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
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
S
/ Football
QB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DE
/ FootballJonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 17 2025
Monday, November 17
Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | PSU | Nov. 15 2025
Saturday, November 15
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 10 2025
Monday, November 10
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Minnesota
Saturday, November 01