One of the team's sore spots last season — at place-kicker — has a positive outlook after Saturday's 115-play scrimmage at Spartan Stadium.

Sophomore Todd Boleski missed his first 38-yard field-goal attempt but didn't disappoint after, nailing two field goals at 32 yards, and then at 40, 47 and 55 yards.

The defense also showed signs of improvement, which senior defensive tackle Clifton Ryan said is "more athletic and (can) run the ball better than we did a year ago." The first-team defense faced a first-team offense undergoing changes with three new starters on the line.

After the game, head coach John L. Smith said linebacker Seth Mitchell will not return to the team. He hasn't played the past two seasons following surgery for an injury he suffered to his knee.

Senior quarterback Drew Stanton led the first-team offense down the field 99 yards and then scored with an 11-yard run.

MSU's final scrimmage is at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.