Spartans overwhelm UAB in Dantonio's debut

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It might be said that MSU was anxious to start its new season and new football life.

The score in Saturday’s game certainly reflected that.

It took just 2 minutes and 15 seconds for the Spartans to break the scoreless tie en route to a 55-18 victory against Alabama-Birmingham.

“It was a great win, a team win,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “Executed very well offensively throughout the first half. I don’t think we punted.”

Even though MSU tallied 45 first half points and appeared to click throughout the game, junior running back Javon Ringer and his teammates know they still have a long way to go.

“We’ve improved, but we’re still not satisfied. We know we have a lot of work to do,” Ringer said. “But we’re looking at this as a start. This is a good start.

“This is all a race. We came out the gates pretty good. Now we just have to maintain this throughout the season.”

With the amount MSU ran the ball, the game resembled a marathon more than a race. Senior running back Jehuu Caulcrick registered four first half touchdowns – three of which came in the first quarter – on 10 carries for 94 yards. He scored the game’s first touchdown on a one yard carry.

Caulcrick’s four touchdowns ranks as the second most rushing touchdowns in one game in school history. The last Spartan to record four rushing touchdowns in one game was T.J. Duckett against Penn State in 1999.

“Once it started getting – I don’t want to say easier and easier – but it was nice,” Caulcrick said.

“It’s something I couldn’t even dream of. I couldn’t write a better script than what happened out there today.”

The Spartans seemed to appreciate Dantonio’s run-heavy offensive scheme as MSU racked up 298 yards on 48 carries. Meanwhile, the Spartans defense held the Blazers to 12 yards on the ground.

Ringer’s rehabilitated knee did more than just hold up against the UAB defense. He had three carries of ten or more yards in the first quarter, including a 25-yarder that set up the game’s first touchdown.

“That’s part of the one-two punch,” Ringer said of his work with Caulcrick. “Like I said, his first two (touchdowns), I set them up and he knocked them down.”

The success on the ground allowed junior quarterback Brian Hoyer to go 14 for 17, totaling 201 yards and one touchdown. He began the game by completing his first 10 passes.

“We were starting off running a lot, and that opens holes,” Hoyer said. “There were a couple easy throws I started with, and that kind of opened up the game.”

Hoyer hooked up with junior wide receiver Devin Thomas when he got behind the Blazers secondary for 44 yards in the second quarter to put the Spartans on top 28-0.

Thomas finished the game with 5 receptions and 106 yards, including a touchdown.

Dantonio utilized backup players after MSU jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, many of which made notable contributions. Junior running back A.J. Jimmerson carried the ball 10 times for 51 yards while fellow running back freshman Andre Anderson collected 27 yards and a touchdown. Freshmen quarterbacks Connor Dixon and Nick Foles, and freshman defensive lineman Antonio Jeremiah also saw playing time, amongst others.

“We had the opportunity to play a lot of players throughout the second half. We got into our (third string players) as well,” Dantonio said.

“I think any time you talk about team all the time and we have the opportunity to play a lot of people, it sends a message to them that everybody counts.”

Although the Spartans limited UAB to 18 points – only three of which occurred in the first half – the Green and White was more unprepared defensively than they let on.

“What we saw wasn’t anything we saw on film,” senior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said. “So it was kind of hectic out there at first.”

The Spartans improved in the amount of penalties they took, which was a problem area last season. MSU earned four yellow flags for a total of 35 yards.

Sophomore kicker Brett Swenson kicked two field goals. Blazers kicker Swayze Waters added three field goals of his own.

The Spartans will return to action next Saturday when they host Bowling Green.

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