EAST LANSING, Mich. _ Michigan State defiantly decided to accept the opening kickoff, going on the offensive after an offseason of trials and tribulations.
And then, LJ Scott fumbled at the goal line. And then, Bowling Green hit a few long passes and kicked a field goal.
After nine long months in the rearview, it suddenly felt three more long months would be ahead.
But sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke remained as calm as advertised. Tyson Smith returned an interception for an emotional boost. And the Spartans slowly and surely dominated the Falcons from there.
Lewerke passed for three touchdowns, completing 22 of 33 passes for 250 yards to lead MSU to a 35-10 victory Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
Lewerke also ran for 69 yards on eight carries. Junior receiver Felton Davis caught a pair of touchdowns, while junior tight end Matt Sokol grabbed the other touchdown toss from Lewerke. Sophomore receiver Darrell Stewart also had a breakout game, catching six passes for 85 yards, running three times for 28 yards and finishing with 37 more yards on kick and punt returns.
The Spartans, who won their 10th season-opener in Mark Dantonio's 11 seasons, outgained the Falcons in yards, 465-212. They dominated time of possession (38:01-20:39) and held Bowling Green to just 2 for 13 on third-down conversions.
Late in the third quarter, cornerback Smith stepped in front of a James Morgan pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown that made it 35-3. Smith, a junior, suffered a stroke last November and did not know if he would ever play football again before being cleared by his doctors this summer.
The Spartans fumbled four times, two by Scott and two by Lewerke. They lost three of them, including Scott's second to start the fourth quarter that was returned 46 yards for a Bowling Green touchdown by Cam Jeffries. Scott had two shoulder surgeries during the offseason, which he said was meant to help with numbness he would experience when being hit.
Bowling Green quarterback James Morgan threw for just 145 yards on 10-of-31 passing, but the sophomore also misfired to a few open receivers who slipped behind MSU's coverage. He also was dealt with dropped passes early in the game, including one to receiver Scott Miller that would've been a touchdown, after he beat MSU safety Khari Willis in coverage in the first quarter with the Falcons leading, 3-0.
After losing 13 underclassmen from last year's team to transfer, dismissal or the NFL draft, the Spartans went extremely young in their opener. Nine true freshmen played against the Falcons, equaling the number MSU played over the course of their entire 3-9 season in 2016.
The Spartans played seven freshmen in the first half: cornerback Josiah Scott (starter), tight end Matt Dotson, linebacker Antjuan Simmons, defensive end Jacub Panasiuk, right guard/tackle Jordan Reid and wide receivers Cody White and Hunter Rison. In the second half, wide receiver Laress Nelson and left guard Kevin Jarvis also made their debuts.
MSU hosts Western Michigan next week.
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