Final
Spartans prep for Big Ten slate with another blowout
Sep 27, 2014 - 8:46 PM East Lansing, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Connor Cook threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for a score, as ninth-ranked Michigan State had another easy tune-up for the Big Ten schedule with a 56-14 rout of Wyoming on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.Jeremy Langford ran for 137 yards with a score on 16 carries and Nick Hill chipped in 71 yards on the ground for the Spartans (3-1), who completed their non-conference slate and will open Big Ten play next Saturday at home against Nebraska.
After a bye following their 46-27 loss at No. 2 Oregon three weeks ago, the Spartans have dominated the opposition the last two weeks. Last Saturday, Michigan State piled up 336 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in a 73-14 demolition of Eastern Michigan. Against the overmatched Cowboys, Michigan State bettered that mark with 338 yards on the ground with five scores.
"This was another good win," said Michigan State associate head coach Pat Narduzzi. "Again, had another chance, with the offense as explosive as they've been the past three, four weeks, to get our guys in the game. Big Ten play starts next week, so I think the guys are revved up for that. We'll move on."
Shaun Wick ran for 85 yards on five carries, including a 57-yard score, for Wyoming (3-2), while Colby Kirkegaard threw for 188 yards with a touchdown and an interception in defeat.
The Cowboys have won each of their three home games and have been blown out by ranked opposition in their road outings. Wyoming went to Oregon two weeks ago and left with a 48-14 setback against the Ducks.
"We've played two top-10 teams in a short amount of time and won three very emotional games," said first-year Wyoming coach Craig Bohl. "That's challenging, I don't care who you are."
Michigan State scored 49 points in the first half of last week's contest and nearly matched that total on Saturday, racing out to a 42-14 lead.
Langford ignited the first Michigan State series with a 36-yard run and a Cook 25-yard pass to Tony Lippett set up a first down at the Wyoming 3. Langford was unable to bang it into the end zone on three tries, but Cook kept the ball on a fourth-down option and scored from the 1 to give the Spartans the early lead.
After a Wyoming three-and-out, Cook finished a 10-play, 69-yard drive with a 19-yard TD strike to Lippett, but Wyoming answered when Wick burst up the middle and raced to the end zone from 57 yards.
Michigan State responded quickly with a three-play set for a score, as Keith Mumphery took an end around 33 yards to the end zone. A Kirkegaard fumble on the final play of the first quarter led to a 19-yard touchdown pass from Cook to Josiah Price just over a minute into the second for a 28-7 margin.
The Cowboys had a field goal blocked on their ensuing possession and a 26-yard return set up the Spartans at the Wyoming 35. Tyler O'Connor took over at quarterback for Michigan State and finished a nine-play drive with a 6-yard TD pass to Mumphery.
Kirkegaard fumbled again on Wyoming's next series and Delton Williams capped the 25-yard Michigan State drive with a 4-yard TD run for a 42-7 cushion, but Kirkegaard threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to J.D. Krill in the final minute of the half.
The Cowboys had the ball to start the second half, but Dominic Rufran fumbled after a reception on the first play from scrimmage to give Michigan State possession at the Wyoming 31. The Spartans were unable to cash in, as Cook threw incomplete on fourth down from the 7-yard line.
Michigan State added to its lead late in the third on Langford's 29-yard TD run. Langford accounted for all 68 yards, rushing four times for 63 and catching one pass for five.
O'Connor then returned under center for the Spartans and scored on a 12-yard run early in the fourth to account for the final margin.
Game Notes
Langford recorded the ninth 100-yard game of his career ... Cook threw for 126 yards on 8-of-12 passing ... The Spartans outgained the Cowboys, 533-286 ... Michigan State also won the first two meetings with Wyoming, 21-10 in 1976 and 34-16 in 1977, both in East Lansing ... Michigan State improved to 65-31-3 in 99 Homecoming games. It was the first non-conference Homecoming game for the Spartans since 1952 ... Former Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton, currently starting for the Arizona Cardinals, was on the Spartans' sideline ... Wyoming will take next week off before visiting Hawaii on Oct. 11.
- Kevin Cronin extra point is good.
Sep 27 3:30 PM - WYOMING: 14
MICHIGAN STATE: 56
End of Regulation
Sep 27 3:30 PM - WYOMING: 14
MICHIGAN STATE: 49
End of 3rd
Sep 27 3:25 PM - WYOMING: 14
MICHIGAN STATE: 42
Halftime
Sep 27 1:33 PM - Colby Kirkegaard pass to J.D. Krill for 4 yards.
Wyoming 13, Michigan State(9) 42 2nd - 0:42Sep 27 1:30 PM - Tyler O''Connor pass to Keith Mumphrey for 6 yards.
Wyoming 7, Michigan State(9) 34 2nd - 4:11Sep 27 1:06 PM - Connor Cook pass to Josiah Price for 19 yards.
Wyoming 7, Michigan State(9) 27 2nd - 13:53Sep 27 12:49 PM - marty Who are these announcers? Everyone in the country knows Michigan State is favored, bigger, and faster. Do they really have to be so negative, disrespectful, inconsiderate, and rude toward Wyoming? And, to keep harping on it over and over? Jerks! These guys should be an embarrassment to ESPN!
Wyoming 7, Michigan State(9) 21 2nd - 14:47Sep 27 12:48 PM - WYOMING: 7
MICHIGAN STATE: 21
End of 1st
Sep 27 12:42 PM - Connor Cook pass to Tony Lippett for 19 yards.
Wyoming 0, Michigan State(9) 13 1st - 5:47Sep 27 12:21 PM - WYOMING: 0
MICHIGAN STATE: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Sep 27 12:01 PM
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