Final
Spartans easily take down Owls
Sep 10, 2011 - 10:23 PM East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) - Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes and B.J. Cunningham became the Spartans' all-time receptions leader, as No. 17 Michigan State smothered Florida Atlantic, 44-0.Cunningham took little time in reaching the top of the receiving mountain, hauling in a first-quarter pass for his 149th career reception, moving past former football and basketball standout Matt Trannon for the top spot. Cunningham caught five passes for 73 yards on the day.
"I told him he needed one catch before the game and I said, 'Make it a good one,'" said Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio. "I thought he did. We were punting if he had not made that catch."
Le'Veon Bell ran for 69 yards and a score, while Edwin Baker added 50 yards and a trip to paydirt for the Spartans (2-0), who face their first test next Saturday at Notre Dame. Cousins finished 16-of-21 for 183 yards in the victory.
Florida Atlantic (0-2) was again on the wrong end of a rout after dropping a 41-3 decision to Florida last week. The Owls managed just 48 total yards one week after managing only 137. The quarterbacks finished 6-of-13 for 26 yards and were sacked three times. Florida Atlantic also posted just one first down in the game compared to 27 for the Spartans.
"We thought we would come up and play much more consistently and we didn't. We played inconsistently and horrible," said FAU head coach Howard Schnellenberger. "I have to reiterate the talent of our opponent; I don't know if Florida or Michigan State is better but they've both improved and are very good.
"So what we do, as we have done in the past, is go home and find out what we can do better and have our kids play more consistently. I'm not sure that if we played better the score would have been a whole lot different. The defense could not stop them and our offense couldn't move the ball at all."
It didn't take long for the Spartans to reach paydirt, as Cousins moved them 51 yards on seven plays, including a 23-yard strike to Cunningham. Baker finished off the march with a nine-yard scoring jaunt.
After forcing another three-and-out, the Spartans again moved the football at will. This time they moved through 73 yards of real estate, including a pair of third-down conversions. They also introduced another talented back to the overmatched Owls, as Bell ran for 40 yards on the march, including a two-yard plunge into the end zone.
A pair of second-quarter drives stalled before the end zone, as Dan Conroy connected on 50- and 41-yard field goals for a 20-0 edge. They again crossed the goal line in the final moments of the quarter, completing a four-play, 43- yard drive with Cousins' one-yard toss to Dion Sims and a 27-0 edge.
Michigan State dominated both the scoreboard and the stat sheet in the opening half, racking up 263 total yards and posting a rushing total (81 yards) that more than tripled Florida Atlantic's total yardage (26).
"Anytime you throw a shutout in 2011 I think you get a phenomenal performance by your defense," said Dantonio. "I thought our players played and executed the defense very, very well. Offensively, we controlled the football, controlled the tempo."
The Spartans moved the ball at will on their first possession of the second half, but the normally-reliable Conroy botched a 28-yard try. Undeterred, they used the power running game to increase their edge moments later. A heavy dose of Bell, six runs out of seven plays, pushed the Spartans to the doorstep of the goal line, and Cousins completed the drive with an eight-yard TD toss to Garrett Celek.
A 28-yard field goal by Kevin Muma and a 37-yard fumble return by Jeremy Langford capped the scoring.
Game Notes
Michigan State has won all three meetings with Florida Atlantic...Keshawn Martin finished with seven catches for 72 yards in the victory...Nick Hill added 56 yards on the ground for the Spartans...Michigan State finished with 434 total yards.
- FLORIDA ATLANTIC: 0
MICHIGAN STATE: 44
Final
Sep 10 2:57 PM - FLORIDA ATLANTIC: 0
MICHIGAN STATE: 44
End of Regulation
Sep 10 2:57 PM - Michigan State Touchdown - Xavier Stinson rushed to the Fla Atlantic 35 for 12 yards. Xavier Stinson fumble recovered by Jeremy Langford at the Fla Atlantic 38, returned into the end zone.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 43 4th - 8:22Sep 10 2:38 PM - Michigan State Field Goal - 28-yarder by Kevin Muma.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 37 4th - 9:57Sep 10 2:31 PM - FLORIDA ATLANTIC: 0
MICHIGAN STATE: 34
End of 3rd
Sep 10 2:20 PM - Michigan State Touchdown - Kirk Cousins pass to Garrett Celek for 8 yards.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 33 3rd - 2:42Sep 10 2:10 PM - FLORIDA ATLANTIC: 0
MICHIGAN STATE: 27
Halftime
Sep 10 1:25 PM - Michigan State Touchdown - Kirk Cousins pass to Dion Sims for 1 yard.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 26 2nd - 0:11Sep 10 1:21 PM - Michigan State Field Goal - 41-yarder by Dan Conroy.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 20 2nd - 3:43Sep 10 1:07 PM - Michigan State Field Goal - 50-yarder by Dan Conroy.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 17 2nd - 10:44Sep 10 12:47 PM - FLORIDA ATLANTIC: 0
MICHIGAN STATE: 14
End of 1st
Sep 10 12:36 PM - Michigan State Touchdown - Le'Veon Bell rushed for 2 yards.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 13 1st - 1:44Sep 10 12:32 PM - Michigan State Touchdown - Edwin Baker rushed for 9 yards.
Florida Atlantic 0, Michigan State(17) 6 1st - 10:43Sep 10 12:09 PM - FLORIDA ATLANTIC: 0
MICHIGAN STATE: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Sep 10 12:02 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