Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Post-Game Notes: Central Michigan
9/29/2018 6:48:00 PM | Football
• In the 11th meeting between Michigan State and Central Michigan, the Spartans defeated the Chippewas, 31-20, Saturday afternoon in Spartan Stadium . . . MSU leads the all-time series, 8-3, including a 7-3 mark in East Lansing . . . MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 4-1 against Central Michigan.
• Michigan State recognized the five members of the 2018 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame class – Dale Anderson (wrestling), Savatheda (Fynes) Coke (track & field), Rachel Miller (rowing), Jimmy Raye (football) and Bill Wehrwein (track & field) – during a halftime ceremony.
• Mark Dantonio improved to 103-46 at Michigan State and is now just six wins away from tying Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty for most wins in school history (109).
• Michigan State improved to 42-6 all-time against current members of the Mid-American Conference.
OFFENSE
• Junior quarterback Brian Lewerke accounted for 224 total yards . . . Lewerke was 16-of-25 passing for 185 yards and rushed for 39 yards on eight carries . . . he recorded the second multi-TD rushing game of his career, running for scores of 3 yards and 5 yards in the second quarter . . . Lewerke also ran for two scores against Western Michigan in 2017 . . . Lewerke crossed the 4,000 career yards passing milestone during the game, becoming the 12th Spartan quarterback to reach that mark.
• In his third collegiate game, La'Darius Jefferson ran for a season-high 56 yards on 13 carries, including his first-career touchdown, a 2-yard run in the third quarter that gave MSU a 31-3 lead.
• Connor Heyward rushed for a career-high 48 yards on 15 carries . . . he scored his third rushing TD of the season on a 2-yard run in the third quarter . . . he also led MSU and tied a career high with four receptions (16 yards) . . . Heyward finished with 100 all-purpose yards (48 receiving; 36 kick return; 16 receiving).
• Weston Bridges recorded the first carries of his career, gaining 18 yards on six attempts.
• Redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi played in one series in the fourth quarter, his first time at QB for the Spartans.
• Felton Davis III led all players with 66 receiving yards on three catches.
• Michigan State had a 37:39-22:21 advantage in time of possession.
• Michigan State featured its fourth different starting combination on the offensive line: Tyler Higby (second start at LT); David Beedle (third start at LG); Matt Allen (second start at C); Luke Campbell (first start at RG); Jordan Reid (third start at RT).
DEFENSE
• Michigan State entered the game ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense (32.7 ypg) . . . the Spartans held the Chippewas to 63 yards rushing on 22 carries . . . MSU has only allowed 161 rushing yards through four games (40.3 ypg).
• The Spartans have limited their opponents under 100 yards rushing in seven straight games, dating back to last season, the longest stretch for MSU since 2012-13 (last three games of 2012; first nine games of 2013) . . . in the Dantonio era, Michigan State has held its opponent below 100 yards rushing in 76 of 149 games; MSU is 66-10 during those games.
• Justin Layne recorded his first interception of the season and the third of his career . . . Layne had a season-high nine tackles.
• David Dowell picked off his first pass of the season in the second quarter and returned it 30 yards . . . the interception led to MSU's first touchdown of the game . . . Dowell has six career interceptions.
• Kenny Willekes recorded an 8-yard sack and had 1.5 tackles for loss (9 yards) . . . he had five stops overall . . . on the season, Willekes continues to lead the Spartans with four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
• In addition to the two interceptions, MSU recorded a season-high six pass break-ups.
• MSU has recorded eight sacks the past two games (five vs. Indiana; three vs. Central Michigan).
• MSU won the turnover battle, 2-1, and both of the Spartans' takeaways led to scores (season-high 10 points off turnovers) . . . MSU has recorded two interceptions in three games this season (Utah State, Indiana, Central Michigan).
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin connected on a 33-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the second quarter, his 14th consecutive field goal (school record: 15 by Brett Swenson).
• In his second career start, redshirt freshman punter Tyler Hunt averaged 35.5 yards on four punts, including a career-long 48-yarder . . . he placed three punts inside the 20.
• Brandon Sowards had a career-long 24-yard punt return in the third quarter . . . his previous career-long was a 20-yarder vs. Illinois in 2016.
• Michigan State recognized the five members of the 2018 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame class – Dale Anderson (wrestling), Savatheda (Fynes) Coke (track & field), Rachel Miller (rowing), Jimmy Raye (football) and Bill Wehrwein (track & field) – during a halftime ceremony.
• Mark Dantonio improved to 103-46 at Michigan State and is now just six wins away from tying Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty for most wins in school history (109).
• Michigan State improved to 42-6 all-time against current members of the Mid-American Conference.
OFFENSE
• Junior quarterback Brian Lewerke accounted for 224 total yards . . . Lewerke was 16-of-25 passing for 185 yards and rushed for 39 yards on eight carries . . . he recorded the second multi-TD rushing game of his career, running for scores of 3 yards and 5 yards in the second quarter . . . Lewerke also ran for two scores against Western Michigan in 2017 . . . Lewerke crossed the 4,000 career yards passing milestone during the game, becoming the 12th Spartan quarterback to reach that mark.
• In his third collegiate game, La'Darius Jefferson ran for a season-high 56 yards on 13 carries, including his first-career touchdown, a 2-yard run in the third quarter that gave MSU a 31-3 lead.
• Connor Heyward rushed for a career-high 48 yards on 15 carries . . . he scored his third rushing TD of the season on a 2-yard run in the third quarter . . . he also led MSU and tied a career high with four receptions (16 yards) . . . Heyward finished with 100 all-purpose yards (48 receiving; 36 kick return; 16 receiving).
• Weston Bridges recorded the first carries of his career, gaining 18 yards on six attempts.
• Redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi played in one series in the fourth quarter, his first time at QB for the Spartans.
• Felton Davis III led all players with 66 receiving yards on three catches.
• Michigan State had a 37:39-22:21 advantage in time of possession.
• Michigan State featured its fourth different starting combination on the offensive line: Tyler Higby (second start at LT); David Beedle (third start at LG); Matt Allen (second start at C); Luke Campbell (first start at RG); Jordan Reid (third start at RT).
DEFENSE
• Michigan State entered the game ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense (32.7 ypg) . . . the Spartans held the Chippewas to 63 yards rushing on 22 carries . . . MSU has only allowed 161 rushing yards through four games (40.3 ypg).
• The Spartans have limited their opponents under 100 yards rushing in seven straight games, dating back to last season, the longest stretch for MSU since 2012-13 (last three games of 2012; first nine games of 2013) . . . in the Dantonio era, Michigan State has held its opponent below 100 yards rushing in 76 of 149 games; MSU is 66-10 during those games.
• Justin Layne recorded his first interception of the season and the third of his career . . . Layne had a season-high nine tackles.
• David Dowell picked off his first pass of the season in the second quarter and returned it 30 yards . . . the interception led to MSU's first touchdown of the game . . . Dowell has six career interceptions.
• Kenny Willekes recorded an 8-yard sack and had 1.5 tackles for loss (9 yards) . . . he had five stops overall . . . on the season, Willekes continues to lead the Spartans with four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
• In addition to the two interceptions, MSU recorded a season-high six pass break-ups.
• MSU has recorded eight sacks the past two games (five vs. Indiana; three vs. Central Michigan).
• MSU won the turnover battle, 2-1, and both of the Spartans' takeaways led to scores (season-high 10 points off turnovers) . . . MSU has recorded two interceptions in three games this season (Utah State, Indiana, Central Michigan).
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin connected on a 33-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the second quarter, his 14th consecutive field goal (school record: 15 by Brett Swenson).
• In his second career start, redshirt freshman punter Tyler Hunt averaged 35.5 yards on four punts, including a career-long 48-yarder . . . he placed three punts inside the 20.
• Brandon Sowards had a career-long 24-yard punt return in the third quarter . . . his previous career-long was a 20-yarder vs. Illinois in 2016.
Players Mentioned
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