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Michigan State Spartans football: MSU dominates Washington State in 42-17 Holiday Bowl win

Michigan State left no doubt Thursday night in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl. The No.16 Spartans scored five straight touchdowns in the second and third quarters on the way to a dominant 42-17 win over No. 18 Washington State.With the victory, Michigan State reached the 10-win barrier for the eighth time in program history and the sixth time under head coach Mark Dantonio. And, in the last game of his 11th season in East Lansing, Dantonio recorded his 100th win as MSU's head coach. Led by quarterback Brian Lewerke's arm and legs, Michigan State scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 21-3 halftime lead. The Spartans tacked on another touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, and they scored again to go up 35-3 after recovering a fumble on Washington State's first possession of the third quarter. The Cougars, playing without starting quarterback Luke Falk because of injury, finally found the end zone late in the third quarter and added another score midway through the fourth, but LJ Scott thwarted any hopes of a comeback with a 28-yard touchdown with six minutes to play. Lewerke threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 13-for-21 passing and added another 73 yards rushing on 14 attempts. He left the game after taking a big hit during the third quarter but came back to hold for the extra point after Damion Terry finished the drive with a touchdown. Lewerke was back on the field at QB for MSU's next drive and finished the game after Terry later threw an interception. Felton Davis III caught four passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Cody White scored touchdowns on two of his three receptions. Lewerke led Michigan State in rushing until Scott's second touchdown run game him 110 yards on 18 carries (6. 1ypc).MSU came up empty on its first two possessions Thursday, punting on the first and turning it over on downs on the second. Meanwhile, after Washington State went three-and-out on its first drive, Cougars QB Tyler Hilinski dinked and dunked his way down the field on a 14-play drive that started inside the WSU 10-yard line and ended with a 45-yard field goal. Following a second Washington State three-and-out, though, Michigan State took over possession at its own 19-yard line with less than two minutes to play in the first quarter. The Spartans held the ball for the next 9:24 until Lewerke scrambled on 3rd-and-9 from the Cougars 15-yard line and eventually found White in the back of the end zone to put Michigan State on the board. MSU's next drive took less than a quarter of the time but also ended with a touchdown, as Lewerke's early success running the ball led to Davis being wide open for a 49-yard touchdown on a play-action pass. The Spartans then capped their huge second quarter with a three-yard run by Scott after a third straight three-and-out from Washington State. Michigan State outgained WSU 206-27 in the second quarter while running 26 offensive plays to Washington State's eight. The Sp