EAST LANSING, Mich. _ Michigan State's injury-depleted offense started slowly yet again.
But the No. 21 Spartans recovered after a sluggish and error-filled opening quarter, getting two Brian Lewerke touchdown runs in the second period, and then survived more of their mistakes en route to a 31-20 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday. Lewerke finished 16-for-25 for 185 yards and ran eight times for 39 yards.
With starting running back LJ Scott sitting out, the Spartans got 56 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on 13 carries from true freshman La'Darius Jefferson, his first collegiate score. Connor Hyeward added 48 yards on 15 carries and a 2-yard TD run.
The Spartans ran for 160 yards.
MSU (3-1) returns to Big Ten play when it hosts Northwestern next Saturday.
The Spartans' offense struggled to move the ball consistently in the first quarter, gaining just 81 yards. Lewerke also was picked off in the end zone to stop another drive as CMU led, 3-0, going into the second quarter.
MSU opened things up for the next 30 minutes, scoring 31 straight points. Lewerke ran for touchdowns of 3 and 5 yards, the first set up by a David Dowell interception. A Matt Coghlin field goal late in the second made it 17-3 at half.
The Spartans had 185 yards at halftime, with Lewerke going 9 of 16 for 80 yards through the air.
In the fourth quarter, the Chippewas chipped away at the lead.
CMU scored 17 points in the fourth after MSU went ahead, 31-3. The Chippewas used an onside kick and a running back pass from Jonathan Ward to Tony Poljan for a 29-yard TD with 6:44 left.
But the Spartans were able to run out the clock from there.
CMU quarterback Tommy Lazzaro finished 19-for-34 for 153 yards with a TD and two interceptions. He also ran 11 times for 32 yards.
The Spartans' defense continues to shine.
CMU finished with 63 rushing yards and ended with 245 total yards of offense. It is the fourth straight opponent held under 100 yards by the nation's No. 1 run defense.
