Field Level Media
Sep 7, 2019
What a difference a week makes.
For Michigan State's offense, the improvement from the season-opener to Saturday night's matchup with Western Michigan was remarkable.
After managing just one touchdown, 67 rushing yards from its backs and 303 total yards in the win over Tulsa in Week 1, the Spartans' offense exploded on Saturday to lead No. 19 Michigan State to a 51-17 victory over visiting Western Michigan in East Lansing, Mich.
Fifth-year quarterback Brian Lewerke was 23-for-32 for 314 yards and three touchdowns, while fifth-year wide receiver Darrell Stewart had 10 receptions for a career-high 185 yards and a score. Cody White and Matt Dotson also caught touchdown passes. Elijah Collins carried 17 times for a career-high 192 yards, highlighted by a 58-yard run on Michigan State's first play of the second half.
The Spartans (2-0) finished with 582 total yards, were 7-for-10 on third downs and converted on all seven trips to the red zone. La'Darius Jefferson added touchdown runs of 2 and 1 yards, while Matt Coghlin booted three field goals. Alante Thomas also had a 1-yard touchdown run.
Western Michigan missed its share of opportunities in the first half with a pair of missed field goals and an interception thrown in the end zone.
Senior quarterback Jon Wassink was 23 for 37 for 252 yards, a touchdown and two picks. The score was a 14-yard strike to tight end Giovanni Ricci late in the second quarter. Ricci finished with six receptions for 53 yards for the Broncos (1-1), who have lost 12 straight to the Spartans.
Michigan State was stout against the run, holding Western Michigan to just 67 yards on the ground.
The Spartans scored the first three touchdowns of the game, with Lewerke hitting Dotson for a 2-yard strike on the opening drive. They followed with Jefferson's 2-yard touchdown run before Lewerke hit Stewart for a 42-yard score to close the first quarter up 21-0.
The interception in the end zone late in the first half allowed Michigan State to add a field goal, taking a 31-7 lead into the locker room.
Coghlin kicked two more field goals in the second half before Jefferson's second TD run and Thomas' score.
--Field Level Media