The Michigan State Spartans finished 2017 off the right way, defeating Washington State 42-17 in the Holiday Bowl. After the usual slow start that saw them trail 3-0, the Spartans owned the second quarter with 21 unanswered and took a 21-3 lead at the half, and never looked back.
Quarterback Brian Lewerke led the way, throwing for 213 yards and three touchdowns. The win got Michigan State to 10 on the season, allowing them to reach double-digits and finish the year 10-3, a year after going 3-9.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from their dominating victory:
Win No. 100 for Coach Dantonio
Entering this game, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio had racked up 99 career victories at the helm for the Spartans. The victory over the Cougars in the Holiday Bowl got him to win No. 100. He has successfully turned this program around from the mess it was before he took over back in 2007.
This year was probably his most improbable and impressive season yet. Just last season, the Spartans went 3-9 and some even questioned if Dantonio was on the hot seat. During the off-season, Michigan State lost many key players to the NFL and attrition, making this turnaround even more remarkable.
Nobody expected the Spartans to win double-digit games this season, but they did. And once again, the majority of the credit goes to Dantonio.
Offensive explosion
The Spartans put together their most impressive performance of the season offensively, scoring a season-high 42 points against the second-ranked defense in the PAC-12.
As mentioned above, quarterback Brian Lewerke had himself a night, throwing for 213 yards and three scores. He also ran for 73 yards. Running back LJ Scott put together one of his most complete performances of the season, carrying the ball 18 times for 110 yards and a couple of scores. Felton Davis led the way at wide receiver, grabbing four passes for 118 yards.
It was one of those nights where just everything went perfectly for the Spartans’ offense, and it couldn’t have come at a better time to end the season on a high note with a victory against a quality team.
They just put everyone on notice for 2018
Look, I don’t know how much extra motivation was in play here. Clearly, the Spartans and their head coach felt slighted that they were by-passed for the Outback Bowl by Michigan. I mean after all, the Spartans certainly deserved the better bowl game.
On this night they played angry, focused, and determined. Nothing was going to stand in their way. It was complete domination. The offense looked crisp, sharp, focused, and on point. The defense played smash-mouth football, ferocious, aggressive, and hard-hitting. Heck, the special teams weren’t even needed.
Now granted, the Cougars were without senior quarterback Luke Falk, who is the PAC-12’s all time leading passer. In addition to that, their two best wide receivers were dismissed from the team before the bowl game.
But the Spartans played with that type of attitude, where it didn’t matter who was out their on the field across from them. They were on a mission. Then after the game, junior running back LJ Scott announced he will return for his senior season.
Next year looks promising for the green and white, and they just made everyone else well aware of that.
