Michigan State Football: After slow start, Spartans put Central Michigan away
By Zach Bigalke
Michigan State football allowed Central Michigan to take an early lead and build false hope. The Spartans took a lead before halftime and never looked back.
On the opening drive of the game, Central Michigan gave fans of Cinderella stories early hope as they drove downfield on the Michigan State defense. The Chippewas stalled just outside the red zone, but a 40-yard Ryan Tice field goal put the visitors ahead in East Lansing less than two minutes into the contest.
It was a lead that Central Michigan managed to hold for more than a full quarter, though they were unable to build upon it. That Tice field goal proved the only points that the Chippewas managed to put on the scoreboard all day, as they fell 31-20 to the Spartans on Saturday afternoon.
Once Michigan State snatched away the lead midway through the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brian Lewerke, they were not about to give up the lead again. The Spartans piled on another touchdown and a field goal before halftime, then came out of the locker room and made the score 24-3 on the opening drive of the second half.
Though the Chippewas added on 17 garbage-time points in the second half, the visitors were unable to pull back within single digits of the Spartans. Michigan State held Central Michigan to 245 total yards of offense, as they ran away with the victory.
Lewerke went 16-of-25 for 185 yards and an interception through the air, while adding 39 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. As such, it was a hot-and-cold day for the second-year Spartans starter. La’Darius Jefferson and Connor Heyward also added touchdown runs in the victory effort for the Spartans.
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The win was exactly what one might expect from an AP Top 25 team against a Group of Five opponent at home, save for the defensive slack offered up in the fourth quarter. Having survived their last non-conference test of the season, Mark Dantonio’s team now turns their attention back to the Big Ten next weekend with a home showdown against Northwestern.