Michigan State opens new season with memory of last year’s shocker

Spartans host Western Michigan in first game since historic upset loss

Mark Dantonio looks to start season on winning note after tumultuous 2016 campaign

EAST LANSING – Mark Dantonio insists last season's stunning upset loss to FCS Appalachian State is serving as more of a motivator than a millstone heading into the 2017 campaign.

The 13th-ranked Spartans will open their season Friday night at home against Western Michigan (7:30 p.m., BTN).

It will mark MSU's first game since its stunning 34-32 home loss to then-FCS Appalachian State on Sept. 2, an upset that sent shock waves through college football and is considered one of the biggest in the history of the sport.

MSU was still a top-10 team in the preseason polls, but wins proved hard to come by in the wake of the loss to the Mountaineers.

The Spartans finished 3-9 overall and 1-8 in the Big Ten, their first losing season under Dantonio and their worst record since going 4-7 in 2006.

Dantonio, now in his 11th season at MSU, said he's confident his team has moved on from the Appalachian State loss and is focused on the task at hand.

"It's something that we've got to grow from," Dantonio said. "We've got to learn from it. And we have. But at the same time, we're not going to dwell on it. We can't change what happened."

The Spartans will have a chance to avenge their loss to Appalachian State when the Mountaineers move up to the FBS level next season and join the Sun Belt Conference.

But for now, MSU is focused on Western Michigan, which is coming off an 8-5 season and a berth in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

The Broncos are led by senior quarterback Zach Terrell, who threw for 3,536 yards and 34 touchdowns last season.

MSU will counter with a veteran defense that returns eight starters, including All-American linebacker Chris Frey.

The Spartans are also hoping for a big season from junior quarterback Brian Lewerke, who started the final seven games of last season and showed flashes of brilliance.

Lewerke completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 2,013 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He also ran for 441 yards and five touchdowns.

Dantonio said he's excited to see what Lewerke can do in his first full season as the starting quarterback.

"He's a guy that's got a lot of potential," Dantonio said. "He's a guy that can make plays with his arm and with his feet. He's a guy that's got a lot of leadership qualities."

The Spartans are hoping to start the season on a winning note and put last season's disappointment behind them.

"We're excited about the opportunity to play in front of our home crowd," Dantonio said. "We're excited about the opportunity to start the season on a winning note. And we're excited about the opportunity to show the country what we're made of."