Michigan State Wins Home Opener over Central Michigan, 24-7

QBs Stephen Reaves and Drew Stanton combine to lead Spartans

Stephen Reaves threw for 183 yards and a TD in his first collegiate start.

Stephen Reaves threw for 183 yards and a TD in his first collegiate start.

Sept. 11, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State quarterbacks Stephen Reaves and Drew Stanton both made just enough plays to help the Spartans beat Central Michigan 24-7 Saturday.

Reaves started and was 9-of-19 for 183 yards with a touchdown in his college debut. Stanton was just 1-of-3 for 9 yards, but he ran for 38 yards on a fourth-and-1 late in the game for the Spartans (1-1).

Jerry Seymour ran for 164 yards, including a 90-yard TD, for the Chippewas (0-2).

The Spartans went ahead 17-0 on the first drive of the second half, then didn't score again until Jason Teague's 1-yard run gave them a 24-7 lead with 2:08 left.

Michigan State's Kyle Brown caught a career-high six passes for 123 yards and a TD.

Reaves and Stanton both watched quarterback Damon Dowdell play the entire game in last week's 19-14 loss at Rutgers. Reaves' father, John, was a quarterback at Florida from 1969-71 and went on to play in the NFL for 14 seasons.

Reaves threw a perfect 44-yard pass to Brown to put the Spartans ahead 7-0 late in the first quarter. On their next drive, Dave Rayner made a 28-yard field goal.

After Michigan State didn't convert a fourth-and-3 at the Chippewas' 6, Central Michigan drove to the Spartans' 9 before missing a field goal at the end of the first half.

DeAndra Cobb started the second half with a 52-yard return and four plays later, Jehuu Caulcrick's 7-yard run gave Michigan State a 17-0 lead.

Seymour's 90-yard run, which tied the longest against Michigan State, pulled Central Michigan to 17-7 midway through the third quarter.

Kent Smith started for the Chippewas, after backing up Grant Arnoldink in last week's 41-10 loss at Indiana. Smith was 10-of-30 for 93 yards and ran for 52 yards on nine carries.