Observations on the laugher with the Spartans, 49-3!

1-It couldn't have been scripted better! We get six red zone opportunities for 35 points; they have four red zone opportunities for 3 points and we win 49-3. We score in every quarter, and even our 2nd team offense and defense provide a score.

2-Askew starts at tailback and has 32 rushes for 149 yards and 2 TDs. Pape shifts to left tackle and Morgan starts at right tackle. Our rushing game still leaves a lot to be desired, but we net 188 yards with two sacks. Sean Sanderson get his first career start at fullback. Perry comes in to carry 11 times for 49 yards in a back up role. Bracken scores a TD in his second carry; Underwood gets 3 carries for 2 yards.

3-Navarre was 16 for 27 for 229 yards and 3 TDs; two bombs to Bellamy for 38 and 47 yards (almost a third). No turnovers: fumbles or interceptions. We were 12 minutes ahead in time of possession. Bellamy leads our receiving corps with 5 catches for 124 yards and 2 TDs. Joppru has 5 catches for 42 yards. Braylon Edwards has 4 catches for 31 yards, but again like last week several drops. Avant and Stejskal (Walk-on) catch their first passes. We had 28 first downs to State's 13, and we were 12 of 19 in 3rd down plus 1 of 1 in 4th down at the goal line while the Spartans were 2 of 14 in 3rd down and 1 of 3 in 4th down.

4-Our defense thwarts four red zone opportunities for MSU, and only allows 3 points in 24 minutes of possession. Shaw made a nice break up of a potential TD pass to Rogers. Knott led the Sparties with 6 catches for only 31 yards. MSU had only 59 yards net rushing yards 30 attempts. Dowdell was 15 of 34 for 178 yards, and the long play to Rogers set up their field goal. Rogers only catches 4 for 75 yards. Moss gains 53 yards in 13 carries, mostly against the 2nd team defense. Drake led our tacklers with 9, Diggs and Shaw had. Shazor has made some nice hits on special teams and on defense including a sack; our defense ended up with 4 sacks (Massey, Kashama and Bowman). Marlin Jackson did a nice job on Rogers with Drake missing coverage on the one long play. Markus Curry also had a nice pass break up on a potential TD pass.

5-Special teams looked much better with Finley doing a nice job on punts and extra points although he did miss his one field goal attempt. He brought down a possible disastrous high snap on one punt, and had a 40 yard average on 5 punts. Brandon Williams took a halo penalty, but overall you'd have to say a solid job by he and Shazor in coverage (the last punt hit Williams on the helmet in the air). LeSueur had a 35 yard kickoff return.

6-Leo Henige comes in as backup at Left Guard (Baas) rather than Denay who moved over to back up Left Tackle behind Pape. Massaquoi was used extensively as our 2nd tight end. Jon Shaw beat out Shazor to start at Free Safety in place of Cato June. Drake starts at Strong Safety in place of Julius Curry. Stevens starts again over Orr; LeSueur starts again in place of Combs over Markus Curry. Walk-on: Blake Nasif gets a pick (his first) that leads to our last TD. Avant, Stewart and Watson are still the only true freshman playing that won't redshirt this year; all the others will redshirt unless catastrophe happens in our last 3 games with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

7-It looks like we will play Minnesota for the Brown Jug next week, and a chance to go to either the Outback or Capital One Bowls in Florida pending the outcome of the Minnesota vs. Ohio State and Minnesota vs. Iowa games. If Minnesota bets Ohio State, the Iowa vs. Minnesota game will be for the Rose Bowl.

8-I'm glad we beat and humiliated Michigan State; it is important to dominate a team when they are down and we did just that. It isn't jut pay back for last year, but it establishes momentum and dominance for this year. It certainly should contribute to helping with recruiting, too. Bobby Williams will have a hard time keeping his job now to be sure.

Observations on the first half with the Spartans, 21-3!

1-It couldn't have been scripted better! We get two red zone opportunities for 14 points; they have two red zone opportunities for 3 points and we lead 21-3.

2-Askew starts at tailback and has 18 rushes for 63 yards and 1 TD. Pape shifts to left tackle and Morgan starts at right tackle. Our rushing game still leaves a lot to be desired, but we net 57 yards with two sacks. Perry comes in to carry twice for 5 yards in a back up role.

3-Navarre is 11 for 20 for 146 yards and one TD to Bellamy for 38 yards. No turnovers: fumbles or interceptions. We are 5 minutes ahead in time of possession. Bellamy leads our receiving corps with 4 catches for 77 yards and 1 TD. Joppru has 3 catches for 25 yards. Braylon Edwards has 2 catches for 12 yards, but again like last week several drops. We have 13 first downs to State's 6, and we are 5 of 10 in 3rd down plus 1 of 1 in 4th down at the goal line while the Spartans are 1 of 8 in 3rd down and 1 of 1 in 4th down, but their 4th down conversion resulted in no points.

4-Our defense thwarts two red zone opportunities for MSU, and only allows 3 points in 12 minutes of possession. Shaw made a nice break up of a potential TD pass to Rogers. Knott leads the Sparties with 5 catches for only 28 yards. MSU has only 45 yards net rushing in 18 attempts. Dowdell is 7 of 15 for 67 yards, and the long play to Rogers set up their field goal. Drake leads our tacklers with 7 while Shazor and Diggs have 4 each. Shazor has made some nice hits on special teams and on defense; he also has our lone sack. Marlin Jackson is doing a nice job on Rogers with Drake missing coverage on the one long play.

5-Special teams is looking much better with Finley doing a nice job on punts and extra points. He brought down a possible disastrous high snap on one punt, and has a 42 yard average on 4 punts. Brandon Williams took a halo penalty, but overall you'd have to say a solid job by he and Shazor in coverage. LeSueur had a 35 yard kickoff return.