Spring practice has come to an end for the Michigan State Spartans. The season culminated in the annual Spring game pitting the Green and White squads against one another.
The game itself saw the Green team taking the 42-26 win Saturday afternoon in Spartan Stadium. MSU also saw a particular quarterback make a case for himself to be named the starter.
Michigan State Spring Football: The Game
Lewerke Proving Himself
Senior quarterback Brian Lewerke looked like his old self after battling a shoulder injury in the second half of last season. He was accurate and was able to make throws in the Spring scrimmage that he had not been able to last season.
Lewerke was 10-of-13 for 86 yards and a score in the first half where he took reps against the second-team defense. He finished 14-of-20 and 181 yards in his four series. He did throw an interception in the late going to junior cornerback Josiah Scott.
One other knock on the record for Lewerke was a dropped shotgun snap, costing the offense 17 yards.
Look for Lewerke to have the starting job come the fall. Sophomore Rocky Lombardi started the scrimmage against the first-team defense but struggle throughout.
Lombardi was able to throw a 31-yard strike to Darrell Stewart but he also dropped a shotgun snap. He had problems finding targets and also had problems had communication issues as he and a running back collided in the backfield, leading to a sack.
The guys catching the ball will have the same two leaders as they did last season. Jalen Nailor and Cody White are both primed for big seasons as they led the receiving corps last season for MSU. While these two played only sparingly in the Sring game, they have both have had a strong spring camp.
Stewart is another guy that had a strong Spring and he will be another target for Lewerke this season. He had 10-yard score from Lewerke as well as the 31-yarder from Lombardi.
The Defense Is Ready To Go
Scott is touted as one of the top cornerbacks on the team, if not in the entire Big Ten. His interception and forced fumble should solidify him as one of the top guys on the defensive side of the ball this season.
There are a lot of replacements throughout the defense with one of the main ones being Xavier Henderson for Khari Willis at safety.
MSU had a strong defensive showing as it was able to hold the offensive counterpart to slow drives. The offense was able to score, but the defense dominated the game, just as it had camp throughout the Spring.
Michigan State’s defense is ahead of the offense, there is no secret there. Many of the Spartans’ best players come from that unit, especially guys like lineman Joe Bachie. If players like Bachie and Scott can stay healthy throughout the fall, the Spartans will be in good shape for the upcoming season.
That upcoming season kicks off Aug. 30 against Tulsa in Spartan Stadium.
