Michigan State University Athletics
Post-Game Notes: Tulsa
8/31/2019 1:28:00 AM | Football
• Michigan State won its 21st consecutive home opener with a 28-7 win over Tulsa.
• MSU improved to 13-0 in home openers under head coach Mark Dantonio . . . MSU is 102-21 all-time in home openers . . Dantonio is 12-1 in season openers during his tenure . . . the Spartans are also 8-0 in Friday night games under Dantonio, including 7-0 in Spartan Stadium.
• Michigan State is 84-36-3 all-time in season openers, including a 19-2 record in its last 21 games.
• Mark Dantonio won his 108th game as Spartan head coach and is just one victory away from tying Duffy Daugherty for the all-time school record (109).
DEFENSE
• Michigan State held Tulsa to -73 yards rushing, a school-record low for a Spartan opponent (previous: -63 yards by Pittsburgh in 1950).
• The Spartans held the Golden Hurricane to eight total first downs (0 rushing, 7 passing, 1 penalty) and 80 yards of total offense . . . the 80 yards of total offense were the fewest by a Spartan opponent since Florida Atlantic had 48 in 2011.
• MSU recorded six sacks (39 yards) and 13 tackles for loss (65 yards), in addition to three forced fumbles, two pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries.
• Kenny Willekes recorded seven tackles for loss, including 2.5 TFLs (6 yards) and two sack (5 yards) . . . he recovered two fumbles, including one in the end zone for his first career touchdown in the second quarter . . . it marked MSU's first defensive touchdown on a fumble since Demetrious Cox returned a fumble 77 yards for a score against Penn State in 2015.
• MSU recorded its first safety since 2012 as Tulsa snapped a ball that eventually went out of the back of the end zone.
• Jacub Panasiuk recorded a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles . . . he also had a sack.
• Antjuan Simmons recorded a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss for 12 yards, including his first career sack (5 yards) . . . he also recorded his second career interception with a pick in the second quarter.
• Shakur Brown tallied the first two sacks of his career.
• Mike Panasiuk tied his career high with two tackles for loss (8 yards).
OFFENSE
• Connor Heyward scored his second career receiving TD with a 15-yard pass from Brian Lewerke for a score on MSU's first possession of the game.
• Brian Lewerke completed 21-of-37 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• On the first play of the second quarter, Dominique Long blocked a punt, marking MSU's first blocked punt since Sept. 21, 2013, at Notre Dame (Matt Macksood).
• Matt Coghlin tied a career high with four field goals (38 yards, 47 yards, 44 yards, 40 yards) . . . he also kicked four field goals against Rutgers in 2017.
• MSU improved to 13-0 in home openers under head coach Mark Dantonio . . . MSU is 102-21 all-time in home openers . . Dantonio is 12-1 in season openers during his tenure . . . the Spartans are also 8-0 in Friday night games under Dantonio, including 7-0 in Spartan Stadium.
• Michigan State is 84-36-3 all-time in season openers, including a 19-2 record in its last 21 games.
• Mark Dantonio won his 108th game as Spartan head coach and is just one victory away from tying Duffy Daugherty for the all-time school record (109).
DEFENSE
• Michigan State held Tulsa to -73 yards rushing, a school-record low for a Spartan opponent (previous: -63 yards by Pittsburgh in 1950).
• The Spartans held the Golden Hurricane to eight total first downs (0 rushing, 7 passing, 1 penalty) and 80 yards of total offense . . . the 80 yards of total offense were the fewest by a Spartan opponent since Florida Atlantic had 48 in 2011.
• MSU recorded six sacks (39 yards) and 13 tackles for loss (65 yards), in addition to three forced fumbles, two pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries.
• Kenny Willekes recorded seven tackles for loss, including 2.5 TFLs (6 yards) and two sack (5 yards) . . . he recovered two fumbles, including one in the end zone for his first career touchdown in the second quarter . . . it marked MSU's first defensive touchdown on a fumble since Demetrious Cox returned a fumble 77 yards for a score against Penn State in 2015.
• MSU recorded its first safety since 2012 as Tulsa snapped a ball that eventually went out of the back of the end zone.
• Jacub Panasiuk recorded a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles . . . he also had a sack.
• Antjuan Simmons recorded a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss for 12 yards, including his first career sack (5 yards) . . . he also recorded his second career interception with a pick in the second quarter.
• Shakur Brown tallied the first two sacks of his career.
• Mike Panasiuk tied his career high with two tackles for loss (8 yards).
OFFENSE
• Connor Heyward scored his second career receiving TD with a 15-yard pass from Brian Lewerke for a score on MSU's first possession of the game.
• Brian Lewerke completed 21-of-37 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• On the first play of the second quarter, Dominique Long blocked a punt, marking MSU's first blocked punt since Sept. 21, 2013, at Notre Dame (Matt Macksood).
• Matt Coghlin tied a career high with four field goals (38 yards, 47 yards, 44 yards, 40 yards) . . . he also kicked four field goals against Rutgers in 2017.
Players Mentioned
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QB
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DE
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DT
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LB
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DE
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