Michigan State University
Kent State
Michigan State Tops Kent State In Season Opener, 49-14
9/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2005
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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State's offense was so dominant Saturday that starting quarterback Drew Stanton sat out the fourth quarter.
He had already put in a full day's work during the Spartans' 49-14 victory over Kent State.
Michigan State (1-0) had 685 yards of offense, the second most in school history, against the visiting Golden Flashes (0-1). Only a 698-yard effort against Purdue in 1971 ranks higher.
"Today you saw what our offense is capable of," Stanton said. "There were some throws that I wish I could have back, but for the most part we have to be happy with the way this went. When our running game gets going that opens things up for our passes."
Stanton completed 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries.
Michigan State had 354 yards rushing, led by Jehuu Caulcrick's 140 yards on 14 carries. Caulcrick scored three touchdowns.
The effort came against a Kent State team that has seven starters returning from last year's top-rated Mid-American Conference unit.
"We played hard, but we made mistakes and it cost us big plays," Kent State linebacker Justin Parrish said.
Michigan State led 35-14 at halftime and had 438 yards of total offense -- a school record for a half.
"This is a dream offense," said receiver Terry Love, who had four catches for 100 yards. "I think everyone today was satisfied with how productive the offense was."
Michigan State has won seven straight home openers, six of its last seven season openers and 12 straight against Mid-American Conference teams. Kent State is 0-7 all-time against the Big Ten.
Kent State quarterback Michael Machen was 31-of-52 for 293 yards and two TDs with one interception. But the Golden Flashes were ineffective running the ball, finishing with 14 yards on 15 carries.
"We're not a running team," Kent State coach Doug Martin said. "We're a throwing team and that's our game."
Martin said the Golden Flashes' offensive line was outsized by the Michigan State defense.
"We knew that coming in, so we tried to move our guys around and extend the front," Martin said. "But there is only so much you can do."
The Spartans took control early, scoring on their first two drives of the game to go up 14-0.
Stanton was 4-for-4 for 42 yards on the 68-yard opening drive, capped by a 6-yard scoring strike to Kyle Brown. Caulcrick scored on a 7-yard run for Michigan State's second touchdown. That capped a 39-yard drive set up by Brown's 46-yard punt return.
Kent State cut the lead to 14-7 on a 7-yard pass from Machen to Tony Smith late in the first quarter. But touchdown runs by Jason Teague and Caulcrick gave Michigan State a 27-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Machen found Najah Pruden for a 31-yard TD strike in the second quarter to make it 27-14 with about eight minutes remaining in the first half.
Caulcrick's 4-yard touchdown burst gave the Spartans their 35-14 halftime lead.
The sophomore running back got into trouble with coach John L. Smith, however, by fumbling inside the Kent State 10-yard line in the second half.
"He had a big day and he ran very physical," Smith said of Caulcrick. "That's the way he can be. He can't be a yo-yo like he was, a sissy on some plays and tough on others. He needs to be a tough guy all the time."
