spartans were trailing No. 12 Michigan 23-21 with just 10 seconds left. The Wolverines were well on their way to establishing themselves as national title contenders in Jim Harbaugh’s first season.

But it was fourth down, and Michigan still had to punt to secure the win.

Then things got crazy.

Michigan punter Blake O’Neill fumbled the snap. Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson took matters into his own hands and ran 38 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Watts-Jackson, a third-string safety, was playing his seventh game as a Spartan and had six tackles to his credit, but hadn’t touched the ball until O’Neill bobbled the snap, MLive.com reports.

Watts-Jackson is playing for Michigan State on scholarship.A series of injuries during his junior season of high school football denied him a high rating, but he performed well in a summer camp in 2013 and earned the scholarship offer.

At Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Watts-Jackson was an all-state selection as a senior in 2013. He spent his first year with Michigan State as a member of the scout team and played on special teams this year.

If you missed the big play, watch it below.

(Additional reporting by Patch’s Marc Torrence)