MSU Vs. Rutgers Post-Game Notes

Michigan State vs. Rutgers
Rutgers Stadium - Piscataway, N.J.
Sept. 4, 2004

MSU Game Notes

 Michigan State is now 70-35-3 all-time in season openers, and today's loss snapped a string of five-straight wins in season openers. Michigan State has not won a season opener on the road since a 24-21 win at Colorado Sept. 8, 1984, going 0-3-1 since that game.

 John L. Smith is now 10-6 all-time in season openers during his coaching career, including a 1-1 mark at Michigan State.

 Three players made their first career starts for Michigan State: sophomore offensive guard Kyle Cook, sophomore WHIP linebacker David Herron, Jr. and red-shirt freshman BANDIT Kaleb Thornhill.

 Michigan State is now 16-5 in games played against non-conference opponents since 1999.

 Michigan State now trails the series vs. Rutgers, 3-2. The series is now tied 1-1 in games played in New Jersey.

 Michigan State is now 27-10-5 all-time against current members of the BIG EAST Conference.

 Six Spartans from the state of New Jersey played in today's game - BANDIT Tyrell Dortch (Hoboken), safety Anthony Belasco (Cedar Grove), offensive tackle Stefon Wheeler (Passaic), linebacker Rob Tabatchnick (Livingston), defensive end Daryl Melvin (Garden City) and linebacker Hugh D'Imperio (Sewell).

 With two extra points today, senior kicker Dave Rayner moved into sixth place on MSU's all-time scoring list with 231 points. John Langeloh (1987-90) is MSU's career scoring leader with 308 points.

 Despite being outgained in the first quarter 186-37, Michigan State held Rutgers scoreless in the opening period. Last year, the Scarlet Knights scored 14 first-quarter points vs. MSU. MSU also limited Rutgers to six first-half points after surrendering 21 last season. Conversely, MSU had 31 points at the half last season and just seven today.

 Matt Trannon's nine-yard TD catch in the second quarter was the first touchdown of his career. Trannon finished with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.

 Freshman Sir Darean Adams blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter during his collegiate debut. The last Spartan to block a field goal was Thomas Wright vs. Wisconsin, Oct. 26, 2002.

 Jason Harmon had his seventh career interception late in the second quarter, returning it 19 yards.

 Ryan Neal's 31-yard interception return for a touchdown for Rutgers was the first time a player returned an interception for a touchdown against the Spartans since Brandon Haw of Rutgers returned a pick 61 yards for a score in last season's game.

 Eric Knott's 54-yard TD reception from Damon Dowdell early in the fourth quarter was the longest reception of his career, and the seventh touchdown of his career.

 Damon Dowdell finished 22-for-39 for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was the second-highest single-game yardage total in his career and the fourth 200-yard passing game of his career.

 Dowdell completed passes to eight different receivers, including six that caught at least two balls, led by Matt Trannon and Jason Teague who had five catches each. For Teague, the five catches was a career-high.

 Teague also finished with a team-high 79 yards rushing on 13 carries. It was the third-highest single-game rushing total of his career, and just one yard shy of the 80 yards he had last season vs. Rutgers.

 Brandon Fields punted seven times for an average of 46.0 yards per punt, including a long of 56 yards. It was two punts shy of Fields' single-game high of nine punts set last season vs. Iowa.

 Michigan State had a time of possession of just 19:46. Last season, the Spartans had an average time of possession of 28:55.

 Michigan State's 270 yards passing matched exactly its average yards passing per game from last season. MSU's 90 yards rushing was just shy of last year's average of 97.4 yards per game.