Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Post-Game Notes: Rutgers
11/23/2019 11:35:00 PM | Football
Michigan State shut out Rutgers, 27-0, Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium . . . it marked MSU's sixth consecutive win against the Scarlet Knights, all coming in Big Ten play . . . MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 6-0 vs. Rutgers during his tenure at MSU . . . the Spartans are 4-1 in series history at Rutgers and lead the overall series, 8-3.
OFFENSE
• Cody White had a career-high 11 receptions for 136 yards . . . he tied an MSU single-game record with three TD catches, which had been accomplished on nine previous occasions . . . Aaron Burbridge was the last Spartan to have three TD receptions in one game (vs. Air Force in 2015) . . . it marked White's second 100-yard game of the season and fifth of his career . . . White has 24 catches for 342 yards in his last three games . . . he leads MSU with 54 receptions for 741 yards this season, both of which are career highs.
• Elijah Collins carried the ball a career-high 31 times for 109 yards . . . he is the first Spartan freshman to record three 100-yard rushing games (192 vs Western Michigan, 170 vs. Illinois) since Javon Ringer in 2005 . . . Collins became the first Spartan since Jeremy Langford in 2014 to record at least 30 carries in a single game (Langford: 35 vs. Michigan in 2014).
• Brian Lewerke was 21-of-30 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns with one interception . . . Lewerke has now thrown 1,171 pass attempts in his career, the most in school history . . . with his three TD passes, he now has 46 in his career, tying Bill Burke for fourth most in MSU history . . . it marked Lewerke's 19th game of passing for more than 200 yards, fourth most in school history.
• Jalen Nailor, in his first game back since week one against Tulsa due to an injury, caught a career-high five passes for 27 yards.
• MSU collected 395 yards of total offense (239 passing, 156 rushing).
• The Spartans owned a 37:51 to 22:09 advantage in time of possession.
• MSU started four true freshmen, including three on the offensive line (LT Devontae Dobbs, LG J.D. Duplain, C Nick Samac) . . . it marks the first time in the Dantonio era that three true freshmen started on the offensive line.
DEFENSE
• Michigan State recorded its fifth shutout of the Mark Dantonio era (2008 and 2011 vs. Florida Atlantic; 2013 vs. Purdue; 2016 and 2019 vs. Rutgers) . . . it also marked MSU's first road shutout in 20 years (34-0 at Northwestern on Nov. 13, 1999).
• The Spartans held Rutgers to seven first downs, the fewest by a Spartan opponent this season (previous: eight by Tulsa on Aug. 30) . . . MSU did not allow a first down in the first half.
• MSU limited Rutgers to 140 yards of total offense, the second fewest by a Spartan opponent this season (80 by Tulsa on Aug. 30).
• Kenny Willekes had two tackles for loss, giving him 47 for his career and moving him into second place all-time in school history (record: 48 by Julian Peterson) . . . Willekes assisted on two sacks, giving him a total of one overall for the day . . . Willekes' 23 career sacks rank fifth in school history.
• Josiah Scott had three pass break-ups and also forced and recovered a fumble that led to MSU's final touchdown of the day.
• Xavier Henderson recorded his second interception of the season and returned it 32 yards in the second quarter . . . he also led MSU with nine tackles, tying a career high he set last week at Michigan.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin made two of his three field-goal attempts, connecting on 46 yards in the first quarter and 36 yards in the third quarter . . . his 33-yarder hit off the left upright in the second quarter.
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OFFENSE
• Cody White had a career-high 11 receptions for 136 yards . . . he tied an MSU single-game record with three TD catches, which had been accomplished on nine previous occasions . . . Aaron Burbridge was the last Spartan to have three TD receptions in one game (vs. Air Force in 2015) . . . it marked White's second 100-yard game of the season and fifth of his career . . . White has 24 catches for 342 yards in his last three games . . . he leads MSU with 54 receptions for 741 yards this season, both of which are career highs.
• Elijah Collins carried the ball a career-high 31 times for 109 yards . . . he is the first Spartan freshman to record three 100-yard rushing games (192 vs Western Michigan, 170 vs. Illinois) since Javon Ringer in 2005 . . . Collins became the first Spartan since Jeremy Langford in 2014 to record at least 30 carries in a single game (Langford: 35 vs. Michigan in 2014).
• Brian Lewerke was 21-of-30 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns with one interception . . . Lewerke has now thrown 1,171 pass attempts in his career, the most in school history . . . with his three TD passes, he now has 46 in his career, tying Bill Burke for fourth most in MSU history . . . it marked Lewerke's 19th game of passing for more than 200 yards, fourth most in school history.
• Jalen Nailor, in his first game back since week one against Tulsa due to an injury, caught a career-high five passes for 27 yards.
• MSU collected 395 yards of total offense (239 passing, 156 rushing).
• The Spartans owned a 37:51 to 22:09 advantage in time of possession.
• MSU started four true freshmen, including three on the offensive line (LT Devontae Dobbs, LG J.D. Duplain, C Nick Samac) . . . it marks the first time in the Dantonio era that three true freshmen started on the offensive line.
DEFENSE
• Michigan State recorded its fifth shutout of the Mark Dantonio era (2008 and 2011 vs. Florida Atlantic; 2013 vs. Purdue; 2016 and 2019 vs. Rutgers) . . . it also marked MSU's first road shutout in 20 years (34-0 at Northwestern on Nov. 13, 1999).
• The Spartans held Rutgers to seven first downs, the fewest by a Spartan opponent this season (previous: eight by Tulsa on Aug. 30) . . . MSU did not allow a first down in the first half.
• MSU limited Rutgers to 140 yards of total offense, the second fewest by a Spartan opponent this season (80 by Tulsa on Aug. 30).
• Kenny Willekes had two tackles for loss, giving him 47 for his career and moving him into second place all-time in school history (record: 48 by Julian Peterson) . . . Willekes assisted on two sacks, giving him a total of one overall for the day . . . Willekes' 23 career sacks rank fifth in school history.
• Josiah Scott had three pass break-ups and also forced and recovered a fumble that led to MSU's final touchdown of the day.
• Xavier Henderson recorded his second interception of the season and returned it 32 yards in the second quarter . . . he also led MSU with nine tackles, tying a career high he set last week at Michigan.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin made two of his three field-goal attempts, connecting on 46 yards in the first quarter and 36 yards in the third quarter . . . his 33-yarder hit off the left upright in the second quarter.
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Players Mentioned
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