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Copyright 2009 Ed Bagley
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio's job became harder Saturday after his Spartans polished off 1-AA Montana State, 44-3, but it also became sweeter.
It became harder because 1-AA Montana State is a far cry from the opponents the Spartans will face as they work their way through Big Ten competition in the weeks ahead. Playing a 1-AA team was a big deal for the Spartans because it was the first time in school history they had faced such an unevenly matched team.
Dantonio's job became sweeter because his two sophomore quarterbacksKirk Cousins and Keith Nicholboth looked good in their bid to become the starting QB to replace Brian Hoyer, now a backup QB for the NFL's New England Patriots. When watching Hoyer play last year, he was inconsistent, but he was also apparently good enough to try competing at the next level.
Michigan State had a huge question mark in who would replace Hoyer. Both Cousins, who goes 6-3 and 202, and Nichol, who goes 6-2 and 215, split time under center and looked good.
Cousins went 10-for-17 for 183 yards, and had 3 touchdown passesa 29-yarder to sophomore B. J. Cunningham, a 15-yarder to senior Blair White, and another 24-yarder to White.
Nichol went 9-for-18 for 135 yards, and had 2 touchdown passesa 26-yarder to freshman tight end Dion Sims, and a 3-yarder to sophomore tight end Brian Linthicum. Sims goes 6-5 and 268; Linthicum goes 6-5 and 245.
Michigan State's passing game looks both young and effective at the moment. The question now is: can they do it against much better competition in the heat of Big Ten play?
Another big question mark is who would replace Spartan All-American running back Javon Ringer. Ringer, who was drafted by the NFL's Tennessee Titans, ran 390 times as a senior, gaining 1,637 yards and scoring 22 rushing touchdowns. He led the nation in carries, touchdowns and scoring, and was 4th in rushing yards. Ringer accounted for 97% of Michigan State's rushing yardage last year.
Against Montana State, redshirt freshman Caulton Ray had 12 carries for 71 yards (5.9 yards per carry), freshman Larry Caper added 34 yards on 7 carries (4.8 ypc), and freshman Edwin Baker added another 27 yards on 8 carries (3.3 ypc).
Senior Blair White had impressive numbers with 9 receptions for 162 yards and 2 TDs.
The Spartans led 28-0 at the half, and rolled up 493 offensive yards to 160 for Montana State. Michigan State's star linebacker, junior Greg Jones, had 14 tackles; he is arguably he best linebacker in the Big Ten.
The game was Michigan State's home opener. Montana State will receive at least $650,000 for traveling to East Lansing for an almost certain first-game loss, but the payday will be enough to pay nearly a third of Montana State's annual football budget. The Spartans host Central Michigan at home Saturday.
