2. Spartan defense was pretty good again
Unlike Brian Lewerke, Western Michigan quarterback Jon Wassink was harassed all night. He was picked off twice, and sacked three times. Saturday’s matchup was a case of strength on strength.
Western Michigan is a pass-first team and the strength of the Michigan State offense is their secondary. Wassink and the pass offense could not get in a rhythm, or sustain drives. The Broncos had one chunk play when the game was out of reach.
The run game fared no better than the passing game. Last season’s leading rusher LaVante Bellamy had only 44 yards and 2.9 yards per carry. As a team, the Broncos ran for 67 yards and 2.5 yards per carry. The Spartans did a good job all night of being in the Broncos backfield.
Western Michigan was in third-and-long all night.