Brian Lewerke ran for two touchdowns in the first half, and No. 21 Michigan State overcame a slow start and an underwhelming finish to beat Central Michigan 31-20 on Saturday.
Source: Michigan State Official Athletic Site
Job done: MSU uses middle quarters to fend off Central Michigan Impact Sports
It was business as usual for Michigan State for three quarters in their final nonconference game of the regular season, as the Spartans trailed just once against Central Michigan. The final score was 31-20 in favor of MSU, who moved to 3-1 heading into Big Ten play. The optics of the game make for pretty easy reading, but that isn’t to say that it was a faultless day for Michigan State.
‘By no means are we there yet’: MSU holds off CMU Detroit News
Michigan State had a chance to put a team away in the second half again on Saturday, but instead of run away with an easy win, the Spartans made things interesting at the end.
Michigan State scores 31 straight, holds off Central Michigan late MLive.com
Playing at home for the first time in a month, Michigan State closed nonconference play the way it began – with a win. The No. 21 Spartans scored 31 straight points then held off a late push to beat Central Michigan 31-20 on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing.
Michigan State football should be concerned after Central Michigan win Spartan Avenue
It wasn’t pretty. I’m getting used to leading off post-game pieces with that exact phrase, but it continues to be true for Michigan State as the Spartans squandered a comfortable 31-3 second-half lead by allowing Central Michigan to end the game on a 17-0 run.
Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State’s 31-20 win over Central Michigan Lansing State Journal
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch gives his initial thoughts on the Spartans’ performance Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State overcomes slow start, topples Central Michigan, 31-20 Detroit Free Press
Michigan State football’s injury-depleted offense started slowly yet again. But the 18th-ranked Spartans recovered after a sluggish and error-filled opening quarter, getting two Brian Lewerke touchdown runs in the second period, and then survived more of their mistakes to a 31-20 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday. Lewerke finished 16 of 25 for 185 yards passing and ran eight times for 39 yards.
Spartans win despite late CMU charge The Only Colors
With a chance to finish off the Central Michigan Chippewas with relative comfort, the Michigan State Spartans found themselves needing a long drive late in the fourth quarter to secure the victory in East Lansing. Despite the late scare, MSU hung on to win 31-20 and improve to 3-1 on the season.
Michigan State-Central Michigan talking points: Defensive letup and Rocky’s debut MLive.com
Here’s what Michigan State fans are talking about after the Spartans’ 31-20 win over Central Michigan on Saturday afternoo
Michigan State defense starting to dominate The Only Colors
Heading into the 2018 season, Michigan State was pegged by many experts to be one of the top defensive teams in the nation. Against Central Michigan, the Spartans showed why. MSU allowed the Chippewas to gain just 245 total yards en route to a 31-20 win.
What went wrong in second half vs. Central Michigan? Spartan Avenue
Building a 31-3 lead, everything seemed right with the world. The Spartans were about to jog to a nice, comfortable win over Central Michigan, but Michigan State allowed 17 straight points to make the game tighter than it needed to be.
Brian Lewerke claims missed penalties as interception numbers climb MLive.com
“The interception was 100 percent pass interference,” Lewerke said after the Spartans’ 31-20 win over Central Michigan. “Felton (Davis) had the guy beat by a yard and he grabbed him and pulled himself through and picked the ball off.”
Michigan State grades: Offense, special teams average in win Detroit Free Press
Chris Solari rates the 18th-ranked Spartans on a scale of 1 to 10 after their 31-20 win over Central Michigan on Saturday.
Jefferson powers through with Scott sidelined Detroit News
La’Darius Jefferson admits this is all fairly surprising. At this time last season, Jefferson was a quarterback at Muskegon High. He was recruited heavily by Michigan State, but it wasn’t to throw the ball. Instead, the Spartans saw him as a runner.
Michigan State questions late focus after CMU scores 17 in fourth quarter MLive.com
Late in the third quarter Saturday afternoon, Rocky Lombardi traded a headset for a helmet. Michigan State had scored 31 straight points to build a four-touchdown lead and it was time for the redshirt freshman to get his first college snaps as the backup quarterback.