ESPN College Football

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Javon Ringer splashed his way to a career-high 282 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns Saturday to lead Michigan State past Florida Atlantic 17-0 in a nearly constant rain.

Ringer, who had a career-high 43 carries, gave Michigan State a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a 21-yard run. He ran into traffic up the middle, hid behind his offensive line for a fraction of a second, then darted left and headed to the end zone.

It would be all the points the Spartans (2-1) needed as the Florida Atlantic (1-2) offense stalled in the deluge.

Ringer's running set up the Spartans' second score, a 22-yard field goal by Brett Swenson midway through the third quarter to give Michigan State a 10-0 lead. Ringer's 11-yard TD run early in the fourth put the Spartans ahead 17-0.

Ringer's previous record was 203, set last year against Indiana. His 282-yard day ranks fourth in school history.

The Owls are in their eighth football season -- all under 74-year-old coach Howard Schnellenberger. The program's biggest wins came last year over Big Ten member Minnesota in the regular season and against Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl.

But the Owls' bid for an upset Saturday never materialized.

Trailing 17-0 midway through the fourth quarter, Florida Atlantic quarterback Rusty Smith couldn't handle a snap inside the Michigan State 5-yard line. The fumble was recovered by Spartans safety Danny Fortener.

Smith was 8-for-34 for 143 yards. Michigan State's Brian Hoyer completed 5 of 15 for 88 yards with an interception.