Final
Michigan State runs past Florida Atlantic 30-17
Sep 11, 2010 - 7:41 PM By LARRY LAGE AP Sports WriterDETROIT(AP) -- Edwin Baker ran for an 80-yard touchdown and had 183 yards rushing to lead Michigan State to a 30-17 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
The Spartans (2-0) wore their road whites in the Motor City matchup that was originally scheduled to be at the Owls' new stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
Florida Atlantic (1-1) chose to play at the Detroit Lions' home because its 30,000-seat venue won't be open until next year.
Baker's 80-yard TD put Michigan State ahead 27-7 early in the third quarter.
The Owls had a chance to pull within a TD and 2-point conversion with 2:50 left, but coach Howard Schnellenberger settled for a field goal instead of going for it from the Michigan State 6.
Kirk Cousins had 142 yards passing, a TD and an interception for the Spartans.
Florida Atlantic's Jeff Van Camp was 23-of-35 for 215 yards and a score.
The Sun Belt Conference school was hoping to pack Ford Field with Michigan State fans, but the announced crowd was just 36,124 and there seemed to be fewer fans in seats. Florida Atlantic athletic director Craig Angelos said he hoped to make $1 million after expenses, adding that windfall would exceeded what the school will likely make at its true home games.
The Owls wore their home uniforms and got to control much of what went on - including piping in owl sounds when Michigan State had the ball on third down on its opening drive - and had FAU painted at midfield and Lions removed from the end zones.
Michigan State, though, had many advantages in the game that was a 90-minute drive from its East Lansing, Mich., campus.
Baker was the biggest one.
The sophomore ran with speed and power, making the most of his 15 carries to hold off freshman Le'Veon Bell for playing time after he ran for 141 yards in his debut in last week's win against Western Michigan.
Bell ran for 49 yards on 10 carries and put Michigan State ahead 10-0 early in the game with a 9-yard run after stiff-arming linebacker Michael Lockley onto his back.
The Spartans' weakness is pass defense and that was exposed against Van Camp, who completed nearly two-thirds of his passes to wide-open options all over the field.
Van Camp's TD pass to Xavier Stinson pulled Florida Atlantic within 13 points late in the third quarter.
After Dan Conroy kicked a third field goal - from 50 yards - the Owls put themselves in a position to possibly make the ending interesting. Schnellenberger stunted any potential excitement by deciding to have Ross Gornall kick a 24-yard field goal late in the game.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MICHIGAN ST 10 10 7 3 30
FLA ATLANTIC 7 0 7 3 17 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: MICHIGAN S - FG, DAN CONROY 44 YD, 3:04.
MICHIGAN ST 3-0
MICHIGAN S - TD, LE'VEON BELL 9 YD RUN (DAN
CONROY KICK), 5:27. MICHIGAN
ST 10-0
FLA ATLANT - TD, ALFRED MORRIS 2 YD RUN (ROSS
GORNA
Sep 11 3:02 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 30
FLA ATLANTIC 17 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 11 3:02 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 30
FLA ATLANTIC 17 2:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Michigan State 30, Florida Atlantic 17 4th - 2:50Sep 11 2:57 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 30
FLA ATLANTIC 14 9:16 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Michigan State 30, Florida Atlantic 14 4th - 9:16Sep 11 2:32 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 27
FLA ATLANTIC 14 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 11 2:23 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 27
FLA ATLANTIC 14 2:51 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Michigan State 27, Florida Atlantic 14 3rd - 2:51Sep 11 2:11 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST EDWIN BAKER 80 YD RUN (DAN CONROY KICK)
Michigan State 27, Florida Atlantic 7 3rd - 10:33Sep 11 1:54 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST EDWIN BAKER 80 YD RUN (DAN CONROY KICK)
Michigan State 27, Florida Atlantic 7 3rd - 10:33Sep 11 1:54 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 27
FLA ATLANTIC 7 10:33 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Michigan State 27, Florida Atlantic 7 3rd - 10:33Sep 11 1:54 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 20
FLA ATLANTIC 7 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 11 1:21 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 20
FLA ATLANTIC 7 4:22 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Michigan State 20, Florida Atlantic 7 2nd - 4:22Sep 11 1:09 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST B.J. CUNNINGHAM 30 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (DAN CONROY KICK)
Michigan State 17, Florida Atlantic 7 2nd - 9:50Sep 11 12:52 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST B.J. CUNNINGHAM 30 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (DAN CONROY KICK)
Michigan State 17, Florida Atlantic 7 2nd - 9:50Sep 11 12:52 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST B.J. CUNNINGHAM 30 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (DAN CONROY KICK)
Michigan State 17, Florida Atlantic 7 2nd - 9:50Sep 11 12:52 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 17
FLA ATLANTIC 7 9:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Michigan State 17, Florida Atlantic 7 2nd - 9:50Sep 11 12:52 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 10
FLA ATLANTIC 7 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 11 12:36 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 10
FLA ATLANTIC 7 2:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Michigan State 10, Florida Atlantic 7 1st - 2:04Sep 11 12:29 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST LE'VEON BELL 9 YD RUN (DAN CONROY KICK)
Michigan State 10, Florida Atlantic 0 1st - 9:33Sep 11 12:14 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST LE'VEON BELL 9 YD RUN (DAN CONROY KICK)
Michigan State 10, Florida Atlantic 0 1st - 9:33Sep 11 12:14 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 10
FLA ATLANTIC 0 9:33 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Michigan State 10, Florida Atlantic 0 1st - 9:33Sep 11 12:14 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGAN ST 3
FLA ATLANTIC 0 11:56 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Michigan State 3, Florida Atlantic 0 1st - 11:56Sep 11 12:07 PM
Related News
- Roster News: Aidan Chiles Commits to MSU Dec 14
- MSU Names Joe Rossi As New Defensive Coordinator Dec 11
- Football Offseason Player Tracker Nov 29
- Takeaways from Jonathan Smith’s Introductory Press Conference Nov 28
- Jonathan Smith Reaction Survey Nov 27
- Thanksgiving/Black Friday Double (Triple) Whammy: 0 Likes & Many Dislikes Nov 25
- DEBATE: Who Should be Michigan State’s Next Football Head Coach? Nov 25
- 9 Questions Answered during Michigan State vs Penn State, and Just 1 For the Future Nov 25
- Michigan State Collapses against Penn State: Post Game Grades for The Spartans Nov 25
- GAME THREAD: Michigan State vs Penn State - Football Nov 24
- How to Watch Michigan State vs Penn State - TV, Quick Facts and Prediction Nov 23
- Getting To Know The Enemy: 5Qs About The Penn State Nittany Lions Nov 22