From The Press Box
9/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap?|? Final Stats
Michigan State vs. Iowa
Spartan Stadium - East Lansing, Mich.
September 27, 2003
MSU Game Notes
Attendance: 72,276. Today's game marked the 30th-consecutive sellout in Spartan Stadium and the 38th sellout in the last 43 games.
Michigan State is now 27-20-4 all-time in Big Ten openers, including 4-4-1 in league openers vs. Iowa. The Spartans have won their last two conference openers and five of their last eight.
Michigan State scored on its opening possession for the second time this year, and the second straight game. It was MSU's first touchdown on its opening possession. Last Saturday at Notre Dame, Dave Rayner kicked a 51-yard field goal on the opening drive.
Ziehl Kavanaght's 17-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive was the first touchdown reception of his career. He had one previous touchdown, coming on an 88-yard punt return last year vs. Northwestern.
Senior quarterback Jeff Smoker's 17-yard TD toss to Kavanaght was the 47th of his career, breaking the school record for career touchdown passes. Smoker, who now has 48 career touchdown passes, previously shared the record with Bill Burke (1996-99).
Smoker also broke the school record for career completions, as his 28 completions in today's game give him 478 for his career. Smoker broke the previous school record of 467, held by Jim Miller (1990-93).
Smoker completed 28-of-44 passes in today's game, establishing new career highs for both attempts and completions in a game. Smoker's previous career highs were 36 attempts and 24 completions, both vs. Penn State in 2001.
Smoker's 28 completions are tied for the fifth most in MSU history. The MSU single-game record for pass completions is 32 by John Leister vs. Michigan in 1982. Smoker's 44 attempts are tied for the eighth most in MSU history.
Junior Eric Knott's seven-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his first touchdown catch of the season and fifth of his career.
Junior Dave Rayner's 23-yard field goal in the second quarter was the first points scored against the Iowa defense in the second quarter this season.
Rayner was two-for-two on field goal attempts, and has now made his last seven field goal attempts. Rayner already has 14 made field goals this season, which is tied for eighth most in a single season in MSU history.
Quick Hitters
? Michigan State, which entered the game with a Big Ten-best 12 turnovers forced, recovered three fumbles during the game, and did not commit a turnover.
? Michigan State had five sacks today, giving the Spartans (22) sacks for the season. Last year, MSU had 19 sacks during the entire 12-game season.
? With today's win over No. 13 Iowa, the Spartans earned their first victory over a ranked opponent since Dec. 31, 2001, when MSU beat No. 20 Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Bowl.
Iowa Notes
The loss to Michigan State stopped Iowa's 13-game regular-season winning streak, third longest in school history. Iowa had also won 10 straight Big Ten Conference games, dating back to a 34-28 loss at Wisconsin on 11/3/01. Iowa has posted an 18-4 record over its last 22 games overall. The loss to MSU also snapped a six-game winning streak in regular season road games.
Iowa began the game on defense for just the second time in 47 games, and for the first time in 16 games, dating back to Miami, OH in the second game of the 2002 season. Iowa has started on offense in 47 of 53 games under Kirk Ferentz.
Michigan State became the second Iowa opponent in five games to score on its opening drive. Miami, OH opened the first game of the season with a field goal. The 14-point deficit is Iowa's biggest of the season, as Iowa trailed Miami by three points and Arizona State by two points. Today marks the third straight season MSU has started the game against Iowa with a touchdown drive, dating back to Iowa's 21-16 win in Iowa City in 2000. Iowa, in its first four games of the season, allowed just two touchdown passes and 12 points in the first quarter. MSU scored 14 first quarter points on two TD passes.
Iowa failed to score on its opening possession for the third time in five games, due to a fumble on its opening possession. Iowa did not score on its first possession in the opening win over Miami, or against Arizona State. Iowa began the win over Buffalo with a touchdown drive and opened the win at Iowa State with a field goal.
Senior tackle Robert Gallery was in Iowa's starting line-up for the 36th straight game. His starting streak is the longest current streak in the Big Ten among offensive linemen. OG David Walker missed his second straight game after starting the first three games of the season. Eric Rothwell, who did not play at Iowa State after starting the first two games, played left guard in place of Walker for the second straight week and Pete McMahon played right guard for the third straight game.
Senior PK Nate Kaeding, with his PAT in the first half, tied Tom Nichol's school record of 142 career PATs. Kaeding also had a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter to raise his career-best scoring total to 298 points. He had made all five field goal attempts and all 16 PAT attempts this season. Kaeding has made 52-64 career field goal attempts, including 21-26 outside of 40 yards and 3-3 outside 50 yards, and 142-144 PATs.
Fred Russell moved into ninth place on Iowa's career rushing chart. Russell vs. MSU rushed 23 times for 122 yards, improving his career totals to 341 carries for 2,021 yards. Russell rushed for at least 100 yards in a game for the third time this season and for the 11th time in his career.
Senior DB Bob Sanders returned to action after missing Iowa's last three games. WR Maurice Brown missed his second straight game and FB Champ Davis missed his third straight game. WR Ed Hinkel did not play after leaving the Arizona State game early a week ago.
Michigan State recovered two Iowa fumbles in the first half and scored 10 points following the turnovers, and the Spartans added a field goal following an Iowa fumble in the fourth quarter. Iowa was guilty of a season-high four turnovers, one interception and three fumbles. Iowa had no interceptions and lost just two fumbles in the first three games of the season before having an interception and two lost fumbles in a 21-2 win over Arizona State. Iowa's five opponents have scored 22 points on eight Iowa turnovers.
Michigan State's field goal just before halftime marked the first points allowed by Iowa in the second quarter this season. Iowa, through five games, has not allowed any points in the third quarter.
WR Scott Chandler became the sixth true freshman to play for Iowa this season. Three of the six rookies, Chandler, James Townsend and Eric McCollom, have played wide receiver. The other true freshmen are QB Drew Tate, RB A.J. Johnson and FB Champ Davis.
Nathan Chandler threw his ninth scoring pass of the season, and he came into the game leading all Big Ten QBs in touchdown passes. TE Mike Follett scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter on the first reception of his career. The sophomore played defense prior to this season.
