Aidan Chiles passed for 270 yards and a touchdown and added 76 rushing yards as Michigan State remained unbeaten with a 41-24 win over Youngstown State in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday.
Nick Marsh caught six passes for 94 yards for the Spartans (3-0) before departing with a leg injury. Marsh told reporters after the game that his injury was “inconclusive” and he would undergo tests Monday.
Beau Brungard passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns for Youngstown State (2-1), and Jaden Gilbert rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Michigan State led 17-10 at the break.
The Penguins controlled the ball for over half of the first quarter but settled for Andrew Lastovka’s 28-yard field goal.
The Spartans gained the lead on their first possession. Rodney Bullard Jr. scored on an end-around from 8 yards. The drive was extended when Chiles scrambled for 10 yards on a 4th-and-8.
The Spartans made it 14-3 on a 12-play, 87-yard drive capped by Makhi Frazier’s 1-yard run. Chiles completed two passes apiece to Marsh and Jack Velling during that possession.
Youngstown State got those points back on Gilbert’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with 5:59 left in the second quarter. That score was set up by Gilbert’s 66-yard run.
Armorion Smith intercepted a Brungard pass with 1:14 left in the half at the Michigan State 24. Chiles then drove his team into scoring position, and Martin Connington kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
Omari Kelly’s 83-yard punt return set up Brandon Tullis’ 4-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, pushing Michigan State’s advantage to 24-10.
Kelly had a 20-yard reception on Michigan State’s next possession. That got the Spartans into Penguins territory, and they scored three plays later on Chiles’ 28-yard pass to Michael Masunas.
Youngstown State scored late in the third on Brungard’s 3-yard pass to RK Dandridge, capping an 80-yard drive.
Lastovka missed a 37-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Connington made a 27-yard field goal with 8:44 to play for a 34-17 Spartans lead.
Brungard connected with Kylon Wilson on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 3:05 left for Youngstown State. Elijah Tau-Tolliver scored Michigan State’s last touchdown on a 22-yard run.
–Field Level Media
