Lost in the excitement of Matt Trannon's record-setting day on Saturday was an outstanding performance by Drew Stanton.

The senior quarterback looked like he was heading for a rough game at the start. On MSU's first play from scrimmage, Stanton dropped back and tried to thread the needle to junior tight end Kellen Davis, who was triple covered. The pass was intercepted, setting up a field goal for Eastern Michigan.

Stanton quickly recovered, though, and connected on his next 11 passes. By the time the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard, Stanton had completed 24-of-32 pass attempts for 254 yards and three touchdowns in MSU's 52-20 victory.

Most of Stanton's completions came on short, quick passes. He said the Spartans were just taking what the Eastern Michigan defense gave them.

"We script the first eight plays, and after that we try to get a feel of what they were trying to do," Stanton said.

"They were in soft coverage on the boundary, and it was just something we kept taking advantage of. They weren't making any adjustments."

Stanton proved to be a threat on the ground as well, twice faking a pitch to a running back on option plays before taking the ball into the end zone himself. Stanton rushed for 33 yards and two touchdowns.

Superb substitute

Jehuu Caulcrick didn't play Saturday because of a sprained foot and Javon Ringer left in the second half after suffering a high ankle sprain, but A.J. Jimmerson made sure the MSU offense didn't skip a beat.

Seeing playing time for the first time in his MSU career, the redshirt freshman running back caught three passes out of the backfield for 48 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 10 times for 79 yards, including a 31-yard burst in the fourth quarter.

Jimmerson said he can continue to be a threat in the passing game.

"We go through our pass protections a lot in practice," Jimmerson said. "They knew that I can catch the ball pretty well coming out of high school."

He said he was prepared to see some action because of Caulcrick's injury.

"I knew I was getting in," Jimmerson said. "I didn't know how many touches I was getting or anything like that. They put me in, and I did my job."

Ringer said he was impressed with the way Jimmerson plugged the holes in the backfield.

"He did good," Ringer said. "He stepped in when he had to. He made the big catches when he had to, and he didn't seem too nervous when he went out there. It was good to show everybody else around here that we have another good back."

Emptying the bench

The Spartans' offense was so efficient on Saturday that senior punter Brandon Fields only took the field once.

MSU's second- and third-string quarterbacks lined up under center, nine different players had at least one reception and three players threw touchdown passes.

"Everybody got to play," MSU head coach John L. Smith said.

"That was a positive for us. We're gonna need to see all those young guys get a lot more time, and they just need snaps, snaps, snaps."