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Michigan State pounds Central Michigan

Sep 8, 2012 - 11:48 PM Mount Pleasant, MI (Sports Network) - Andrew Maxwell threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-31 passing as No. 11 Michigan State thumped Central Michigan, 41-7, on Saturday.

Le'Veon Bell carried the ball 17 times for 62 yards and two scores for the Spartans (2-0), who topped Boise State in Week 1.

Bennie Fowler caught eight passes for 100 yards and a touchdown and Dion Sims caught a touchdown pass in the victory.

Ryan Radcliff completed 17-of-38 through the air for 173 yards and two interceptions, while Zurlon Tipton led the Central Michigan (1-1) rushing attack with 53 yards on 13 carries.

Jason Wilson accounted for the lone score with a 55-yard interception return for the Chippewas.

Michigan State struck first on its second drive of the game, beginning the trek with excellent field position at the Central Michigan 32-yard line.

Bell carried the ball five times, including a huge 4th-and-1 conversion during the nine-play drive, and capped it with a 1-yard touchdown push to give the Spartans the lead.

Michigan State extended its margin to 14-0 early in the second quarter, with Bell again a focal point of the offense. He ran it six times on the 10-play, 87-yard march and finished it off with a 7-yard TD plunge for his second score of the game.

Late in the second quarter, Michigan State made it a 21-0 game. Maxwell led the offense down the field, completing 6-of-8 during the 9-play, 68-yard march and capped it with a 20-yard touchdown strike to Sims.

Following an interception by Johnny Adams at the Chippewas' 32-yard line, the Spartans capped a dominant first half with a 29-yard field goal by Dan Conroy to lead 24-0.

The Spartans kept the offense rolling on their first possession of the second half as Maxwell hit DeAnthony Arnett over the middle for 48 yards on 2nd-and-5 before finding Fowler for a 7-yard TD pass, extending the lead to 31-0.

With less than a minute to go in the third quarter, Conroy connected on a 29- yard field goal to widen the margin to 34-0 for Michigan State.

Hill capped a 7-play, 18-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown push early in the fourth quarter, and Wilson broke up the shutout for Central Michigan when he jumped in front of a Connor Cook pass and hustled 55 yards to the end zone to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

Saturday's game marked just the ninth meeting between Michigan State and Central Michigan, and the first time Michigan State has faced the Chippewas on the road ... The Spartans lead the all-time series 6-3 ... Central Michigan fell to 4-22 all-time against Ben Ten programs ... Since 1999 Michigan State is 42-16 against non-conference opposition and have won 25 of its last 34 non- league games ... Michigan State has not allowed an offensive touchdown this season.