| Reese |
The Spartans, ranked 25th, got three touchdowns from the offense and three from the defense and special teams Saturday in routing Western Michigan 42-10.
The Broncos (1-1) committed seven turnovers and the Spartans (1-0) turned four into touchdowns. Ahead 42-0, Michigan State sent in the reserves before halftime.
"The second quarter just wasn't our day," Western Michigan coach Gary Darnell said.
"You can't turn the ball over that much and expect to beat a bad team, much less a superior team like Michigan State."
Indeed, the Big Ten squad was simply too mature for the young team from the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos netted just 29 rushing yards and got no closer than the Michigan State 41 in the first half.
"This is how you set the tempo for the year," said Spartan tailback Sedrick Irvin, who rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown.
"People will say, 'OK, they're serious."
The Spartans, who forced just 18 turnovers last season, grabbed four interceptions and three fumbles Saturday.
Some of those Broncos blunders helped Michigan State double a 21-point lead in less than two minutes.
Cornerback Amp Campbell returned an interception 43 yards for a score in the second quarter. On the next possession, quarterback Tim Lester's fumble was returned 37 yards for a touchdown by Michigan State's Robaire Smith.
Two plays later, the kickoff bounced off Jesse Turner's shoulder pads, and Scott Ernsberger recovered the ball during an end zone scramble.
"Every play, one or two guys screwed up, and most of the time one of them seemed to be me," Lester said.
Ike Reese's interception set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Marc Renaud in the first quarter.
Reese could have scored but he bobbled the ball out of bounds as he stared at the open field.
"When I saw the end zone, my eyes got so big," he confessed. "I was trying to switch the ball to the outside hand like they teach running backs.
"I'm just a linebacker."
Michigan State quarterback Todd Schultz completed 8-of-18 passes for 92 yards in his first test since reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
He didn't play at all in the second half.
"It's tight but it doesn't hurt," Schultz said.
Western Michigan's points came on a 3-yard TD pass to Frank Bosworth in the third quarter after a blocked punt. Brad Selent added a 34-yard field goal.
The sold-out Spartan Stadium crowd became silent on the second play when Michigan State's star offensive lineman Flozell Adams rolled over in pain.
His ankle sprain wasn't considered serious.
It was a day of redemption for Renaud, a senior who missed the 1996 season because of poor grades. He pounded his fist into the artificial turf and looked to the blue sky after his touchdown dash.
"Those were emotions, just thanking God," he said. "I learned hard work pays off on the field and in the classroom."
Toledo 36, Purdue 22
Dwayne Harris ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Chris Wallace passed for two scores and Toledo ran off 27 straight points to overcome an early deficit and beat Purdue 36-22 Saturday night.
The loss spoiled the Purdue debut of coach Joe Tiller.
Toledo, a member of the Mid-American Conference, came into the game having lost eight of its nine encounters with Big Ten teams.
The Rockets ran off three touchdowns in less than seven minutes of the first quarter after Purdue had pounded to a touchdown on its first possession.
Ed Watson scored on a 45-yard run to put the Boilermakers up 7-0 with the game less than two minutes old.
But Lem Reynolds capped an 11-play, 78-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on the Rockets' first possession.
After forcing a quick three-and-out by the Boilermakers, Toledo came back with a four-play, 40-yard drive that ended with Harris scoring on a 5-yard run.
Mace Freeman's 32-yard punt return to the Purdue 40 set the stage for the march.
Harris carried 32 times in his first collegiate start.
Purdue was forced to punt again after running three plays and this time Toledo went 69 yards in eight plays, with quarterback Chris Wallace finding Freeman on a 29-yard pass for the touchdown and a 21-7 lead.
Chris Merrick added field goals of 25 and 37 yards to push the advantage to 27-7 before Purdue ended the half with Brian Alford scoring on a 73-yard pass from Billy Dicken.
Toledo put the game out of reach by scoring the only points of the third quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Merrick.
They opened the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard pass from Wallace to Brock Kreitzburg.
Wallace, making his first career start at quarterback, completed 21-of-44 passes for 254 yards with one interception.
Vinnie Sutherland closed the scoring for Purdue on a 5-yard run.
Purdue quarterbacks Dicken and Drew Brees combined to completed 24-of-56 passes for 304 yards.
Watson led the Boilermakers' rushing attack, which totaled 122 yards on 24 attempts, with 73 yards on 11 carries.
09-08-97
| Previous Article | Next Article |
should be sent to: daily.letters@umich.edu | should be sent to: online.daily@umich.edu |