With RB Jehuu Caulcrick doing most of the damage on the ground and QB Drew Stanton looking sensational in the aerial game, the Spartans piled up the points and yards in an impressive 49-14 over Kent State. Michigan State has won 12 straight win over MAC opponents.

Caulcrick ran for 140 yards on 14 carries and got into the end zone three times. Caulcrick pounded undersized Kent State tacklers with his bruising style.

While Caulcrick was punishing Kent State on the ground, Stanton received excellent protection and was able to completed 22-of-29 passes for 297 yards. He threw three TD passes.

"Being healthy is a real nice thing," said Stanton, who battled nagging injuries throughout last season. "And having the capability to throw the ball around and get the ball in our receivers' hands because you have a lot of playmakers out there. My job is pretty easy."

Kent State head coach Doug Martin was thoroughly impressed with a Michigan State attack that rolled up 685 yards of offense. "From our end, we played a great Michigan State team that's probably going to contend for the Big Ten championship," Martin said.

The yardage total was the second-highest in Spartan history, topped only by a 698-yard effort vs. Purdue in 1971. The Spartans actually topped the old record in the fourth quarter, but a couple of losing drives late in the game them pushed them backwards.

Versatility was the key to the victory and head coach John L. Smith will strive for consistency against Hawaii this week. The Warriors defeated Michigan State 41-38 in the 2004 regular-season finale in Honolulu, so expect the Spartans to be fired up for a chance to gain revenge against a defense that gave up 63 points to USC in the season opener.

KEEP AN EYE ON: LB Eric Smith was all over the field with six tackles, an interception and a pass defensed. He should be one of the best Spartan defensive players all season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think for the most part, we controlled them at the line of scrimmage. I think on the offensive side, for the most part we can say all of those guys played pretty well. It was real good to see, I would hate to single any one of those guys out." -- Michigan State head coach John L. Smith on his team's performance in the season opening win over Kent State.

--MLB Kaleb Thornhill led the Spartans with seven tackles and was physical at the point of attack.

--OLT Stefon Wheeler may be the most talented of any of the Spartan offensive linemen and was a consistent technician vs. Kent State.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The pass defense is quite vulnerable. Kent State QB Michael Machen completed 31-of-52 passes for 293 yards with 2 TDs and an interception.

--S Greg Cooper had three tackles and needs to be more active in his pass coverage.

--WR Matt Trannon had four catches, but they resulted in only 29 yards. John L. Smith is looking for more from him.

ROSTER REPORT: MSU's kicking situation is still wide-open after John Goss and Kyle Mayer shared duties. Mayer made his first two extra-point tries but missed a third wide left at the beginning of the second quarter. Goss made the next two extra-point attempts and later replaced punter Brandon Fields in kickoffs. Neither kicker attempted a field-goal. ... Backup QB Brandon Hoyer completed 4-of-5 passing attempts for 28 yards and led a fourth-quarter scoring drive that culminated with a two-yard TD run by Javon Ringer.