MSU dominates CMU 41-7 in front of record Kelly/Shorts Stadium crowd
By Matt Thompson on September 8, 2012 5:07 pm / 10 comments
Juniors Le’Veon Bell and Andrew Maxwell combined for four touchdowns as No. 11 Michigan State (2-0) beat Central Michigan (1-1) 41-7 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in front of a record announced attendance of 35,127.
With the score 14-0 the Chippewas threatened, sustaining a 66-yard drive, but failed to convert a fourth down. MSU took that momentum and scored on its next five possessions putting the game out of reach.
During the ensuing drive, after the failed CMU conversion, Maxwell threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dion Sims 57 seconds before halftime – his first passing touchdown of the season.
“We ran the ball OK,” said MSU head coach Mark Dantonio. “We threw the ball exceptionally. We wanted to get our wide receivers and Maxwell going more than we did last week.”
On the opposite side of the ball, the Spartans defense did not allow the Chippewas in the red zone. Two interceptions, a fumble recovery and three fourth down stops kept abruptly putting the CMU offense back on the sidelines. MSU has still yet to allow an offensive touchdown through two games this season.
“Dominate,” MSU junior defensive end William Gholson said. “That’s all I care about. Dominate as a team.”
Sophomore Jason Wilson scored the lone CMU touchdown on a 55-yard interception return from a Connor Cook attempted pass with four minutes left in the game.
MSU finished with 488 offensive yards, CMU had 238.
Bell rushed for two touchdowns to build a 14-0 MSU lead. He slashed through the left side of the CMU defense for a 7-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter.
The Spartans scored first when Bell cradled the ball over the goal line for a 1-yard rush. A 31-yard punt return by Nick Hill set up the 32-yard scoring drive in the first quarter.
CMU senior quarterback Ryan Radcliff was 17-of-37 for 173 passing yards and threw two interceptions. Maxwell was 21-of-32 for 287 yards, Bell finished with 67 yards on 18 carries.
“(Radcliff’s) first four throws were high,” said CMU head coach Dan Enos. “Sometimes your adrenaline gets going and you get out of sync. As the game went on they hit him more than we would like.”
Senior right tackle Jake Olson was injured early in the game, Enos said it does not look good, but he will find out more later in the week.
CMU will have next week off, before playing at Iowa Sept. 22. Notre Dame travels to East Lansing to face the Spartans at 8 p.m. Saturday.
“Now all you can do is go back to work,” CMU senior wide receiver Cody Wilson said.
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10 Comments
Hey! How about that Dan Enos pro-set offense! Oh, and that Michigan Tech defense! You can dress a pig (players/stadium) up, but in the end, it’s still a pig! Three years of this crap! Dave Heeke, this hire (and that entire staff) is as bad as the Ernie Z. hire! If we win another game it will only be because of forfeit (but who would be crazy enough to do that!)!
The loss today was very sad! It would have been less embarrassing to cancel the
ame and take the loss without playing! I miss the Kelky/Jones days and can’t wait for the end of Enos’ days at CMU! Will need to have a special tailgate to celebrate yhat day!
I agree completely that this game was beyond disappointing. Enos and the coaching staff are completely ineffective. The talent level of our program is lacking even within our own conference, let alone the BIG 10! It’s time Heeke to hand Dan his walking papers. If he won’t do that, Ross should probably hand Heeke his. Football is the single biggest attraction of outside interest in our university on a national, state and local level. We owe it to our students, faculty, stakeholders within the community such as loyal business etc. who support our athletic but rely on the revenue the gain from incoming guests/customers, to put a quality product on the field. We have shown under previous coaching regimes that we are capable of great heights. However, these last three years have been the lowest of lows. Enos has had his chance to develop the program, yet measurable success on the field has not been recorded. It’s sad to think that if our team was successful EVERY home game could have an atmosphere like today’s had. The tailgate was a huge success. Revenue flowed in to the university and surrounding businesses. The stadium was FULL. . . until things got ugly. Remember when we were nationally ranked twice in 3 years? (2007, and 2009) Remember when we ran the table in the MAC to win championships? Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe Dan Enos is a “lame duck” coach this season. I have two options for you Heeke: 1. Fire him. What are you waiting for, pull the trigger, and lets get a fresh voice in here. The season is likely lost and the team doesn’t believe. OR 2. Tell him to WIN the MAC championship. If we don’t win the MAC championship game in December, we will part ways. IF that can be achieved then a contract renewal is in order. As alumni, I love visiting CMU. It brings back many fond memories, and serves as a good opportunity to meet with old friends. However, if we can fix this situation I will not return. I’ll simply check the box sore online and look for the L’s to pile up in the future. I won’t donate any money to alumni organizations and I won’t purchase any apparel. To summarize Dave, it’s 4th down, don’t throw and interception. Don’t be a Radcliffe.
They gave Enos an extension. Why…I have no idea. I’m a season ticket holder and can’t understand some of the decisions being made right now.
BOOO!!! Bad coaching…….way too vanilla/predictable. 1W-6L right around the corner. Heeke should fire Enos, take $$ from his own pocket & buyout the contract. Pro set offense? In the Mac?? Against MSU??? Aarrrgghhh!!!!!!
What, Radcliff threw two INT’s? No, really? Seriously, throw Niznak in. I am so tired of seeing poor QB performance after what we were all used to with Lefevour and Brunner. Also, I am in complete agreement with the pro-set complaints. Remember the billboards that preached “high powered offense?” Not any more. We are CMU, bring back the spread!
It was sad to see how far this program has fallen in two years. This “coach” inherited a winning program with many returning starters. His insistence on running the offense he learned from George Perles at state 20+ years ago has returned our CHAMPIONSHIP program to the depths of the Mike DeBord (the bored) years. Really…not even getting the offense into the red zone once? Giving up the chance at field goal points and missing the fourth down conversion? At least the defense stepped up somewhat. Thanks defense for keeping us from being shut out. Please, please, please make a change at the top…NOW. Show potential recruits that CMU is serious about a winning program, not one that will struggle to win three games again this season.
BURN THE BLACK UNIFORMS!!! They look terrible.
Almost missed Saturday night, Louisiana-Monroe goes into Little Rock where the game had been moved, to play “prohibitive” favorite #8 ranked Arkansas. Monroe physically beat the vaunted Razorbacks and won in OT.
Earlier, Oregon State beat heavily favored Wisonsin, and UCLA, long time cream puff of the PAC 12 under new coach Jim Mora, physically and strategically whipped Nebraska. What does this have to do with CMU? Everything.
The undying love affair between CMU athletics and MSU went over the top when Enos was hired; less equipped to be a head coach than MPHS’ Jason McIntyre or Redskins’ quarterback coach Matt Lafleur.
And all Enos can talk about is “how good the game was for Mt. Pleasant.” In fact the damage to CMU’s larger image and brand strength is incalculable. But hey, what a thrill to “play on the big stage” if only for a little while, right Dan? What crap.
When it comes to performance, you are what you think you are.
Will it take a 1-6 start to force a change? How about a 2-10 season, or another 3-9? Not that I want our former CHAMPIONSHIP program to suffer through a third season of failure, but what do you think it will take?