Post-Game Notes: Western Michigan

Sept. 4, 2010

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery

• In his collegiate debut, true freshman running back Le'Veon Bell rushed for 141 yards, the most ever by a Spartan freshman in his first career game...it marks the most yards by a Spartan freshman running back since Javon Ringer rushed for 194 at Illinois in 2005...Bell averaged 14.1 yards per carry (141 yards on 10 carries), including a game-long 75-yard rush in the second quarter...he also scored two touchdowns (2-yard run in the second quarter; 18-yard run in the third quarter).

• Bell (141 yards) and Edwin Baker (117 yards) teamed up to rush for 258 yards...it's the first time MSU has had two 100-yard rushers in the same game since Javon Ringer (156 yards) and Drew Stanton (105 yards) accomplished the feat at Pittsburgh in 2006...it's also the first time two Spartan running backs have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game since Jehuu Caulcrick (146 yards) and Jason Teague (112 yards) teamed up for 258 yards against No. 4 Wisconsin in 2004.

• Edwin Baker's 117 rushing yards marked a career high. His previous best was 97 yards against Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.

• MSU's 297 rushing yards are the most since the Spartans totaled 386 yards against Indiana in 2007.

• Mark Dell had six catches for 81 yards...the six catches are the most for Dell since he caught six passes for 121 yards at Notre Dame in week 3 of the 2009 season.

• Junior quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 13-of-21 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown...he completed 11 of his last 14 throws for 161 yards...in two games against Western Michigan, Cousins has completed 35-of-46 (76.1 percent) passes for 539 yards, three TDs and no interceptions...Cousins also became the 13th Spartan quarterback to reach the 3,000-yard passing milestone, as he now 3,176 career passing yards.

• Greg Jones recorded nine tackles, moving him into a tie for sixth all-time at Michigan State with 368 career tackles (Ronald Stanley).

• Michigan State improves to 3-1 in season openers and 4-0 in home openers under head coach Mark Dantonio.

• The Spartans extended their winning streak to 12 in home openers...MSU has now won 14 of their last 15 home openers, with the only setback coming to Colorado State in 1999.

• Coach Dantonio is now 9-1 in non-conference games in Spartan Stadium.

• MSU now leads the all-time series against Western Michigan, 10-2...MSU is 7-0 against WMU in Spartan Stadium and has won the last eight meetings.

• The Spartans forced three turnovers (two fumbles and one interception by Marcus Hyde)...it marked Hyde's second career interception (2008 vs. Michigan)...Greg Jones forced a fumble in the first quarter and it was recovered by Tyler Hoover.

• Keith Nichol recorded his first career TD reception with an acrobatic 20-yard grab in the second quarter...he finished with two catches for 32 yards...he was named one of the four captains prior to the game.

• Chris Norman recorded a career-high eight tackles.