EAST LANSING - Michigan State piled up an incredible 683 yards of total offense led by sophomore Jehuu Caulcrick who scored three touchdowns and quarterback Drew Stanton who went 23-for-29 for 297 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Spartans to an impressive 49-14 win over the Golden Flashes of Kent State.
Stanton took the Spartans right down the field on their first possession and hit Kyle Brown from six-yards out to give MSU a 7-0 lead. Caulcrick followed on State's next possession from 7-yards out to make it 14-0 and the route was on. Stanton also racked up 60 yards rushing on 10 carries.
The Golden Flashes never got closer than 13 points in this game as Stanton spread the ball around to Kyle Brown (six catches, 61 yards and 1TD) Jerramy Scott (five catches for 70 yards and 1 TD), Matt Trannon (four catches for 29 yards) and Terry Love (four catches for 100 yards).
The Spartans ground game was as potent as the aerial attack. Jehuu Caulcrick rushed 14 times for 114 yards and 3 TDS, Jason Teague had 15 carries for 89 yards and 1 TD and freshman Javon Ringer chipped in with 12 carries for 69 yards and a TD. MSU totaled 340 yards on the ground to go with 343 yards in the air.
MSU's defense was not nearly as bad as some feared it would be. Instead, the Spartans defense stifled the Golden Flashes ground game, allowing just 14 yards on the ground. Kent State had 297 yards through the air.
Spartans head coach John L. Smith had mixed feelings about the win.
"Well there were a lot of good things, and we'll build on those," said coach John L. Smith following the game.
"There are some things we have to clean up. I thought it got a little sloppy there. toward the second half. We have to learn how to hang on to the ball. We certainly look at ourselves and say 'yeah, there were some real good things', [like] Drew and the team did some good things, but we put the ball on the ground. We shouldn't have done that. We had too many turnovers and we have to clean those things up."
Michigan State turned over the ball three times, including two turnovers in the redzone (a fumble by Caulcrick and a Drew Stanton interception in the end zone, tight end Ryan Woods also fumbled).
MSU gets ready to play Hawaii at Spartans Stadium next Saturday in a bid to go 2-0 in the non conference season.