“I’ve been saying it for a long time – Devin’s worked hard and he’s got the talent,” junior quarterback Brian Hoyer said. “You leave him one-on-one, and you’re going to get burned. He’s a big play threat and I’m glad he’s come out and become consistent.”

While Thomas – or “Showtime,” as his teammates like to call him – is emerging as the Spartans’ big playmaker, Hoyer faltered a little this week, throwing two interceptions.

Hoyer was picked off in the red zone at the end of the second quarter, and nearly threw a third interception in the fourth quarter. He finished the game completing 17-of-29 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m sure he’d like to have a couple back, but he made some throws too,” Dantonio said. “He’ll probably be more sharp next week. It’s always good to come down to earth a little bit. Last week, he was outstanding.”

Hoyer admitted he tried to force some plays.

“Whether it’s trying to throw the ball too hard, fitting it into some spots or taking some risks,” Hoyer said. “But for the most part, I think I kind of bounced back from those two interceptions.”

Along with bouncing back from adversity, Spartan fans saw something else they haven’t seen much of in the past few seasons – an effective pass rush defense.

The Spartans were able to constantly pressure Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan, sacking him seven times and forcing him to scramble on numerous occasions.

Bowling Green ran a spread offense and relied heavily on the arm of Sheehan, who completed 32-of-50 passes for 295 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for one touchdown.

After surrendering 14 points in the first half, the defense made some adjustments and held Bowling Green to just one field goal in the second half.

The Spartans scored one touchdown in every quarter of the game.

“(In the) first half they had us reeling a little bit I think, but there’s always a change when you start against an offense like this,” Dantonio said. “You have to get the tempo going as you move through the process.”

MSU showed once again that they can effectively shut down the run, allowing Bowling Green 47 rushing yards on 25 attempts.

The Spartans ran up 142 rushing yards against the Falcons, and junior running back Javon Ringer had 83 yards on 22 carries with one touchdown.

Senior running back Jehuu Caulcrick returned to earth after his otherworldly performance against UAB, rushing for 53 yards and one touchdown.

With an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, Ringer and Caulcrick helped MSU run 8:35 off the clock, when the Spartans drove 69 yards on 16 plays.

Although the effort resulted in a missed field goal by sophomore kicker Brett Swenson, it was considered by many the most important drive of the game.

“That was basically the game-winning drive for us,” senior tight end Kellen Davis said.

“We didn’t get any points off of it, but it took a lot of time off the clock.”

While Dantonio will quote former MSU head coach George Perles and say “they all count for one,” this “one” carried more meaning for defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi.

“Last week, I wasn’t as excited after the game because it was such a blowout,” Narduzzi said. “(Saturday) we got a nice second-half adversity factor, and our kids really pulled together and our coaches did a great job keeping them together.”

Jon Schultz can be reached at schul320@msu.edu.