Spartans Dominant Against FAU, Notre Dame Next
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Kirk Cousins and his Michigan State teammates made the most of their final tuneup before the schedule turns serious.
Next up: Notre Dame, in a rematch of one of 2010's most memorable games.
Cousins went 16 of 21 for 183 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, and the Spartans drubbed Florida Atlantic 44-0. After a tepid performance in a season-opening win over Youngstown State, Michigan State held FAU to one first down in one of the most dominant defensive performances in school history.
"I don't enjoy games as much as I should," Cousins said. "I go home and replay the plays that I could have done better and watch the other teams play and try to learn from those games. Then tomorrow I'll go in and prepare for Notre Dame. I don't let it sit too long and pat myself on the back too long."
Michigan State travels to Notre Dame a year after shocking the Irish 34-31 on a fake field goal in overtime. Spartans coach Mark Dantonio had a mild heart attack after that game, but he returned to lead his team to a share of the Big Ten championship.
Michigan State moved up two spots to No. 15 in the AP poll Sunday. Notre Dame, meanwhile, is smarting from what might have been an even more gut-wrenching loss than the one to Michigan State last year.
The Irish lost 35-31 at Michigan on Saturday night. Notre Dame took the lead on a touchdown with 30 seconds left, then allowed the Wolverines to drive the other way for a TD of their own with 2 seconds remaining.
While Notre Dame (0-2) tries to bounce back, the Spartans (2-0) are eager for their first real test.
"This will be a big one this week - can't wait," defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said. "The boys are cranked up already."
Michigan State looked sharp against FAU after a merely adequate opener. B.J. Cunningham caught five passes for 73 yards, breaking a tie with Matt Trannon for the Spartans' career lead in receptions. After going without a sack against Youngstown State, Michigan State had three against FAU.
The Spartans have held an opponent to one first down only one other time - against Maryland in 1944. Michigan State outgained FAU 434-48.
"It helps our confidence a lot," defensive tackle Jerel Worthy said. "Going into the Notre Dame game, it's going to be a real tough game, and our blueprint is that we want to be road warriors. That's the key to our season this year because we have a lot of tough road games, so this will be our first test."
After the trip to Notre Dame, Michigan State hosts Central Michigan before a rugged stretch in October that includes home games against Michigan and Wisconsin and road games at Ohio State and Nebraska.
The Spartans were uncharacteristically shaky on special teams against Youngstown State, but Keshawn Martin provided a boost Saturday with a nifty 35-yard punt return in the second quarter. Dan Conroy equaled his career long with a 50-yard field goal and added a 41-yarder, although he also missed from 28.
If Michigan State combines effective special teams with a strong defense, the Spartans should contend for another conference title. Saturday's game was a step in the right direction.
"I think that once you go forward you are always trying to find your identity as a football team," Dantonio said. "And your identity has to be shown over five, six, seven, eight, nine games probably - as you get deep into your season. Overall, it's a great win. Our next test is Notre Dame next week. We have to be fundamentally sound, we have to do things well down there and we have to build our identity."
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