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MSU football crowns homecoming weekend with 56-14 blowout win over Wyoming

September 27, 2014

Football reporters Robert Bondy and Geoff Preston break down MSU's 56-14 homecoming win over Wyoming.

Photo by Robert Bondy | and Geoff Preston The State News

If it wasn’t already established through the first three games, it’s safe to say MSU is no longer known for being just a defensive team.

For a second straight week, No. 9 MSU lit up the scoreboard, this time beating Wyoming by a score of 56-14 at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.

MSU (3-1 overall) scored on its first six possessions, seeing five different Spartans find the endzone. The Spartans were able to dominate in all facets of the game offensively, out-gaining Wyoming 533 to 286 in total yards.

“We have gotten to the point, but we’ve never exploded like this, I think, out of the gate with our offense,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “It’s a great advantage, especially when you’re not turning it over and are running the ball and throwing it.”

The scoring frenzy started off with a one yard touchdown run from junior quarterback Connor Cook on fourth and goal. The designed quarterback run play put the Spartans up 7-0 only 3:49 minutes into the game, a lead the green-and-white never surrendered.

The following possession saw a 19-yard touchdown from senior wide receiver Tony Lippett. The touchdown by Lippett was the sixth time this season Cook connected with Lippett for six points. Lippett finished the day with 76 yards on four receptions.

Wyoming would strike back on a junior running back Shaun Wick 57-yard touchdown run the following possession to cut the Spartan lead in half, but that would be the closest the game ever got.

Senior wide receiver Keith Mumphery, sophomore tight end Josiah Price and sophomore running back Delton Williams had the final four first half Spartan touchdowns, two coming from Mumphery.

Wyoming popped in one more touchdown in the final minute of the first half to trim the Spartan lead to 42-14 at halftime.

The second half saw more of the same from the Spartans’ offense, with MSU adding 14 more points to the scoreboard. Senior running back Jeremy Langford had a 29-yard touchdown run and sophomore quarterback Tyler O’Connor had a 12-yard touchdown run to wrap-up the MSU victory.

Cook finished 8-of-12 for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded one touchdown on the ground for a second straight week. Also for a second straight week Cook didn’t play in the fourth quarter and was relieved of duties as early as the second quarter by sophomore quarterback Tyler O’Connor and redshirt freshman Damion Terry.

With plenty of substitutions throughout the game, it would be understandable for why MSU would struggle to get in a rhythm, but that’s not the case for MSU, Cook said.

“The reason why we have the rhythm is guys are good,” Cook said. “Damion is a good quarterback, Tyler is a good quarterback. Obviously this is Damion’s second year but Tyler is going into his third year, Tyler knows the offense, he knows where to go with the football, he’s accurate. He knows when to tuck and run obviously you saw that today. Then the backups too. We’ve all been with each other for so long that we have a timing from spring ball to fall camp in practice and it shows in games.”

The Spartans’ run game clicked again this week, finishing with 338 yards on the ground. Langford led the way with 137 yards and one touchdown, it was his first time 100-yard game of the season.

Dantonio made a point to get Langford more carries this week, shooting for him to get at least 20 touches. Langford didn’t quite reach 20 — had 16 carries and two receptions — but following the game he was pleased with his performance and considered it a big confidence booster going into Big Ten play.

“It felt really good,” Langford said. “Especially with the game we got next week so to get my confidence up, take a couple hits, it felt good.”

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