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Sports | Football

FOOTBALL

Special teams troubles continue

Megan Homanick
October 12, 2004

The MSU special teams have had its problems this season, and it continued Saturday against Illinois. A blocked punt, a mishandled extra point snap and another missed field goal all led to a long day for Spartans kickers - sophomore punter Brandon Fields and senior place-kicker Dave Rayner. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Fields seemed to take his time catching the ball before trying to punt it.

FOOTBALL

Spartans spread the wealth in victory

The trick play called for receiver Jerramy Scott to pass to quarterback Drew Stanton, and the defense was so fooled, both players knew there would be no excuse for failure. Scott, with the football in hand, after receiving a pitch from Stanton, saw his sophomore quarterback streaking toward the end zone, wide open.

FOOTBALL

At a loss

Iowa City, Iowa - MSU's performance against Iowa on Saturday was so bad that head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

Redshirt freshman steps up in game; 9 catches for 103 yards most by Spartans receiver this season

Iowa City, Iowa - Love was in the air Saturday. Terry Love, that is. The redshirt freshman caught his first career reception for 19 yards in the second quarter of MSU's 38-16 loss at Iowa on Saturday. Then he caught his second career ball on a 9-yard slant rout - good enough for another first down. His third career catch came two plays later, a 4-yard gain. After the next three plays, Love would add his fourth, fifth and sixth career catches. The only thing that could stop Love late in the second quarter was his shoe - which came off - forcing him to the sidelines. Love would add three more receptions to his not-so-long ago empty résumé in the second half, giving him nine on the day with 103 yards.

FOOTBALL

Missed assignments, 464 total yards equate to loss

Megan Homanick
October 4, 2004

Iowa City, Iowa - After completely dominating Indiana's offense in the second half last week, the MSU defense could not put on an encore performance at Iowa. The Spartans (2-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) gave up 464 total yards to Iowa (3-2, 1-1) - the worst offensive team in the Big Ten prior to this weekend. "As far as the defense is concerned, I don't think we played very smart today," senior linebacker and captain Ron Stanley said.

FOOTBALL

Stanton to start at Iowa; provides leadership for Spartans

Megan Homanick
September 28, 2004

For the first time all season, no quarterback questions were asked to MSU head coach John L. Smith at his Monday press conference. Sophomore Drew Stanton is MSU's starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Iowa. Stanton is still recovering from the effects of his knee injury, but said for the first time in five weeks he did not have to get fluid drained out of his knee.

FOOTBALL

Cool comeback

Bloomington, Ind. - As MSU's offense battled inconsistency and turnovers in the first half against Indiana, its defense held firm, eventually carrying the Spartans to a comeback win against Indiana. Sophomore quarterback Drew Stanton, with his spectacular running performance, was the face of MSU's 30-20 win, but the defense made his triumphant story possible. Coming out of the locker room at halftime, MSU (2-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) was losing, 20-7.

FOOTBALL

A hard day's night

Megan Homanick
September 20, 2004

The MSU offense turned the ball over six times, the wide receivers dropped passes and an offensive touchdown wasn't scored until the last minute of the game. "I told the team that we are all going to come in tomorrow morning to look at film from this game, and we are going to be very ill," MSU head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

QB continues family's tradition

The family business. It's a phrase that suggests a particular family's specialty, cultivated through years of hard labor and dedication. MSU redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Reaves is now beginning to make a name for himself in his family's business - football.

FOOTBALL

Receivers key in rivalry with Irish

The MSU-Notre Dame rivalry has a way of putting wide receivers in the limelight. Charles Rogers, Herb Haygood and Arnaz Battle are among the receivers whose names recently have been carved into history. As the Spartans attempt to beat the Irish for the seventh time in eight years at 7 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Smith names Reaves starter

Megan Homanick
September 14, 2004

MSU head coach John L. Smith named redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves as his starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Notre Dame. For now. "That's the way it is today," Smith said.

FOOTBALL

Central running back ties 90-yard run record vs. 'U'

Megan Homanick
September 13, 2004

In the 2004 Central Michigan football media guide, running back Jerry Seymour lists former Detroit Lion and recently-inducted Hall of Famer Barry Sanders as his sports hero. The way Seymour danced around the Spartans' defense Saturday, he certainly showed a hint of Sanders' improvisational running style.