Michigan State pulls away from Central Michigan for 30-10 victory

EAST LANSING, Mich. Major injuries are outnumbering impressive performances for No. 2 Michigan State, and the sight of star left tackle Jack Conklin in street clothes and a left knee brace in the second half Saturday was the worst yet for the Spartans this season.

Of course, they flirted for a while with a loss to Central Michigan, so it could have been even worse for Mark Dantonio’s team. MSU jumped to a 17-0 lead, held tight to a 17-10 advantage to start the fourth quarter, struggled all day to defend CMU quarterback Cooper Rush, but eventually pulled away for a 30-10 decision.

There was no immediate word on Conklin, but the Big Ten Network reported he complained in the second quarter of an awkward fall and a hit to the outside of the left knee. He walked gingerly to the sideline early in the third quarter, a brace on that knee.

MSU (4-0) was already missing starters in right tackle Kodi Kieler (knee, out indefinitely), linebacker Ed Davis (knee, out for season), cornerback Vayante Copeland (fractured vertebra, out for season) and defensive tackle Joel Heath (undisclosed, was available for emergency duty against CMU).

Starting safety RJ Williamson left Saturday’s game in the second half after twice going down and favoring his right leg as he left the field, and starting tight end Josiah Price departed late with an apparent ankle injury.

CMU (1-3) had the formula for an upset and its fourth all-time win against the Spartans, holding onto the ball and picking up key third downs all day. If not for MSU senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun, who had three sacks and one of two blocked field goals for the Spartans, it could have been really interesting.

Rush came up big with 285 passing yards and a touchdown, finishing 26-for-39.

But MSU third-string running back Gerald Holmes ran in a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and Connor Cook (11-for-19, 143 yards, touchdown) made some late plays on a quiet day overall.

Right from the start, Rush showed he was serious. A 42-yard third-down completion got the Chippewas into field-goal position, but MSU’s Demetrius Cooper blocked Brian Eavey’s 45-yard attempt.

The Spartans moved quickly for a 6-yard Madre London touchdown run. Then Rush converted a third-and-4, a third-and-11 and a third-and-12, before picking up 10 yards on another third-and-11 followed by Calhoun blocking a 43-yard field goal.

MSU got more good news on special teams when junior kicker Michael Geiger improved to 3-for-5 on the season with a 47-yard conversion to make it 10-0. Cook’s 5-yard scoring pass to Price made it 17-0, and gave Price the MSU career record for touchdown catches at the tight end position (14).

A rout was developing on the scoreboard, but not on the field. CMU went to work on an 80-yard touchdown drive that ate up more than 5 minutes and required Rush conversions on third-and-5 and third-and-10, with MSU’s Jermaine Edmondson called for holding and pass interference two plays apart to set up a 1-yard scoring toss to Anthony Rice.

CMU got within one score on a 42-yard Eavey field goal, and it was 17-10 Spartans as the fourth quarter began.

The Chippewas, stopped on fourth down in MSU territory on their previous possession, struggled to block Calhoun again he was held on second down, got his third sack on third and the Spartans finally awoke from offensive slumber. Gerald Holmes capped a 61-yard drive with a three-yard run and it was 24-10.

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