After an inconsistent, shaky start to the season offensively, the MSU football team showed up as a well-oiled machine against Iowa on Saturday.
They scored 14 points in the first half of the first quarter and never looked back, upsetting No. 13 Iowa (4-1) 20-10.
"This is a tremendous start right here," senior quarterback Jeff Smoker said. "We had a pretty good preseason and you always want to start with a win, when you're going into the conference. To get a win against a team like Iowa is a boost of confidence."
The Spartans (4-1) started out the game nearly perfect. Smoker was 7-of-7 passing, leading his team on a 10 play, 80-yard touchdown drive. The drive was capped by a Smoker touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Ziehl Kavanaght in his first touchdown of the season. The pass also made Smoker the MSU career leader in touchdown passes, with 48 total after the game.
After a fumble recovery by junior safety Jason Harmon on the ensuing drive, the Spartans drove 41 yards on seven plays for a second touchdown, a 7-yard pass from Smoker to junior tight end Eric Knott.
Overall, Smoker started 13-of-14 and went on to throw for 218 yards and two touchdowns on 28-of-48 passing. He also broke MSU records for completions and passing attempts during the game, with 478 and 818 respectively.
"We'd like to keep it going all day, but it's kind of hard to do something like that," Smoker said. "We got off to a tremendous start in the game, and that's something you'd like to do every week and get a good start and try to sustain it. They came out with some changes against us and the defense came up huge and helped us out. And that's how you win."
MSU withstood an impressive showing from Iowa senior running back Fred Russell. He picked apart the Spartan defense with his bursts of speed and reading abilities, running for 122 yards on 23 carries.
But, with three fumble recoveries, four sacks and an interception, they made up for Russell's yards by winning the turnover battle four to none.
"Our front guys (on defense) are going to get out there," head coach John L. Smith said. "They're having fun, they don't have to worry about protecting people and they're just getting after the quarterback."
Senior linebacker Mike Labinjo was the defensive star, with an interception, a sack and three tackles for a loss.
The Spartans next face Indiana at 12:10 p.m. next Saturday for homecoming at Spartan Stadium.
