The rest of the season suddenly looks a lot different for the Spartans
PREGAME
Antonio Gates Jr., Dillon Tatum, and Chance Rucker are reported as OUT on MSU’s availability report, along with Michael Masunas who underwent shoulder surgery earlier this week. Alante Brown and Avery Dunn are listed as questionable. All-American cornerback Sebastian Castro is out for Iowa.
In Jonathan Smith’s pregame interview with NBC he said MSU is going to need some explosive plays and be ready to strike when the opportunity presents.
FIRST QUARTER
MSU started with the ball, and with Brandon Baldwin moved to right guard. Nate Carter immediately ripped off 8 yards, followed by Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams going for another 8. A nice Aidan Chiles to Nick Marsh slant pass went for 19, followed by a pitch to Carter for 12. Chiles took his check down to Jaron Glover on the next play. It was only good for two yards but also nice to see a sound decision by Chiles to take what was there. After a short run by Lynch-Adams, MSU faced a third and 5. Chiles couldn’t find anything and threw it away – another smart decision. Jonathan Kim converted the 42 yard field goal to end MSU’s first drive on a positive note.
3-0 MSU
Iowa had a nice return on the ensuing kickoff but Michigan State forced a three and out to keep momentum in the Spartans’ favor.
Michigan State started their next drive on their own 11 but quickly moved close to midfield with a 36 yard completion to Foster. The throw was preceded by a great ball fake by Chiles to set up the pass. Great Chiles, however, was immediately followed by Bad Chiles as he threw behind Velling and was almost intercepted. This appeared to be an inaccurate and late throw, more so than forcing the issue, as Velling appeared to be open. When MSU faced a third and 5, they decided to run Carter and a nice blast up the middle picked up the first down. Carter also nearly fumbled at the end of the run but regained his hold on the ball. Lynch-Adams took a toss back and cut back to the middle of the field to pick up 14 yards and another first down.
A short completion to Jack Velling followed by the Umpire being in the way and breaking up a pass over the middle to Foster led to third down. Chiles went to Aziah Johnson in the end zone and referees appeared to miss a pass interference call on this one. The Spartans were forced to settle for another field goal and Kim converted his second try of the night.
6-0 MSU
Iowa went three and out on their next series as the MSU defense looked strong again.
The Spartans started their next drive on their 18 with a Chiles keeper for 5 and then converted a sneak two plays later for a first down. Chiles was pressured on the next play and it resulted in a grounding call – MSU’s first negative play of the night. The Spartans got some of the penalty yardage back with a 10 yard scramble by Chiles before we see Bad Chiles emerge again. He threw into coverage on the next play and was picked off by Koen Entringer, who was in tonight for the injured Castro. Fortunately, this was the last we would see of Bad Chiles for the rest of the night, as he was incredible the rest of the way.
Iowa attempted to take advantage of the mistake by throwing long on first down but a Cade McNamara pass fell incomplete. Iowa again couldn’t move the ball and opted for a 58 yard field goal try that just missed wide right and the turnover didn’t hurt MSU.
After MSU takes over, a Brandon Tullis run for 6 ended the first quarter.
END OF FIRST QUARTER 6-0 MSU
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SECOND QUARTER
A Chiles to Foster screen picked up the first down but nice tackling by Iowa prevented a bigger play. Chiles then had time to throw with a max protection scheme and found a wide open Marsh at the Iowa 26. Chiles took a keeper on the next play and lost his helmet, forcing Tommy Shuster to come in for a play. The result is a false start on Jack Velling and MSU facing a second and long. Lynch-Adams picked up five to get it to third and 3 but Iowa was ready for the next play, stopping Lynch-Adams for no gain.
Another Kim field goal is good, this one from 36 yards, and Michigan State extended the lead.
9-0 MSU
Iowa finally started to move the ball on their next drive, getting into MSU territory on some nice runs by Kamari Moulton. The drive eventually stalled though and Iowa attempted to pin MSU deep with a punt. Fortunately for MSU, it rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
The Spartans started their next drive with Chiles finding Marsh over the middle for 17. Tullis ran for four and then Carter for two more to make it third down. Chiles looked for Marsh again on third down. He didn’t find him but, this time, Marsh drew the pass interference. A nice reverse to Aziah Johnson went for 15, putting MSU at the Iowa 25. Chiles threw to Lynch-Adams for 11 to get into the Iowa red zone. MSU would soon face a third and long. Chiles found Marsh crossing over the middle but a great tackle by Iowa prevented a first down and a touchdown. Michigan State decided to go for it but a false start on Baldwin forced another field goal try. The 29 yard attempt was good and Kim remained perfect on the night and for the season.
12-0 MSU
Iowa started their next drive with Johnson running for 9 yards but Iowa could go no further and punted it back to MSU, with Foster taking the fair catch at the 29.
A Chiles keeper for 8 followed by a short Carter run gets MSU another first down. Glover was able to draw another pass interference to move the ball into Iowa territory. MSU advanced a little further but had to settle for another Kim field goal attempt, this one from 55 yards. This one was wide left though – Kim’s first miss of the season.
At halftime, the Spartans held a 15-2 advantage in first downs and 250-58 lead in total yards. They have limited Iowa’s Kaleb Carter to just 15 yards on 7 carries. The Spartans did not have to punt and the Chiles interception did not hurt them but they could not find the end zone.
In the halftime interview, Smith says the drives have been there but they haven’t capitalized and need some adjustments at halftime. Iowa, however, would also make some adjustments on offense in the second half.
HALFTIME 12-0 MSU
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THIRD QUARTER
Iowa had another nice return on the second half kickoff and started at their own 42. Their first play on a misdirection jet sweep goes for 9, as Iowa looks for something different against the MSU defense. A nice Cade McNamara to Reece Vander Zee pass converted a third down, Iowa’s first on the night. A few plays later, McNamara finds Vander Zee again for a third down conversion, this time in the end zone and Iowa is on the board and back in the game.
12-7 MSU
Michigan State started on their 25 with Carter running for 4 and then Velling taking a pass from Chiles and rumbling for a first down. Chiles to Glover went for 6 and then excellent tackling by Iowa limited a completion to Marsh to just two yards. Chiles was electrifying on the next play though, running for 26 yards and making several Hawkeye tacklers miss. A few plays later, Chiles finds Foster in the end zone for MSU’s first touchdown and a crucial answer to Iowa’s scoring drive.
19-7 MSU
MSU’s kickoff doesn’t find the end zone and Iowa is able to run it back to the 31. On second down, McNamara found Luke Lachey over the middle for a huge gain. A facemask on MSU moved the ball even deeper into MSU territory, to the 25. McNamara would find Vander Zee again for another third conversion, this time to the MSU 9. Iowa brought in their running quarterback, Brendan Sullivan, who took a high snap and ran it in for Iowa’s second touchdown in as many drives.
19-14 MSU
A Chiles to Foster 22 yard completion started MSU’s next drive before the clock ran out on the third quarter.
END OF THIRD QUARTER 19-14 MSU
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FOURTH QUARTER
The fourth quarter began with another Chiles fake and keeper that went for 8 and into Iowa territory. Lynch-Adams followed that up with a blast for 10 more with great blocking from MSU offensive line. But then MSU started going backward. A false start, sack, and batted down pass left MSU facing a third and 22. They elected to run Lynch-Adams, who got it back to the 36 yard line – close enough for another 55 yard attempt for Kim. This one was good though and MSU had another answer for Iowa’s last touchdown.
22-14 MSU
The Spartan defense returned to form on Iowa’s next drive, dropping Johnson in the backfield for a loss of 3 before Nikai Martinez picked off an errant McNamara pass and returned it to the 28.
After the interception, Michigan State appeared to have a nice play drawn up to convert a third down but an offensive pass interference penalty negated a completion to Johnson and pushed MSU into third and 22. They opted for the safe run up the middle and a 46 yard field goal try. This one was also good, giving Kim an MSU record six on the night.
25-14 MSU
It took Iowa exactly one play to get back in it though, as Johnson got around tackle and went 75 yards for a touchdown. Iowa was unable to convert the two point try but made it a one score game again.
25-20 MSU
Michigan State started their crucial next drive with a 17 yard completion to Foster. A holding call on Stanton Ramil pushed MSU back on the next play before Chiles to Marsh bailed them out and got the Spartans into Iowa territory again. Lynch-Adams followed that up with a hard run and another first down. Two plays later, Chiles to Marsh went for 8 and then a pitch out run by Carter converted a gigantic third down. Chiles was brilliant on the next play, audibling to a screen pass to Marsh, who appeared to run it in, but was down at the 1. Carter ran it in on the next play though, putting MSU in great shape for a victory.
32-20 MSU
Iowa moved the ball to the MSU 35 before facing a fourth and 10 with 0:47 left. They appeared to convert but intended receiver Jacob Gill went out of bounds, negating a play that would have put Iowa at the MSU 4. This ended Iowa’s final possession and MSU took a knee to end it!
FINAL 32-20 MSU!
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Michigan State never had to punt, finished even in the turnover battle, ran for 212 yards against Iowa, and probably still left some points on the board. But this appeared to be great use of the bye week and an incredible response to what had been a rough few weeks.
We all know what’s next. GO GREEN!