Michigan State University Athletics

Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Post-Game Notes: Western Michigan
9/8/2019 1:43:00 AM | Football
• With the win over Western Michigan, Mark Dantonio tied Duffy Daugherty for the most wins in program history with 109 . . . Dantonio is 109-51 in his 13th season at the helm of the Spartans . . . Daugherty was 109-69-5 in 19 seasons from 1954-72.
• MSU is now 14-2 all-time against Western Michigan . . . Dantonio is 6-0 against the Broncos.
• Michigan State is now 16-7 in night games at Spartan Stadium, including a 13-4 record under Dantonio.
OFFENSE
• Darrell Stewart had a career-high 185 yards receiving on 10 catches . . . the 185 receiving yards are tied for the 12th-most by a Spartan in a single game (Plaxico Burress, 13 catches for 185 yards vs. Florida on Jan. 1, 2000) . . . Stewart's 10 catches were the second most in his career (11 at Northwestern in 2017) . . . he had eight catches for 152 yards and one TD in the first half alone . . . Stewart had four catches of 20-plus yards (42 yards for TD; 33 yards, 22 yards, 21 yards) . . . he also threw a 17-yard pass to Lewerke . . . Stewart had two kick returns for 41 yards to compile a career-high 226 all-purpose yards.
• Brian Lewerke completed 23-of-32 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns . . . it marked Lewerke's sixth game of more than 300 yards passing and the first since he had 329 yards vs. Northwestern last season.
• Michigan State's 51 points were the most since the Spartans scored 55 against Penn State on Nov. 28, 2015, in Spartan Stadium.
• The Spartans had 582 yards of total offense, the most since a Dantonio-era record 662 total yards at Indiana in 2014 and the fourth-most in the Dantonio era (662 at Indiana, 2014; 602 vs. Western Michigan, 2009; 593 yards vs. UAB, 2007) . . . MSU had 365 yards of total offense in the first half.
• The Spartans totaled 31 first downs (Dantonio-era record: 33 vs. Indiana in 2015).
• MSU had nine-plays of 20-plus yards from scrimmage (six passes, three rushes).
DEFENSE
• MSU held Western Michigan to 67 rushing yards on 27 carries . . . MSU has allowed -6 yards of rushing through two games this season.
• Xavier Henderson recorded his first interception on a pick in the end zone in the second quarter.
• Kenny Willekes recorded five tackles, including two sacks (9 yards) . . . Willekes now has 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks this season.
• Tyriq Thompson recorded his second career interception and first of the season.
• The Spartans had seven pass break-ups, six tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions . . . the Spartans have forced six turnovers through two games this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals (38 yards, 23 yards, 20 yards) and is now 7-for-7 on field goals this season.
• True freshman Evan Morris averaged 60.4 yards per kickoff (nine kickoffs for 544 yards) with four touchbacks in his collegiate debut.
• MSU is now 14-2 all-time against Western Michigan . . . Dantonio is 6-0 against the Broncos.
• Michigan State is now 16-7 in night games at Spartan Stadium, including a 13-4 record under Dantonio.
OFFENSE
• Elijah Collins' 192 rushing yards were the most by a freshman starting running back in school history and the second-most overall by a Spartan freshman running back in a single game (Javon Ringer had 194 yards at Illinois in 2005) . . . Collins had three rushes of 20-plus yards (career-long 58 yarder in third quarter; 29-yarder on second play from scrimmage; 24-yarder in second quarter).
• Darrell Stewart had a career-high 185 yards receiving on 10 catches . . . the 185 receiving yards are tied for the 12th-most by a Spartan in a single game (Plaxico Burress, 13 catches for 185 yards vs. Florida on Jan. 1, 2000) . . . Stewart's 10 catches were the second most in his career (11 at Northwestern in 2017) . . . he had eight catches for 152 yards and one TD in the first half alone . . . Stewart had four catches of 20-plus yards (42 yards for TD; 33 yards, 22 yards, 21 yards) . . . he also threw a 17-yard pass to Lewerke . . . Stewart had two kick returns for 41 yards to compile a career-high 226 all-purpose yards.
• Brian Lewerke completed 23-of-32 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns . . . it marked Lewerke's sixth game of more than 300 yards passing and the first since he had 329 yards vs. Northwestern last season.
• Michigan State's 51 points were the most since the Spartans scored 55 against Penn State on Nov. 28, 2015, in Spartan Stadium.
• The Spartans had 582 yards of total offense, the most since a Dantonio-era record 662 total yards at Indiana in 2014 and the fourth-most in the Dantonio era (662 at Indiana, 2014; 602 vs. Western Michigan, 2009; 593 yards vs. UAB, 2007) . . . MSU had 365 yards of total offense in the first half.
• The Spartans totaled 31 first downs (Dantonio-era record: 33 vs. Indiana in 2015).
• MSU had nine-plays of 20-plus yards from scrimmage (six passes, three rushes).
DEFENSE
• MSU held Western Michigan to 67 rushing yards on 27 carries . . . MSU has allowed -6 yards of rushing through two games this season.
• Xavier Henderson recorded his first interception on a pick in the end zone in the second quarter.
• Kenny Willekes recorded five tackles, including two sacks (9 yards) . . . Willekes now has 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks this season.
• Tyriq Thompson recorded his second career interception and first of the season.
• The Spartans had seven pass break-ups, six tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions . . . the Spartans have forced six turnovers through two games this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals (38 yards, 23 yards, 20 yards) and is now 7-for-7 on field goals this season.
• True freshman Evan Morris averaged 60.4 yards per kickoff (nine kickoffs for 544 yards) with four touchbacks in his collegiate debut.
Players Mentioned
Saturday, April 18
Tuesday, April 14
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 17



