From out Michigan State friends
INSIDE WAKE FOREST’S OFFENSE
QB Jamie Newman is a tricky practitioner of Wake Forest's slow read option offense.
Wake Forest enters Friday’s game ranked 12th in the country in total offense at 473.4 yards a game. Those numbers are legitimized by a passing attack that at almost 300 yards a game would give many of the Big Ten’s top defenses trouble.
That success, from an unconventional offense, combined with an opportunistic defense, has sixth-year coach Dave Clawson (36-39) and his staff as the architects of something that may remind Spartan fans of the resurgence led by Dantonio during his early years in East Lansing.
The Deacons are going for a ninth win in a season for only the third time in school history. This marks the first time in school history that Wake Forest has gone to a bowl game in four straight seasons.
Speaking of Wake Forest’s offense, the leader of the Demon Deacons’ uptempo attack, which prides itself on stuffing as many offensive plays into four quarters as possible, is junior quarterback Jamie Newman. He has completed 334 of his 208 attempts for 2,693 yards and 23 touchdowns against 10 interceptions for an offense that leads the nation in offensive snaps for the year.
Newman has also proven to be dangerous in the run game, adding 487 yards on 163 carries, while scoring six times. He is a capable chain-mover on third down with his arm or feet.
Wake Forest’s top rusher is senior running back Cade Carney, who has gained 556 yards on 143 rushes. He has five TDs and averages nearly 4 yards a carry.
True freshman Kenneth Walker added 90 carries for 555 yards and four touchdowns.
Sophomore wideout Sage Surratt, who tied a school record by becoming the fastest to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his ninth game, will miss the game after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in week 10 against Virginia Tech. But before going down, he had 66 receptions for 1,001 yards and 11 TDs and was first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.
Senior Kendall Hinton is Newman’s latest No. 1 pass catching target with 70 catches for 953 yards and three scores.
Wake Forest is also hoping to get injured fifth-year senior wideout Scotty Washington back for the game. Before missing the final four games of the regular season, Washington had 35 receptions for 607 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games.
The Demon Deacons’ offensive line is anchored by a strong left side which features senior guard Nathan Gilliam (third-team All-ACC) and senior tackle Jake Benzinger (honorable mention All-ACC). On the right side, graduate student tackle Justin Herron (third-team All-ACC) leads the way.
Wake Forest’s field goal kicker has also been an important asset to the offense. Sophomore Nick Sciba set an NCAA record with 32 straight field goals made, dating back to last season. He finished the year 24-of-25, with a season-long of 45 and a career long of 49.
INSIDE MSU’S DEFENSE
Kenny Willekes (48) and Antjuan Simmons (34) are set to lead the Spartan defense.
All of these numbers mean that MSU’s defense will have its hands full on Friday afternoon against a Wake Forest offense that finished the season second in the ACC in scoring offense and total offense.
Leading the way in attempting to slow the Demon Deacons’ unique offense will be junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons (honorable mention All-Big Ten) and senior defensive end Kenny Willekes, who have combined for 19.5 tackles for loss.
Simmons tops the tackles charts with 81, while sophomore safety Xavier Henderson, who has been steady all season, is second on the team with 80 stops. Henderson has also added five pass breakups and two picks.
Willekes is third in tackles with 69 stops, while 5th-year senior linebacker Tyriq Thompson adds 67 tackles.
Willekes knows facing Wake Forest’s offense will offer a challenge the Spartans have yet to experience this season.
“They’re kind of their own offense,’’ said Willekes, who was second-team All-Big Ten. “They do things a little bit different. You know they’re going to go super fast between plays. They’re the fastest tempo team in the country and then between plays they kind of run their inside zone a little slower, a little different than most, than I’ve ever seen. So (from) what I’ve seen, it will be an interesting challenge against a unique offense but it should be a fun one.’’
Junior cornerback Josiah Scott, who was honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and second-team by media, tops the secondary with 50 tackles, eight PBUs and three INTs. Senior cornerback Josh Butler and sophomore corner Shakur Brown have also added five PBUs.
Willekes’ efforts on the defensive line are supplemented by the play of senior tackles Raequan Williams (third-team All-Big Ten) and Mike Panasiuk (honorable mention All-Big Ten), and junior defensive end Jacub Panasiuk.
Williams has 41 stops and seven TFLs, while Mike Panasiuk has collected 33 tackles, which include nine for loss. Jacub Panasiuk has just 32 tackles but 11 of those have resulted in loss yardage for a Spartan defense that is surrendering 22.7 points a game, including 238.5 yards through the air.
Numbers that caught Clawson’s attention.
“They have a lot of all-league players and a lot of guys projected to be draft picks. Their line is stout and extremely physical,’’ Clawson said. “They have very athletic linebackers and safeties. When people get the ball in space, that space just closes. This will be one of the top defenses we’ve faced all year. In some ways, it’ll be the best defense we’ve faced. Their corners are excellent. They had six players make All Big Ten."
While the Spartans’ numbers on defense haven’t been as impressive as many expected this season, Raequan Williams said the chance to take the field one last time with an opportunity to close out the season and his career with a victory holds special significance
“This means everything,’’ Williams said. “We’ve been looking forward to this last hurrah, all of us seniors, and being able to get this bowl trip and this last game under our belts. It means everything because I love all of these guys for a lifetime and I’m sure they love me.’’
The Spartans hope that love for one another will also translate into better production for an offense that enters this Pinstripe matchup averaging just 22 points a game and 361.5 yards of total offense.
INSIDE MSU’S OFFENSE
Michigan State’s Jordan Reid observes the 9/11 Memorial on Christmas Day in New York City.
While senior quarterback Brian Lewerke has had an up-and-down final season, he will be trying to go out on a strong note after completing 234-of-399 passes for 2,759 yards and 16 TDs during his senior year. Unfortunately, Lewerke has also thrown 12 picks.
MSU’s run game is anchored by redshirt freshman Elijah Collins, who emerged as the team’s No. 1 option during the first quarter of the season.
Collins will enter Friday’s game with a chance to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark after gaining 892 yards on 201 carries.
Collins, who has scored five TDs, is just 108 yards from that 1,000-yard mark
The Spartans’ top receiver is junior Cody White, who took over the top spot after an injury sidelined senior Darrell Stewart in week eight.
It’s not known whether Stewart will return for this game. Dantonio said earlier this month that there was hope that the senior would be back. Stewart missed the last four games after amassing 47 catches for 694 yards and four scores.
White has 58 catches for 825 yards and five TDs.
MSU also has some emerging targets in the pass game with freshmen Tre Mosley and Julian Barnett.
The first-year duo has combined for 30 receptions, 348 yards and one TD in a combined 17 games of action.
The Spartan offensive line, which also has suffered its share of injuries this season, will be led by junior tackles A.J. Arcuri and Jordan Reid. Ture freshmen Nick Samac (center) and J.D. Duplain (left guard) finished the season as starters. Matt Allen, who started the first eight games, could be back at center for a line that has been unsettled due to injury all year.
Despite some of the missteps the Spartans have suffered on the offensive side of ball this season, Clawson is weary of MSU’s potential.
“They’ve had some injuries and have had to put some younger kids in there (but) I’m sure they will be healthier for the bowl game,” Clawson said. “The quarterback can make every throw and is accurate. This is a guy when it’s all said and done (that) will have thrown for 8,000 yards. He’s already had 1,200 attempts and 46 touchdowns. He’s played a lot of football. Their tight end is excellent and very involved in the offense. The running back (Elijah) Collins had 892 yards on the year. The receiver (Cody) White is an excellent player.’’
INSIDE WAKE FOREST’S OFFENSE
QB Jamie Newman is a tricky practitioner of Wake Forest's slow read option offense.
Wake Forest enters Friday’s game ranked 12th in the country in total offense at 473.4 yards a game. Those numbers are legitimized by a passing attack that at almost 300 yards a game would give many of the Big Ten’s top defenses trouble.
That success, from an unconventional offense, combined with an opportunistic defense, has sixth-year coach Dave Clawson (36-39) and his staff as the architects of something that may remind Spartan fans of the resurgence led by Dantonio during his early years in East Lansing.
The Deacons are going for a ninth win in a season for only the third time in school history. This marks the first time in school history that Wake Forest has gone to a bowl game in four straight seasons.
Speaking of Wake Forest’s offense, the leader of the Demon Deacons’ uptempo attack, which prides itself on stuffing as many offensive plays into four quarters as possible, is junior quarterback Jamie Newman. He has completed 334 of his 208 attempts for 2,693 yards and 23 touchdowns against 10 interceptions for an offense that leads the nation in offensive snaps for the year.
Newman has also proven to be dangerous in the run game, adding 487 yards on 163 carries, while scoring six times. He is a capable chain-mover on third down with his arm or feet.
Wake Forest’s top rusher is senior running back Cade Carney, who has gained 556 yards on 143 rushes. He has five TDs and averages nearly 4 yards a carry.
True freshman Kenneth Walker added 90 carries for 555 yards and four touchdowns.
Sophomore wideout Sage Surratt, who tied a school record by becoming the fastest to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his ninth game, will miss the game after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in week 10 against Virginia Tech. But before going down, he had 66 receptions for 1,001 yards and 11 TDs and was first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.
Senior Kendall Hinton is Newman’s latest No. 1 pass catching target with 70 catches for 953 yards and three scores.
Wake Forest is also hoping to get injured fifth-year senior wideout Scotty Washington back for the game. Before missing the final four games of the regular season, Washington had 35 receptions for 607 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games.
The Demon Deacons’ offensive line is anchored by a strong left side which features senior guard Nathan Gilliam (third-team All-ACC) and senior tackle Jake Benzinger (honorable mention All-ACC). On the right side, graduate student tackle Justin Herron (third-team All-ACC) leads the way.
Wake Forest’s field goal kicker has also been an important asset to the offense. Sophomore Nick Sciba set an NCAA record with 32 straight field goals made, dating back to last season. He finished the year 24-of-25, with a season-long of 45 and a career long of 49.
INSIDE MSU’S DEFENSE
Kenny Willekes (48) and Antjuan Simmons (34) are set to lead the Spartan defense.
All of these numbers mean that MSU’s defense will have its hands full on Friday afternoon against a Wake Forest offense that finished the season second in the ACC in scoring offense and total offense.
Leading the way in attempting to slow the Demon Deacons’ unique offense will be junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons (honorable mention All-Big Ten) and senior defensive end Kenny Willekes, who have combined for 19.5 tackles for loss.
Simmons tops the tackles charts with 81, while sophomore safety Xavier Henderson, who has been steady all season, is second on the team with 80 stops. Henderson has also added five pass breakups and two picks.
Willekes is third in tackles with 69 stops, while 5th-year senior linebacker Tyriq Thompson adds 67 tackles.
Willekes knows facing Wake Forest’s offense will offer a challenge the Spartans have yet to experience this season.
“They’re kind of their own offense,’’ said Willekes, who was second-team All-Big Ten. “They do things a little bit different. You know they’re going to go super fast between plays. They’re the fastest tempo team in the country and then between plays they kind of run their inside zone a little slower, a little different than most, than I’ve ever seen. So (from) what I’ve seen, it will be an interesting challenge against a unique offense but it should be a fun one.’’
Junior cornerback Josiah Scott, who was honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and second-team by media, tops the secondary with 50 tackles, eight PBUs and three INTs. Senior cornerback Josh Butler and sophomore corner Shakur Brown have also added five PBUs.
Willekes’ efforts on the defensive line are supplemented by the play of senior tackles Raequan Williams (third-team All-Big Ten) and Mike Panasiuk (honorable mention All-Big Ten), and junior defensive end Jacub Panasiuk.
Williams has 41 stops and seven TFLs, while Mike Panasiuk has collected 33 tackles, which include nine for loss. Jacub Panasiuk has just 32 tackles but 11 of those have resulted in loss yardage for a Spartan defense that is surrendering 22.7 points a game, including 238.5 yards through the air.
Numbers that caught Clawson’s attention.
“They have a lot of all-league players and a lot of guys projected to be draft picks. Their line is stout and extremely physical,’’ Clawson said. “They have very athletic linebackers and safeties. When people get the ball in space, that space just closes. This will be one of the top defenses we’ve faced all year. In some ways, it’ll be the best defense we’ve faced. Their corners are excellent. They had six players make All Big Ten."
While the Spartans’ numbers on defense haven’t been as impressive as many expected this season, Raequan Williams said the chance to take the field one last time with an opportunity to close out the season and his career with a victory holds special significance
“This means everything,’’ Williams said. “We’ve been looking forward to this last hurrah, all of us seniors, and being able to get this bowl trip and this last game under our belts. It means everything because I love all of these guys for a lifetime and I’m sure they love me.’’
The Spartans hope that love for one another will also translate into better production for an offense that enters this Pinstripe matchup averaging just 22 points a game and 361.5 yards of total offense.
INSIDE MSU’S OFFENSE
Michigan State’s Jordan Reid observes the 9/11 Memorial on Christmas Day in New York City.
While senior quarterback Brian Lewerke has had an up-and-down final season, he will be trying to go out on a strong note after completing 234-of-399 passes for 2,759 yards and 16 TDs during his senior year. Unfortunately, Lewerke has also thrown 12 picks.
MSU’s run game is anchored by redshirt freshman Elijah Collins, who emerged as the team’s No. 1 option during the first quarter of the season.
Collins will enter Friday’s game with a chance to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark after gaining 892 yards on 201 carries.
Collins, who has scored five TDs, is just 108 yards from that 1,000-yard mark
The Spartans’ top receiver is junior Cody White, who took over the top spot after an injury sidelined senior Darrell Stewart in week eight.
It’s not known whether Stewart will return for this game. Dantonio said earlier this month that there was hope that the senior would be back. Stewart missed the last four games after amassing 47 catches for 694 yards and four scores.
White has 58 catches for 825 yards and five TDs.
MSU also has some emerging targets in the pass game with freshmen Tre Mosley and Julian Barnett.
The first-year duo has combined for 30 receptions, 348 yards and one TD in a combined 17 games of action.
The Spartan offensive line, which also has suffered its share of injuries this season, will be led by junior tackles A.J. Arcuri and Jordan Reid. Ture freshmen Nick Samac (center) and J.D. Duplain (left guard) finished the season as starters. Matt Allen, who started the first eight games, could be back at center for a line that has been unsettled due to injury all year.
Despite some of the missteps the Spartans have suffered on the offensive side of ball this season, Clawson is weary of MSU’s potential.
“They’ve had some injuries and have had to put some younger kids in there (but) I’m sure they will be healthier for the bowl game,” Clawson said. “The quarterback can make every throw and is accurate. This is a guy when it’s all said and done (that) will have thrown for 8,000 yards. He’s already had 1,200 attempts and 46 touchdowns. He’s played a lot of football. Their tight end is excellent and very involved in the offense. The running back (Elijah) Collins had 892 yards on the year. The receiver (Cody) White is an excellent player.’’
