EAST LANSING– Michigan State Football dominated the Prairie View A&M Panthers on both sides of the ball in a 40-0 victory.
“There are no trap games, everyone has to come out and play their hardest,” said Spartans’ quarterback Aidan Chiles.
The Spartans were efficient offensively, scoring on all five trips to the red zone, something they struggled with the last time they were at Spartan Stadium.
The defense was superb, allowing zero points against the Panthers. It was the first defensive shutout for the Spartans since a 52-0 victory over Akron in 2022.
The first drive on offense for the Spartans was capped off by Chiles with a six-yard scramble into the end zone, his second rushing touchdown of the season.
Later, Chiles connected with redshirt freshman receiver Aziah Johnson, who found the end zone for his first career touchdown.
“[Johnson] came out, did what he had to do, caught a couple of big passes, and gained a couple of yards,” Chiles said.
There were fewer poor decisions today for the sophomore quarterback. However, there was once instance where instead of tucking the ball, he forced a bad throw which led to an interception. Luckily for Chiles, the play was wiped out by offsetting penalties.
In less than three-quarters of work, Chiles did what he was supposed to do, take care of the football and put points on the board. Chiles finished the day with 179 yards in the air and two total touchdowns.
The Spartans leaned on their run game heavily throughout the game. The backfield of Kay’ron Lynch-Adams and Nate Carter had their way with the Panthers with help from a dominating offensive line.
In the second quarter, Carter found a gaping hole on the right side and took advantage, taking it 60 yards to the house.
Carter led the squad in rushing for the second game in a row, running for 91 yards on only eight carries. Lynch-Adams also contributed 90 all-purpose yards for the Spartans’ offense, taking a larger share of the carries for the first time this season.
The defense was disciplined early, committing no penalties for the first 26 minutes of the game. Until, a roughing the passer penalty wiped off a would-be pick-six Charles Brantley, which would’ve been the first defensive points of the season for the Spartans.
However, later in the drive, Brantley got his revenge intercepting Panthers quarterback Cameron Peters in the end zone, taking it all the way 100 yards downfield.
Brantley’s return was the longest return in Michigan State history, passing Michigan State Athletics Hall of Famer Dan Bass, who held the record with a 99-yard interception return in 1978.
“Just yesterday we were in a meeting and coach Rossi said if you catch an interception in the endzone your progression is taking you backward take a knee,” said Brantley. “But I looked to my left and my right and I didn’t see anyone so I said lets take it out.”
In the third quarter, starting right guard Gavin Broscious was carted off the field with an apparent lower-body injury. Broscious will be a big loss for the Spartans’ offensive line if he is out for an extended period of time. “It didn’t look good but next man up, you know,’ said Smith.
North Dakota transfer Tommy Schuster, made his Spartan debut at quarterback for the last three drives of the game.
Schuster managed his opportunity well, completing 8 of 10 passes for 97 yards and a rushing touchdown. This may be the only opportunity Schuster sees, but it is good to have a capable backup quarterback; just in case.
Smith is the first Michigan State coach to go 3-0 in his first three games since Mark Dantonio in 2007.
Michigan State will head to the east coast to take on Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. next Saturday at 8 p.m.
