No. 15 Spartans Head to the Desert to Face Arizona State

Game 2: No. 15/13 Michigan State (1-0) at Arizona State (1-0)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 8
Kickoff: 10:50 p.m. EDT
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Stadium: Sun Devil Stadium (53,599) | Stadium Information
Surface: Bermuda Grass
TV/Web/Mobile: ESPN/WatchESPN
Announcers: Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill (sideline)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 98 (Sirius), Ch. 207 (XM), Ch. 964 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com
Tickets: thesundevils.com
All-Time Series: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: ASU 20, MSU 17 (1986)
Parking Information: Guest/Pay lots open 3.5 hours prior to kick-off. | Parking Map

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 101-45 (12th year)
Overall Record: 119-62 (14th year)
Record vs. Arizona State: 0-0

ASU Head Coach: Herm Edwards
ASU Record: 1-0 (first year)
Overall Record: 1-0 (first year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0

FIRST-AND-10 –
• No. 15/13 Michigan State will make its second-ever trip to Tempe, Arizona, to take on Arizona State Saturday, Sept. 8 at 10:50 p.m. EDT in Sun Devil Stadium. It marks the first matchup between the two schools since 1986 and just the third overall in series history. MSU defeated ASU in the first-ever meeting, 12-3, at Spartan Stadium in 1985, but the Sun Devils returned the favor the following season in Tempe, 20-17.

• MSU won its 10th consecutive season opener and 20th straight home opener with a 38-31 victory over Utah State in Spartan Stadium on Friday, Aug. 31. Trailing 31-30 with 5:05 left in the game, junior quarterback Brian Lewerke led the Spartans on a nine-play, 75-yard drive in 3:05, capped by Connor Heyward's 13-yard rushing TD with two minutes remaining, to reclaim the lead. Junior linebacker Joe Bachie sealed the victory after he batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage and then dove for the interception with 1:15 left in the game. Bachie finished with 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

• Arizona State opened the Herm Edwards era in style with a dominating 49-7 victory over UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio) in Sun Devil Stadium on Sept. 1. Junior receiver N'Keal Harry, a first-team All-Pac 12 selection as a sophomore, led ASU with six catches for 140 yards, including two touchdowns.

• Junior quarterback Brian Lewerke, who attended Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, returns to his home state this weekend. Lewerke grew up in Tacoma, Washington, but moved to Arizona in middle school. Lewerke compiled a 19-5 record as a two-year starter for Coach Dana Zupke at Pinnacle and was a first-team all-state selection as a senior in 2014 after accounting for a school-record 3,426 total yards and 46 touchdowns.

• Former Michigan State football head coach Darryl Rogers, who led the Spartans to the 1978 Big Ten championship and also coached at Arizona State, passed away this summer on July 11 at the age of 84. Rogers coached at Michigan State from 1976-79, posting a 24-18-2 record for the Green and White, including winning the 1978 Big Ten title. He coached three first-team All-Americans at MSU, including wide receiver Kirk Gibson, tight end Mark Brammer and punter Ray Stachowicz. Rogers also coached four seasons at Arizona State (1980-84) before moving up to the NFL where he coached the Detroit Lions for four seasons (1985-88).

• With the rally over Utah State, Michigan State has now posted 18 fourth-quarter comebacks under MarkDantonio, the most of any FBS team since 2007 (Dantonio's first season at MSU). Lewerke has led three of those fourth-quarter comebacks (2017 vs. Indiana and Penn State; 2018 vs. Utah State).
• Michigan State held Utah State to just 25 yards rushing in the season opener. In the Dantonio era, Michigan State has held its opponent below 100 yards rushing in 73 of 146 games (50 percent). MSU is 64-9 (.877) during those games.

• MSU has compiled a 36-21-1 record (.629) against current members of the Pac-12 Conference (3-0 vs. Arizona, 1-1 vs. Arizona State, 2-2 vs. California, 3-0 vs. Colorado, 3-3 vs. Oregon, 6-2-1 vs. Oregon State, 4-2 vs. Stanford, 3-3 vs. UCLA, 4-4 vs. USC, 1-2 vs. Washington and 6-2 vs. Washington State).

• Last season, Michigan State posted a 5-1 record in games decided by one score or less. MSU pulled out another close game in the season opener by rallying to defeat Utah State, 38-31. Under Dantonio, the Spartans have managed to win their share of close games. Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Michigan State is 26-12 (.684) in games decided by one score or less, including four bowl victories.

• Although the Spartans have not faced Arizona State in Tempe since 1986, Michigan State played in Sun Devil Stadium for the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against TCU. MSU defeated the Horned Frogs, 17-16, as Dan Conroy hit a game-winning 47-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining. Le'Veon Bell (32 carries for 145 yards and one touchdown) was named the Offensive MVP of the game, while William Gholston (nine tackles, one sack) took home Defensive MVP honors. As an assistant coach, Dantonio also came away with a bowl victory at Sun Devil Stadium, as he was the defensive coordinator for Ohio State when the Buckeyes won the 2002 BCS National Championship over Miami in Tempe.

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – LJ Scott (23 carries for 84 yards, 3.7 avg, 0 TDs)
Passing – Brian Lewerke (23-of-33, .697, 287 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – Darrell Stewart (7 catches for 55 yards, 7.9 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles – Joe Bachie (11 tackles, 3 solo, 8 assists, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT)

Arizona State:
Rushing – Eno Benjamin (16 carries for 131 yards, 8.2 avg, 1 TD)
Passing – Manny Wilkins (16-of-24 for 237 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs)
Receiving – N'Keal Harry (6 catches for 140 yards, 23.3 avg, 2 TDs)
Tackles – Kobe Williams (6 tackles, 5 solo, 1 assist)

A QUICK GLANCE AT ARIZONA STATE (1-0) –
• The Sun Devils opened the Herm Edwards era in style with a 49-7 rout of the Roadrunners of UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio) in Sun Devil Stadium on Sept. 1 . . . junior wide receiver N'Keal Harry, a first-team All-PAC 12 selection as a sophomore, led ASU with six catches for 140 yards, including two touchdowns, as the Sun Devils scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters and seven more in the fourth for a 49-0 lead until UTSA scored late to get on the board.

• The ASU defense stymied UTSA to just 2 rushing yards, the Sun Devils' fewest allowed rushing yards since keeping Washington State to -52-yards on the ground on Oct. 22, 2016 . . . it is also the first time that ASU held an opponent under 100 yards rushing since Oct. 14, 2017, against Washington (91).

• ASU's 49 points scored in Edwards' debut marked the most points vs. an FBS opponent in debut seasons in program history, topping the previous mark that had stood since 1958, held by former Spartan All-American Frank Kush in his Sun Devil head coach debut, when his ASU squad hung 47 points on Hawai'i.

• Former NFL head coach and ESPN Analyst Herm Edwards was named the 24th head coach of Sun Devil Football, as announced by Arizona State University and Vice President of University Athletics Ray Anderson on Dec. 3, 2017.

• Michigan State is the first Big Ten team to face Arizona State since Wisconsin in 2013 . . . the Sun Devils are 20-13 all-time against B1G foes, playing everyone except Indiana and Maryland . . . MSU's 1-1 record against ASU is one of the Sun Devils' four B1G teams that Arizona State is .500 or below against, joining Nebraska (2-6), Ohio State (0-2) and Penn State (0-1).

• In Saturday's win over UTSA, Arizona State amassed 503 yards of total offense with 266 yards rushing and 247 passing on 16-of-24 . . . in addition to holding the Roadrunners to just 2 yards rushing, the ASU defense yielded 218 passing yards to UTSA on 19-of-43 yards passing.

• ASU's defense forced three turnovers in the game with two fumbles and one interception.

• The Sun Devil offense finished with 10 rushing plays going 10+ yards, led by a 34-yard Eno Benjamin rush in the first quarter . . . ASU also finished with seven passing plays of over 15 yards, paced by N'Keal Harry's 58-yard touchdown reception.

• Senior quarterback Manny Wilkins was 16-of-24 for 237 yards with four TDs, adding 28 carries on six rushes . . . it was Wilkins' third career game with four TD scored, but his first with four TD passes, becoming first ASU quarterback to throw for 4+ touchdowns since Mike Bercovici (vs. West Virginia; Cactus Bowl Jan. 3, 2016).

• Sophomore running back Eno Benjamin had a career-high 131 rushing yards on 16 carries with one TD, adding two catches for 15 yards and one TD . . . Benjamin had a career-long 34-yard rush in the first quarter.
• Harry recorded his sixth 100-yard receiving game of his career . . . he has at least one catch in all 26 games of his Arizona State career . . . Harry needs 59 receiving yards to reach 2,000 yards in his career.

• The Sun Devil defense scored on a 25-yard interception return by sophomore defensive end Shannon Forman in the first quarter, which came on UTSA's second offensive play from scrimmage . . . ASU has 21 defensive touchdowns since the 2012 season, good for fourth in the country in that time span behind Ohio State (26), Alabama (23) and Boise State (24) . . . ASU has 17 interception returns for touchdowns in the last seven seasons, the most in the FBS . . . the Sun Devils have 92 interceptions in the last seven seasons, which ranks in the Top 10 nationally during that span.

• Junior cornerback Kobe Williams led the ASU defense with six tackles, while fellow sophomore corner Chase Lucas posted five stops, including 3.0 tackles for loss, along with one sack, adding one pass break-up . . . redshirt freshman defensive lineman D.J. Davidson added four stops, with two sacks.

• Junior punter Michael Sleep-Dalton had a 47.4 ypp average on five punts, including a 62-yarder in the fourth quarter and a 61-yarder in the second stanza, along with pinning four inside the 20.

MSU/ARIZONA STATE SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday marks the first matchup between the two schools since 1986 and just the third overall in series history. MSU defeated ASU in the first-ever meeting, 12-3, at Spartan Stadium in 1985, but the Sun Devils returned the favor the following season in Tempe, 20-17.

SPARTANS FROM THE GRAND CANYON STATE –
• Michigan State has one player on its 2018 roster from Arizona: junior quarterback Brian Lewerke (Phoenix/Pinnacle).

MSU/ARIZONA STATE CONNECTIONS –
• Former Michigan State All-American Frank Kush, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 88, enjoyed a successful stint as head coach at Arizona State from 1958-79 where he was named the National College Coach of the Year in 1975 and the conference coach of the year six times. Kush compiled a 176-54-1 record (.764) in 22 seasons at Arizona State, including a 6-1 mark in postseason bowl games. He also coached in
three all-star games (East-West Shrine Game, Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl). After 25 years at ASU, Kush moved on to coach the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the Canadian Football League in 1981. A year later, he was named the head coach of the National Football League's Baltimore Colts. Kush changed leagues in 1984 when he became coach of the USFL's Arizona Outlaws. A three-time letterwinner for the legendary Clarence "Biggie" Munn, Kush helped the Spartans to a combined record of 26-1 from 1950-52, including back-to-back National Championships in 1951 and 1952. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

• Former Michigan State football head coach Darryl Rogers, who led the Spartans to the 1978 Big Ten championship and also coached at Arizona State, passed away this summer on July 11 at the age of 84. Rogers coached at Michigan State from 1976-79, posting a 24-18-2 record for the Green and White, including winning the 1978 Big Ten title. He coached three first-team All-Americans at MSU, including wide receiver Kirk Gibson, tight end Mark Brammer and punter Ray Stachowicz. Rogers also coached four seasons at Arizona State (1980-84) before moving up to the NFL where he coached the Detroit Lions for four seasons (1985-88). He began his head coaching career at Hayward State (now California State, East Bay) in 1965, before becoming head coach at his alma mater, Fresno State, in 1966. Rogers was head coach Fresno State until 1972, when he took over at San José State (1973-75), before becoming head coach at Michigan State.

• Former Michigan State All-America center Dick Tamburo spent eight years as an assistant coach under Frank Kush at ASU from 1958-65. Tamburo later served as Arizona State's athletics director from 1980-84. In May 2006, he was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame. A three-year letterman for Clarence "Biggie" Munn from 1950-52, Tamburo helped Michigan
State to a combined record of 26-1 (.963), including back-to-back National Championships in 1951-52. He earned First-Team All-America honors in 1952.

• Former Michigan State assistant coach Dan Devine, who spent four seasons on Biggie Munn's staff (1950-53) and one as a backfield coach (1954) under Duffy Daugherty, compiled a 27-3-1 record in three seasons as head coach at Arizona State (1955-57), including a 10-0 record in 1957.

• Former Michigan State Athletics Director Joe Kearney (1976-80) spent six months in the same position at Arizona State before becoming commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference in July 1980. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 83.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Rocky Lombardi's father, Tony, played college football at Arizona State (1980-82, 1984).

POST-GAME NOTES FROM THE UTAH STATE GAME –
• In the first matchup between the two schools, Michigan State defeated Utah State, 38-31, in Spartan Stadium . . . MSU improved to 12-0 in home openers under Mark Dantonio and 11-1 in season openers overall under Dantonio . . . MSU is now 7-0 in Friday season-opening games under Dantonio, including a 6-0 record in Spartan Stadium.

• Michigan State has now won 20 consecutive home openers, dating back to 1999 . . . that streak is tied for fifth-longest in the FBS (Florida, 29; Wisconsin and Oklahoma State, 23; Illinois, 21; MSU and Arizona State, 20).

• MSU has won 10 consecutive season openers, dating back to 2009.

OFFENSE
• Brian Lewerke completed 23-of-33 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns . . . it marked his eighth career 200-yard passing game and the fourth-highest total of his career . . . he also had 10 rushes for 31 yards on the ground to finish with 318 total yards.

• Connor Heyward rushed for a career-high 42 yards on five carries (8.4 avg.) . . . he scored the first two rushing TDs of his career (17 yards with 9:06 left in the third quarter; game-winning 13-yarder with two minutes left in fourth quarter) . . . he finished with 105 all-purpose yards (63 kick return yards).

• Darrell Stewart led the Spartan receivers with seven receptions for 55 yards . . . Cody White had 70 receiving yards on five catches, including an 8-yard TD grab in the second quarter . . . Felton Davis III hauled in three catches for 69 yards, including a 10-yard TD in the second quarter.

• LJ Scott led all rushers with 84 yards on 23 carries . . . he also had three catches for 57 yards . . . he totaled 141 all-purpose yards.

DEFENSE
• MSU held Utah State to 25 yards rushing on 25 attempts . . . in the Mark Dantonio era, Michigan State has held its opponent below 100 yards rushing in 73 of 146 games (50 percent).

• Junior linebacker Joe Bachie recorded his sixth double-digit tackle game of his career with 11 . . . he also recorded his fourth career interception that sealed the win with 1:15 left in the game . . . in addition, Bachie posted 1.5 tackles for loss.

• Senior safety Khari Willis recorded his third career interception and returned it 20 yards in the second quarter.

• MSU forced two turnovers (Willis interception in second quarter; Bachie interception in fourth quarter) . . . MSU is 64-13 when forcing at least two turnovers in a game under Mark Dantonio.

• Junior defensive end Kenny Willekes tied his career high with two sacks (19 yards) and also had three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble . . . he had six tackles overall.

• Sophomore linebacker Antjuan Simmons tied his career high with seven tackles.

• Sophomore linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle had a career high five tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin was 3-for-3 in field-goal attempts, including a career-long 49-yarder in the first quarter . . . he also connected on a 32-yarder later in the first and on a 24-yarder in the fourth quarter.

SPARTAN FOOTBALL PROGRAM NOTES –
• After finishing the 2017 campaign with a 10-3 record and a No. 15 ranking by The Associated Press, Michigan State is looking to use the momentum built from last year into another successful season in 2018. The Spartans capped the greatest single-season turnaround in school history with a dominating 42-17 win over No. 18 Washington State (CFP ranking) in the Holiday Bowl to record their sixth double-digit win season in the last eight years.

• After featuring one of the youngest teams in the nation last season, Michigan State returns a total of 48 letterwinners and 19 position starters in 2018. A total of 33 players returning have starting experience (16 offense, 14 defense, three special teams). Out of a combined 286 possible starting positions in 2017 on offense and defense throughout the course of 13 games, the Spartans are returning 239 of those starts (84 percent). The 19 position starters returning on offense and defense are tied for the most in the FBS along with Florida, and the 22 overall starters (including specialists) are also tied for first (Baylor).

• On defense, the Spartans return 23 letterwinners and nine starters from a unit that finished ranked in the FBS Top 10 in rushing defense (No. 2 at 95.3 ypg) and total defense (No. 7 at 297.6 ypg). Out of a possible 143 starting positions last season over the course of 13 games, the Spartans are returning 120 of those starts (84 percent). Five of those nine returning starters started in all 13 games last season (LB Joe Bachie, LB Andrew Dowell, DT Mike Panasiuk, NT Raequan Williams, S Khari Willis).

• The Spartans welcome 10 starters back on offense, tied for most in the nation, including senior running back LJ Scott and junior quarterback Brian Lewerke. The only starter lost on offense was center Brian Allen. MSU returns 100 percent of its passing yards from the quarterback position, 82 percent of its receptions, 81 percent of its receiving yards, and 71 percent of its rushing yards. Out of a possible 143 starting positions last season over the course of 13 games, the Spartans are returning 119 of those starts (83 percent).

• Michigan State is in the midst of its winningest decade in school history based on total wins, as the Spartans are 79-28 (.738) since the beginning of the 2010 season. During that span, MSU has won five bowl games (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2017 Holiday), three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and three Big Ten Division titles (2011, 2013, 2015). MSU's .738 winning percentage this decade is second best in school history (.766 in 1950s, 70-21-1). The Spartans' 78 victories since 2010 rank tied for 10th most in the FBS, and the 49 wins since 2013 are tied for ninth most. MSU was the only school to finish in the top-six of the national polls from 2013-15 (No. 3 in 2013, No. 5 in 2014, No. 6 in 2015).

• In addition, the Spartans have earned 10 bowl bids since 2007, including a school-record four consecutive bowl victories (2012 Outback against No. 18 Georgia, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings against TCU, 2014 Rose Bowl Game against No. 5 Stanford, 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic against No. 4 Baylor), which also tied a Big Ten record.

• The 79 wins this decade are third most in the Big Ten and tied for 10th most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, while the 50 wins since 2013 are third in the Big Ten and tied for ninth most in the FBS. The 36 wins from 2013-15 marked the winningest three-year stretch in the history of the program.

• MSU's highest winning percentage by decade is currently the 1950s (.766, 70-21-1 record), but the 79 wins this current decade are already the most of any previous decade in school history (previous: 70 in 1950s).

MARK DANTONIO ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES IN BIG TEN HISTORY –
• Now in his 12th season as head coach of the Spartans, Mark Dantonio owns a 101-45 (.692) record. He is one of just eight active FBS coaches to own at least 100 victories at his current school. For the fourth time in his career, Dantonio was named a semifinalist in 2017 for the George Munger College Coach of the Year, presented by the Maxwell Football Club. Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 10 bowl appearances. He is the only Big Ten coach to win multiple Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), claim a victory in the Rose Bowl (2014), and coach in the College Football Playoff (2015).

• The second-winningest coach in school history with 101 victories, trailing only Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty (109), Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.667, 60-30 record, minimum 10 games), tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven), second in Big Ten wins (60) and home wins (60) and fifth in overall winning percentage (.692).

• Dantonio's incredible run at Michigan State ranks among the best in Big Ten history. Dantonio is one of just six Big Ten coaches to have at least six 10-win seasons on their resume (Bo Schembechler, Michigan; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Joe Paterno, Penn State; Lloyd Carr, Michigan; Urban Meyer, Ohio State) and one of four to have at least five 11-win seasons (Tressel, Paterno, Meyer).

• Dantonio is one of just 14 coaches in Big Ten history to record 100 victories. He is currently No. 14 in Big Ten history with 101 wins.
• Overall, Dantonio owns a 119-62 (.657) record in 15 seasons as a head coach (18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati; 101-45 in 12 seasons at MSU).

• Dantonio won his 71st game at MSU on Oct. 25, 2014, against Michigan to move into second place all-time in victories in school history (record: Duffy Daugherty, 109). Dantonio won his 100th career game as a head coach on Oct. 17, 2015, at Michigan Stadium as the Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines, 27-23, on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired. His career record stands at 119-62 (.657) in his 15th season.

• Dantonio's .667 winning percentage (60-30) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games). He ranks second in school history in conference wins (Duffy Daugherty, 72).

• Dantonio led the Spartans to the 2015 Big Ten Championship with a 16-13 victory over previously undefeated and fourth-ranked Iowa. It marked Dantonio's third Big Ten Championship (2010, 2013, 2015), establishing a school record (previous: Daugherty and George Perles with two each).

• Dantonio became the first coach in Big Ten history to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span (11 in 2010; 11 in 2011; 13 in 2013, 11 in 2014; 12 in 2015), and his five 11-win seasons are tied with Joe Paterno of Penn State for third most in Big Ten history (Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer of Ohio State with six; Paterno with five at Penn State as Big Ten member). Prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU had not recorded an 11-win season in its history, and had just two 10-win seasons (1965, 1999).

BRIAN LEWERKE PROVING TO BE A DUAL-THREAT QUARTERBACK –
• In his first full year as the starter in 2017, Brian Lewerke became the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 2,500 yards and rush for more than 500 yards in the same season. Lewerke finished 2017 with the second-most yards of total offense in an MSU season with 3,352 (Drew Stanton with 3,415 in 2005). He also finished the 2017 campaign ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in passing completions (third with 246), passing attempts (fourth with 417), passing yards (seventh with 2,793) and touchdown passes (tied for eighth with 20). He rushed for 559 yards on 124 carries with five TDs.

• Lewerke completed 23-of-33 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener vs. Utah State. It marked his eighth career 200-yard passing game and the fourth-highest total of his career. He also had 10 rushes for 31 yards on the ground to compile 318 total yards.

• In 2017, Lewerke set MSU sophomore records for total offense (3,352 yards), passing yards (2,793), passing attempts (417) and passing completions (246). He also finished the season with 559 yards rushing on 124 carries, the fourth most by a Spartan quarterback in a single season and the most since Drew Stanton had 687 in 2004.

• Lewerke was named the Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after finishing with 286 yards of total offense against Washington State. He was 13-of-21 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns, and set a Spartan bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (14 carries for 73 yards). Lewerke was 9-of-10 passing for 162 yards and two TDs in the second quarter alone. Lewerke's three touchdown passes tied a Spartan bowl record (accomplished three previous times).

• A week after setting numerous school records at Northwestern on Oct. 28, Lewerke had another impressive game against Penn State on Nov. 4, becoming the first Spartan quarterback to throw for 400 yards in back-to-back games. He threw for a school-record 445 yards at Northwestern, and for 400 against Penn State; the 400 yards tied for the second-most yards by a Spartan QB in a single game (Bill Burke with 400 in win over Michigan in 1999). Lewerke became one of just three Big Ten quarterbacks in the last 20 years to throw for 400 yards in two consecutive games (Drew Brees, Purdue, 1998; C.J. Bacher, Northwestern, 2007).

• Lewerke finished the Penn State game 33-of-56 passing, including 9-of-14 for 156 yards on third down. He completed six passes of 20-plus yards. Lewerke also had 425 yards of total offense, second in school history behind only his 475 at Northwestern.

• Lewerke set school single-game records for passing yards (445), total offense (475) and completions (39) in the triple-overtime loss at Northwestern on Oct. 28. His 57 passing attempts also marked a career high and tied for the second most in school history (record: 61 by Brian Hoyer vs. Penn State in 2006); MSU's previous single-game records were 400 passing yards (Bill Burke vs. Michigan, 1999), 416 yards of total offense (Connor Cook vs. Indiana, 2015) and 35 completions (Jeff Smoker vs. Ohio State, 2003). Lewerke also threw a career-high four touchdowns against the Wildcats, tied for the second most in school history (accomplished 13 previous times). On MSU's 12-play, 88-yard game-tying touchdown drive at the end of the fourth quarter, Lewerke was 10-of-11 for 88 yards on the drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis III. Lewerke's 445 yards passing and 475 total yards against Northwestern are both the most by a Big Ten quarterback in a single game this season.

• Lewerke scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 61-yard run in the first quarter vs. WMU, the longest TD run by a Spartan quarterback since Charlie Baggett ran for a 69-yard score on Oct. 27, 1973, vs. Purdue. It tied the longest rush by a Spartan QB since Damon Dowdell also had a 61-yard run against Wisconsin on Nov. 13, 2004; the last time a Spartan QB had a longer run was Bobby McAllister at Purdue (70 yards) on Nov. 5, 1988. Lewerke ran for a career-high 81 yards against Western Michigan on Sept. 9, the most by a Spartan quarterback since Drew Stanton had 83 against Purdue in Nov. 4, 2006.

• Lewerke also had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter vs. WMU to become the first Spartan QB to record two rushing TDs in a single game since Drew Stanton in 2006 against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 9). He finished with 242 yards of total offense against the Broncos, as he was 13-of-21 passing for 161 yards and one touchdown.

• Lewerke played in four games and started twice (Northwestern, Maryland) as a redshirt freshman in 2016 before suffering a season-ending injury (broken tibia) in the fourth quarter of the Michigan game on Oct. 29. He bounced back quickly from the injury and fully participated in all of spring practice in 2017. In 2016, Lewerke became the first Spartan freshman quarterback to start a game (Northwestern) since 2004 (Stephen Reaves vs. Central Michigan).

• In 18 career games (11-5 record as the starter), Lewerke has completed 59 percent of his passes (300-for-507) for 3,461 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has 739 career rushing yards on 155 carries (41.1 ypg; 4.8 avg.).

RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 83-17 (.830) when outrushing its opponent, including a 67-10 record (.870) since 2010. Conversely, MSU is 18-28 (.391) under Dantonio when being outgained on the ground by its opponent. The Spartans are 39-6 (.867) in games when gaining 200 or more rushing yards under Dantonio.

LJ SCOTT LEADS RUSHING ATTACK –
• Senior LJ Scott is looking to become just the third Spartan in school history to lead the team in rushing four straight years (Javon Ringer, 2005-08; Lorenzo White, 1984-87). He leads the team after one game with 84 yards rushing on 23 carries.

• The 6-1, 225-pound Scott is one of 12 Spartan running backs in school history to rush for more than 2,500 career yards. He eclipsed the 2,500-yard mark during the Holiday Bowl and currently ranks 11th in the MSU record book with 2,675 rushing yards. In addition, his 25 career rushing touchdowns are tied for 12th in the school record book.

• Scott has nine career 100-yard rushing games, including three in 2017 (career-high 194 yards at Minnesota on Oct. 14; 147 vs. Maryland on Nov. 18; 110 vs. Washington State on Dec. 28).

• In 39 career games, including 19 starts, Scott has rushed for 2,675 yards (68.6 ypg; 4.8 avg.) and 25 touchdowns. Scott ranks 10th in MSU history in carries (554), 11th in rushing yards (2,675) and tied for 12th in rushing touchdowns (25).

FELTON DAVIS III LEADS YOUNG RECEIVING CORPS –
• Wide receiver Felton Davis III led a young receiving corps last season with career highs in receptions (55), receiving yards (776) and touchdown catches (9), all of which ranked among the Big Ten leaders (tied for third in TD catches with nine; tied for seventh in receptions at 4.2 pg; seventh in receiving yards at 59.7 ypg). Forty-three of his 55 receptions (78 percent) were for either a first down or a touchdown. Davis' career-high nine TD catches also tied for 25th in the FBS.

• Davis got off to an excellent start his senior season with three catches for 69 yards vs. Utah State, including a diving 31-yard grab late in the fourth quarter on MSU's game-winning touchdown drive against the Aggies.
During the game, Davis become the 43rd Spartan in school history to cross the 1,000-yard receiving mark for his career. Davis has 72 career receptions for 1,045 yards.

• Davis recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the 2017 season in the Holiday Bowl, hauling in four catches for 118 yards against Washington State, including a career-long 49-yard touchdown pass from Brian Lewerke in the second quarter. The 118 receiving yards were fifth most by a Spartan in a bowl game

• Davis recorded career highs in catches (12) and receiving yards (181) in the win over No. 7 Penn State on Nov. 4. The 12 catches tied for fourth most in a single game by a Spartan, and the 181 receiving yards were 13th most by a Spartan in a game. The 12 catches matched his season total from last year. Davis had a diving 33-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter that tied the game at 14, his team-leading eighth of the season.

• Davis was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after recording then-career highs in catches (9) and receiving yards (114) in the Sept. 30 win over Iowa. Davis also tied his career high with two touchdown catches. In the first half alone, Davis had seven receptions for 88 yards. On the first play from scrimmage, Davis had a 31-yard reception to set up his first TD catch later in the drive, a 22-yard scoring strike from Brian Lewerke. Davis also had a 6-yard TD reception later in the first quarter.

• In 33 career games, Davis is MSU's active leader in receptions (72), receiving yards (1,045) and TD catches (11).

• On defense, the Spartans return 23 letterwinners and nine starters from a unit that finished ranked in the FBS Top 10 in rushing defense (No. 2 at 95.3 ypg) and total defense (No. 7 at 297.6 ypg). Out of a possible 143 starting positions last season over the course of 13 games, the Spartans are returning 120 of those starts (84 percent). Five of those nine returning starters started in all 13 games last season (LB Joe Bachie, LB Andrew Dowell, DT Mike Panasiuk, NT Raequan Williams, S Khari Willis).

SPARTAN DEFENSE ONE OF THE NATION'S BEST –
• Michigan State finished 2017 ranked among the FBS leaders in rushing defense (No. 2 at 95.3 ypg), total defense (No. 7 at 297.6 ypg), first-downs defense (No. 9 at 206), pass efficiency defense (No. 17 with 113.5 rating), third-down defense (No. 18 at .328) and scoring defense (No. 19 at 20.0 ppg).

• The Spartans led the Big Ten in rushing defense for the fifth time in the Dantonio era (2011-14, 2017). MSU also ranked third in the Big Ten in total defense.

• Michigan State finished No. 7 in the FBS in total defense (297.6), marking the fifth time the Spartans have finished in the FBS Top 10 in total defense under Dantonio (No. 6 in 2011, No. 4 in 2012, No. 2 in 2013, No. 8 in 2014, No. 7 in 2017).

STOPPING THE RUN –
• The Spartans led the Big Ten in rushing defense for the fifth time in the Dantonio era (2011-14, 2017) and ranked No. 2 in the FBS, allowing just 95.3 yards per game. Michigan State has finished in the FBS Top 10 in rushing defense five times under Dantonio and seven times in the Top 25.

• Michigan State held Utah State to just 25 yards rushing in the season opener.

• Stopping the run has been the main theme for MSU on defense in the Dantonio era, and it led to ranking No. 1 in the NCAA FBS in rushing defense in 2014 (88.5 ypg). Since the Big Ten began awarding stat champions in all games in 1985, Michigan State (2011-14) became only the second team in conference history to lead the league in rushing defense four years in a row (Michigan, 1990-93). MSU's 88.5 rushing yards allowed in 2014 was the eighth-lowest total in school history. The Spartans have ranked in the Top 25 in rushing defense seven times in the last nine seasons, including a run of five straight years in the top 11 (2011-15). MSU led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2017 (95.3 ypg).

• In 146 games under Dantonio, Michigan State has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing 73 times (50 percent). MSU is 63-9 (.877) in those games, including a 54-4 (.931) record since 2010.

LINEBACKER JOE BACHIE NAMED 2017 TEAM MVP –
• Joe Bachie, who started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017 and led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.), was named the recipient of the Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.

• Bachie was right back at it in the 2018 season opener against Utah State, leading the Spartans with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. He sealed the victory after he batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage and then dove for the interception with 1:15 left in the game.

• A third-team All-Big Ten choice by the coaches and media, Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2017.

• In last season's win at No. 7 Michigan, Bachie became just the second Big Ten linebacker and fifth in the FBS in the last five years (since 2012) to record double-digit tackles (10) and at least one interception, one forced fumble, one sack and one pass break-up in the same game.

• In 20 career games, including 14 consecutive starts, Bachie has 123 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four interceptions.

FROM WALK-ON TO LEADING THE TEAM IN TACKLES FOR LOSS AND SACKS –
• Kenny Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on for the 2015 season, emerged as a force on the defensive line for the Spartans in 2017. Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. The native of Rockford, Michigan, started 12 games at defensive end and led the team in tackles for loss (14.5 for 42 yards) and sacks (7.0 for 28 yards). Willekes played in just one game as a redshirt freshman in 2016.
• Willekes entered this season on the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, and began his junior season with a two-sack performance against Utah State. He also recorded two sacks in a game three times last season (Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland).

• Willekes led the defensive line and ranked third on the team with 73 tackles in 2017. He also had two fumble recoveries, two pass break-ups, one forced fumble and eight quarterback hurries. He ranked second on the team during the regular season with 158 production points.

SPARTANS SUCCESSFUL IN NONCONFERENCE GAMES –
• Mark Dantonio is 38-14 (.731) against nonconference opponents, including a 29-4 (.879) mark in Spartan Stadium. Dantonio is 28-1 (.966) against teams in the Group of Five conferences.

BALL CONTROL –
• Michigan State has traditionally won the time of possession battle under Mark Dantonio. The Spartans ranked second in the Big Ten and third in the FBS in time of possession in 2017, holding onto the ball for an average of 35:18 a game. In fact, although the NCAA doesn't officially keep track of single-game time of possession records, MSU's time of possession (47:50 to 12:10) vs. Rutgers on Nov. 25, 2017, is believed to be an FBS record. Air Force had the previous record of 45:14 set in 2016 (according to Air Force Athletics).

• The Spartans held the ball for 37:22 compared to 22:16 in the season-opening win over Utah State.

• The Spartans have led in time of possession in 67 percent of games under Mark Dantonio; the Spartans own an .813 winning percentage (80-18) in those games.

SPARTANS RANKED FOR 11TH CONSECUTIVE WEEK IN AP POLL –
• Coming in at No. 15 this week, Michigan State has been ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 for 11 consecutive weeks.

• Michigan State entered the national polls for the first time in 2017 on Oct. 8 following its 14-10 win at No. 7 Michigan. The Spartans debuted at No. 21 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 22 in the Amway Coaches Poll. It marked the first time MSU was ranked since Sept. 25, 2016, when the Spartans were ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll. At that time, MSU had been ranked for a school-record 46 consecutive weeks, spanning back to Oct. 27, 2013. For 33 of those 46 weeks, MSU had been ranked in the Top 10.

• Michigan State is 61-17 (.782) as a ranked team in the AP Poll under Dantonio.

• As a ranked team, Michigan State has only lost to an unranked opponent four times under Dantonio (43-4; at Notre Dame, 2011; at Nebraska, 2015; at Indiana, 2016; at Northwestern, 2017).

Game 2: No. 15/13 Michigan State (1-0) at Arizona State (1-0)

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Players Mentioned

Brian Allen

Joe Bachie

Matt Coghlin

Felton Davis III

Andrew Dowell

Connor Heyward

Brian Lewerke

Rocky Lombardi

Mike Panasiuk

LJ Scott

Antjuan Simmons

Cody White

Kenny Willekes

Raequan Williams

Khari Willis

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