Final
Michigan St. cruises past Montana St., 44-3
Sep 15, 2009 - 9:36 PM By TIM MARTIN AP Sports WriterEAST LANSING, Mich.(AP) -- Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes and Keith Nichol tossed two as Michigan State cruised past Montana State, 44-3, Saturday.
The Spartans (1-0) overmatched their first-ever opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA.
Montana State (0-1) has lost four straight against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents since upsetting Colorado in 2006.
Cousins and Nichol are competing to replace Brian Hoyer, now a backup quarterback for the NFL's New England Patriots. Cousins got the start Saturday and completed 10 of 17 passes for 183 yards.
Nichol played most of the second quarter and started the second half. He finished 9 of 18 for 135 yards.
Blair White had nine catches for 162 yards and two TDs for Michigan State.
Montana State struggled to move the ball against an aggressive, swarming Michigan State defense led by linebacker Greg Jones with 14 tackles. The Bobcats finished with just 160 yards of offense compared to 493 yards for Michigan State.
Montana State quarterback Mark Iddins completed 11 of 22 passes for 91 yards before giving way to backup Cody Kempt.
Michigan State rolled to a 28-0 halftime lead with both its quarterbacks playing key roles.
Cousins was 0-for-2 passing on his first series as Michigan State's starting quarterback. But he settled down quickly and gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter with a 29-yard touchdown strike to a wide-open B.J. Cunningham.
Cousins found Blair White for a 15-yard TD on Michigan State's next drive, putting Montana State in a 14-0 hole.
Nichol took over and promptly led the Spartans on another scoring drive to go up 21-0 midway through the second quarter. The drive was capped with a 26-yard TD toss to Dion Sims.
Nichol rolled right and connected on a 3-yard TD pass to Brian Linthicum putting Michigan State ahead 28-0 at the half.
Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson made two field goals to increase the lead to 34-0 midway through the third quarter.
Montana State's best drive of the game came late in the third quarter, ending with a field goal by Jason Cunningham.
Montana State will receive at least $650,000 for traveling to East Lansing, enough to pay nearly a third of its annual football budget.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MONTANAST 0 0 3 0 3
MICHIGANST 7 21 6 10 44 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: MICHIGAN S - TD, B.J. CUNNINGHAM 29 YD PASS
FROM KIRK COUSINS (BRETT
SWENSON KICK), 6:36.
MICHIGANST 7-0
2ND QUARTER: MICHIGAN S - TD, BLAIR WHITE 15 YD PASS FROM
KIRK COUSINS (BRETT SWENSO
Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 3
MICHIGANST 44 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 3
MICHIGANST 44 5:51 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Montana State 3, Michigan State 44 4th - 5:51Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 3
MICHIGANST 41 14:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Montana State 3, Michigan State 41 4th - 14:55Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 3
MICHIGANST 34 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 3
MICHIGANST 34 1:34 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Montana State 3, Michigan State 34 3rd - 1:34Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 34 6:49 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Montana State 0, Michigan State 34 3rd - 6:49Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 31 10:28 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Montana State 0, Michigan State 31 3rd - 10:28Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 28 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 28 0:24 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Montana State 0, Michigan State 28 2nd - 0:24Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 21 10:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Montana State 0, Michigan State 21 2nd - 10:50Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 14 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Montana State 0, Michigan State 14 2nd - 14:55Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 7 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 5 12:00 PM - NCAAF
MONTANAST 0
MICHIGANST 7 8:24 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Montana State 0, Michigan State 7 1st - 8:24Sep 5 12:00 PM
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