Detroit, MI (Sports Network) – Edwin Baker rumbled for 183 yards and a touchdown to help lift the Michigan State Spartans to a 30-17 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls in non-conference action at Ford Field.
Kirk Cousins completed only 9-of-17 passes for 142 yards for Michigan State (2-0), finishing with one touchdown and one interception.
Jeff VanCamp led FAU (1-1) with 215 yards and a TD on 23-of-35 passing, while Rob Housler finished with seven catches for 75 yards.
The Spartans got on the board first with a 44-yard field goal by Dan Conroy four minutes into the game.
MSU made it 10-0 on a nine-yard touchdown run by Le’Veon Bell at the 9:33 mark of the opening quarter, which was set up by a 47-yard punt return by Keshawn Martin.
Later in the first quarter, the Owls cut the deficit to 10-7 on a two-yard TD plunge by Alfred Morris, capping a 15-play, 76-yard drive that lasted seven- and-a-half minutes.
The Spartans stretched their lead to 17-7 on a 30-yard scoring strike from Cousins to B.J. Cunningham with just under 10 minutes remaining until halftime.
Conroy added a 41-yard field goal later in the second quarter, as the Spartans took a 20-7 lead into the half.
Baker broke free for an 80-yard touchdown burst at the 10:33 mark of the third quarter to make it a 20-point game.
Another long drive by FAU trimmed the margin to 27-14, as VanCamp found Xavier Stinson for a two-yard touchdown pass with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter.
Conroy booted a 50-yarder at the 9:16 mark of the fourth quarter, but FAU could only muster a 24-yard field goal by Ross Gornall the rest of the way.
Michigan State controlled the tempo with its ground game, as the Spartans ran for 225 yards and averaged an impressive 7.5 yards per carry as a team.