Cam Edwards’ explosive ground game and a dominant second-half surge propelled the Spartans past the Eagles, proving they can finish drives and stifle opposing offenses under pressure.
It wasn't the prettiest performance from beginning to end, but the end result was right where the Spartans wanted it to be.
Michigan State had a difficult time consistently cracking through Eastern Michigan's defense early, but the more you pound on one spot, the weaker it gets. That proved to be the case for running back Cam Edwards.
Edwards finished the game with 21 carries for 152 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He broke off runs of 40 and 35 yards while finding the end zone twice, giving him three rushing touchdowns through his first two games as a Spartan.
In fact, the Spartans were driving again early in the fourth quarter when Edwards lost a fumble, ending what appeared to be another promising drive that could have resulted in his third touchdown of the game.
Edwards quickly made up for it.
On the following drive, he broke off yet another huge run to push Michigan State into the red zone. Backup running back Jaziun Patterson then buried his way forward for his first touchdown of the season.
The fumble was Edwards' first of the season and isn't something that has been a major issue throughout his career, making it difficult to view it as anything more than an isolated mistake.
Eastern Michigan's defense also gave quarterback Alessio Milivojevic a bit of a hard time, applying pressure throughout the game and forcing him into a 12-for-20 passing performance for 170 yards.
While those numbers were a bit below what Spartan fans had come to expect from Milivojevic, moving the ball wasn't the biggest question entering Week 2.
The question was whether Michigan State could finish drives.
The Spartans answered that question.
Milivojevic threw two touchdown passes while Edwards added two rushing touchdowns, and Michigan State consistently found ways to turn promising drives into points.
Liam Boyd, who attempted six field goals in the season opener, didn't attempt a single one in Week 2. That was a clear sign that the Spartans' focus on finishing drives had paid off.
Not every drive needed to be methodically finished, either.
On Charles Taplin's touchdown, Michigan State connected on a beautiful 38-yard pass for a score. Taplin led the Spartans in receiving, finishing with three receptions for 65 yards.
Defensively, two of Michigan State's standout performers from Week 1 were right back at it.
Eli Coenen continued to make an impact on the interior of the defensive line, recording two sacks to give him three through the first two games of the season.
Kenny Soares also recorded his first sack of the season and played a major role in helping Michigan State's pass rush make life difficult for former Spartan quarterback Noah Kim.
It was a tale of two halves for Michigan State.
The Spartans looked good in the first half, but not great, while Eastern Michigan put together a masterful drive that ended with a Noah Kim rushing touchdown. At halftime, Michigan State led just 14-7.
Then everything changed.
Michigan State scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, combining precise passing, tough running and a stifling defensive performance to pull away from the Eagles and secure a convincing 35-7 victory.
It may have started slowly, but the Spartans did their job.
Michigan State improved to 2-0 on the season and now turns its attention to a massive showdown with the No. 3-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
