Running game carries Spartans past Western Michigan

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When Le’Veon Bell took the field for the first time Saturday, he didn’t foresee his first game would turn out as memorable it did.

The freshman running back filled in for injured sophomore Larry Caper by rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, becoming the first freshman in MSU history to run for more than 100 yards in a season-opener, as MSU defeated Western Michigan, 38-14, Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

Bell ran wild on the Broncos’ defense, notching a 75-yard run, showing lethal cutting moves and being a threat almost every time he touched the ball.

“I never dreamt anything like this as my first time on a college field,” Bell said. “I knew (Caper) wasn’t going to play on Tuesday or Wednesday so I knew I might play a lot and this will be a great opportunity.”

Bell teamed with sophomore running back Edwin Baker — the game’s starter — and the rest of the Spartans to produce 297 rushing yards and run the Broncos’ defense ragged.

Baker finished where he left off from last season’s Valero Alamo Bowl, carrying 17 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns Saturday. Baker, too, was a constant threat in the absence of Caper, who was held out because of a hand injury but is expected to play next week.

Bell and Baker were the first Spartan pair to go over 100 yards each since Javon Ringer and Drew Stanton did it in 2006 against Pittsburgh.

The Broncos hung in the game early and were even with MSU, 7-7, after the first quarter, but they weren’t able to contend with the Spartans’ rushing attack.

After forcing a three-and-out on the Broncos’ first drive, MSU punched the ball in their first possession as Baker scored on a 29-yard run on the second play.

But the Spartans would get very little out of their next three drives.

Failed opportunities characterized the next two drives as the Spartans finished the quarter with Baker’s touchdown run as the lone first down.

MSU’s defense was impressive early, causing a three-and-out on WMU’s second possession and creating a turnover when senior linebacker Greg Jones caused a fumble that was recovered by sophomore defensive end Tyler Hoover.

“I thought we came out with a lot of enthusiasm and played very well in our first series,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “We ran the ball very effectively. Le’Veon Bell came out and Baker got the start. Baker made some nice runs.”

Junior wide receiver Keshawn Martin made a rare mistake when he dropped a punt return in the first quarter, which was picked up by the Broncos in great field position.

Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder completed a 1-yard pass to wide receiver Juan Nunez on fourth down to make it 7-7.

Carder finished 27-for-49 for 220 yards and two touchdowns, while MSU junior quarterback Kirk Cousins was 13-for-21 for 186 yards and a touchdown.

“I feel like we are in pretty good shape, other than a few turnovers,” Broncos head coach Bill Cubit said. “But we had a few chances to get down the field, especially since (Alex) Carder is a young kid and this is his first game.”

Neither team came away with points on their first possessions of the second quarter, but the Spartans caused a fumble on the Broncos’ first drive as redshirt freshman linebacker Denicos Allen recovered at the Broncos’ 30-yard line.

Four plays later, MSU would cash in with a 20-yard pass from Cousins to junior wide receiver Keith Nichol to make it 14-7.

Nichol, playing in his second game since switching from quarterback to wide receiver, leaped in traffic for the catch and finished with two catches for 32 yards.

The Broncos stalled on their next possession before Bell took control.

With MSU on its goal-line, Bell ran through a hole and hustled 75 yards to put MSU inside the red zone. Baker scored his second touchdown of the game two plays later.

Not to be outdone, Bell scored his first touchdown after senior wide receiver Mark Dell caught three straight passes from Cousins to lead the Spartans down the field late in the first half.

Bell went into halftime with more than 100 yards and one touchdown as the Spartans led 28-7.

MSU picked up where it left off to start the second half as it rode Martin’s 39-yard run on an end-around to the Western Michigan 18-yard line, and Bell made several nifty moves on an 18-yard touchdown run on the next play.

The Broncos showed fight in answering Carder completed a two-yard pass to sophomore tight end Blake Hammond to bring the Broncos within 35-14.

A fourth quarter field goal by sophomore kicker Dan Conroy was the rest of the scoring.

MSU finished with 483 total yards, compared to 323 for Western Michigan.

The Spartans received bad news when they found out senior fullback Josh Rouse, who was injured in the game, will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury.

“Based on what I saw, I thought our protection of the quarterback was very good,” Dantonio said. “We ran the ball for almost 300 yards. We’re doing something right there.”

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