It took FAU (0-2) over 26 minutes to get its first 1st down against the Gators in Week 1. It took them more than 27 minutes against the #17 Michigan State Spartans (2-0) to get their only first down of the game.The only other time Michigan State has held a team to one first down occurred in 1944 against Maryland.
In this game, the Owls offense regressed from their performance against UF, and managed just 48 yards of total offense and one first down.
Kirk Cousins dominated the game for the Spartans. The fifth-year senior completed 16 of his 21 pass attempts for 183 yards, and was responsible for a pair of passing touchdowns.
Edwin Baker got the scoring started in the first quarter, when he found a gap on the left side of the line and jogged into the endzone, capping off a 7-play 51-yard drive after the Owls went three-and-out on their first possession of the game.
The Owls again went three-and-out on their next possession and the Spartans took the ball down the field with ease. Le’Veon Bell finished off the Spartans drive with a two-yard touchdown and put Michigan State in front 14-0.
After one quarter of play, the Spartans outranked the Owls in yards gained — 129 to 9.
A Kirk Cousins to Dion Sims 1-yard touchdown sent the Owls into halftime trailing 27-0.
The Owl’s lone first down came with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. Just as the Owls picked up some momentum on offense, David Kooi was sacked by Johnathan Strayhorn and Anthony Rashad White for a 7-yard loss, which set up a 3rd and 17.
The Spartans started the second half in similar fashion to how they started the first, moving the ball methodically down the field converting third downs into first downs and keeping the Owl’s defense on the field.
Ultimately, Spartans kicker Dan Conroy missed a 28-yard field goal.
On the Spartans next possession they continued to move the ball down the field until Kirk Cousins connected on an 8-yard pass with Garrett Celek to put Michigan State up 34-0.
The Owls inability to stay on the field eventually wore down the defense in the second half. The Spartans held the ball for over 42 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, after more struggles from starting quarterback Graham Wilbert who finished the game 4 for 10 with 15 yards passing, David Kooi reentered the game.
On a handoff to running back Xavier Stinson, the Owls had what would have been their second first-down of the game, until Stinson fumbled the ball right into the hands of Spartans defender Jeremy Langford. Langford returned the fumble 37-yards to make the score 44-0.
Next week the Owls will have a bye week before traveling to Auburn to play the defending National Champions.
Game Notes
– NT Jarvis Givens left the game with a shoulder injury.
– FAU was 0-10 on 3rd down while Michigan State was 8-18 and 3-3 on 4th down.
– Michigan State won the time of possession battle holidng the ball for 42:26 while FAU held the ball for only 17:34.
– Paid attendance for the game was 70,249
– FAU has been outscored in its two games 85-3
