2008 Week 1

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Has success gone to Corey Everson's head?

Everson burst onto the scene last year, picking off nine passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns to earn All-America honors, despite a 79 OVR rating. It was a performance that EA's awards engine remember going into 2008, as Everson made the preseason All-America first team.

But a major part of a defensive player's job description is to tackle, something at which Everson failed miserably on the key play in EMU's 16-7 loss at 23rd-ranked Michigan State in the 2008 season opener on Sept. 6 at Spartan Stadium.

Javon Ringer broke a feeble tackle attempt by Everson at the 20-yard line and was in the clear for the Spartans' only touchdown of the game, a 17-yard run on a pitch to the right with 2:13 left in the first half to break up a scoreless deadlock.

"Corey Everson was nothing before I got here and I can make sure the country never hears of him again if that's the way he's going to take his tackle responsibilities," EMU coach B-Dawg said. "I guess he didn't want to chip a nail or something.

"That happened all too often last year and this isn't a good sign. Here I called a brilliant defensive game, I mean absolutely brilliant. They'll bottle up this tape and make it required viewing for every coach. I probably locked up a berth in the Hall of Fame with the way I kept us in the game against a team with way more talent. And, yet, I'm at the mercy of these kids who lack the ability to comprehend my genius. I can't wait for Madden to come out so I can start coaching pros again."

The Hurons held the Spartans to 237 yards of total offense, but managed only 140 of their own. Ringer, a preseason second-team All-American, ran 15 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 22 yards.

EMU was feeling pretty good about itself after battling to a 0-0 deadlock after one quarter. The Hurons weren't feeling so hot about their offensive play, as they committed three turnovers while the game was scoreless.

On Ringer's touchdown run, middle linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw nearly blew up the play, but overpursued. Everson appeared to have the play stopped, but missed a solo tackle. Once Everson whiffed, Ringer had nothing but green pasture ahead, capping a five-play, 47-yard drive.

The Hurons held the Spartans short of the goal line late in the first half, forcing MSU to settle for a 19-yard field goal by Brett Swenson with two seconds left before halftime. A 43-yard field goal by Swenson with 5:22 to go in the third quarter came after a fumble by fullback Brandon Downs and increased MSU's lead to 13-0.

EMU was kept out of the end zone at another nationally ranked Michigan school for the Big Ten Conference last year, managing only a field goal in a loss at Le Grande Hizzle. It appeared the Hurons wouldn't taste the end zone in this one either, but they assembled an eight-play, 69-yard drive that was capped by Tyler Jones' 7-yard pass to halfback Terrence Blevins with 3:13 left in the third quarter.

Suddenly, the Hurons were right in this game, down only 13-7.

EMU was on the march for a possible go-ahead touchdown, converting on fourth-and-two with a pass to backup halfback Dwayne Harrison on the final play of the third quarter. On fourth-and-six, receiver Reggie Brown was tackled short of the first-down marker at MSU's 33-yard line with 5:56 left in the game.

The Spartans went down and took a two-possession lead with 3:59 left on a 48-yard field goal by Swenson, a second-team preseason All-American.

Sacks on second and third down on EMU's next drive had the Hurons facing fourth-and-30. Not liking those odds, B-Dawg brought out punter Zach Johnson. There was still a glimmer of hope when a 39-yard field goal by Swenson missed the mark with 1:02 to go, but Brown dropped a fourth-down pass with 24 seconds remaining to end all hope for an EMU comeback.

Holtzclaw lived up to his 90 OVR rating and impact star, making 13 tackles, including four for losses and a sack.

Jones completed two-thirds of his passes, going 14-for-21 for 136 yards and a touchdown, but also served up two picks and was sacked five times. He completed passes to seven different receivers. Despite making a touchdown catch, Blevins continued his struggles from last year, gaining only 32 yards on 10 carries.