Game 1: 2009.. Complete with a Spartan Victory

John Opie

Sep 5, 2009

Game One is Done...
Spartans Win... Convincingly..

Score by Quarters     1 2 3 4   Score
-----------------    -- -- -- --   -----
Montana State....... 0 0 3 0 - 3       Record: (0-1)
Michigan State...... 7 21 6 10 - 44       Record: (1-0)

                                  MONST      MSU
FIRST DOWNS...................       12       29
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............    28-62   40-175
PASSING YDS (NET).............       98      318
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 26-13-0 35-19-0
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   54-160   75-493
Fumble Returns-Yards..........      0-0      0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............     1-11     5-58
Kickoff Returns-Yards.........    8-164     2-34
Interception Returns-Yards....      0-0      0-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............   9-37.2   2-57.0
Fumbles-Lost..................      0-0      2-0
Penalties-Yards...............     7-55     5-46
Possession Time...............    29:19    30:41
Third-Down Conversions........ 2 of 14 7 of 13
Fourth-Down Conversions.......   2 of 2   0 of 0
Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      1-1      3-4
Sacks By: Number-Yards........      0-0     3-22

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Thoughts About the First Game...

74,500 attendance.. for a game against a 1-AA opponent.. Spartan Nations is Here !
You could see jitters in the players the first couple of series.. but it faded fast..
Kirk Cousins 183 yrds 3 TDs, Keith Nichol 135 yrds and 2 TDS: 2 QB system seems to be Working..
Greg Jones had 14 tackles, 3 for a loss. He was all over the field…
I’d like to see a stronger Offensive Front…
Montana State had 5 Tackles on the Spartans for losses…
Avg. 4 yds per carry…
Joel Nitchman might be out for the year…
Caulton Ray , Larry Caper , Edwin Baker seem to be our Backs..
Receivers had a little bit of Ball Drop-itis..
Felt Defense was the stronger side of the Ball today..
I realize that we’re gentlemen on the field.. But, with 20 seconds to go, its 3rd and 1 to go, on their 11 yrd line. Should have been 51 – 3… but.. I agree.. The best thing to do was take a knee..

What did we learn about the Spartans:
1) We have 2 very good Quarterbacks..
2) We have some powerful Freshman RBs.
3) Defense is the Strength we thought it was.
4) Both QBs have good arms and can see receivers well.
5) I think the Spartans still have room to grow and improve, but am very Satisfied.

Grades:
Coaching: A
Offense: B
Defense: A
Specl Teams: A

Great day to be in the Stands… Great Day for a For Football !