EAST LANSING- Michigan State comes back home to East Lansing to take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers.
Michigan State did what they were supposed to do and took care of business against the Panthers, winning 40 to 0. With the Spartans starting their ranked tenure next week with Boston College, here are a few takeaways from today’s game.
The fast blitz Spartan Defense:
The MSU defense came into this game strong, starting with a quick sack by redshirt sophomore Ken Talley. Sparking the MSU defense with the shutout performance. Redshirt senior linebacker Jordan Turner was a bright spot on the defense. Putting up four solo tackles and one sack on the night.
Sixth-year defensive lineman Khris Bogle also led the way for MSU on defense with four tackles and one solo tackle. Bogle has been an anchor point for MSU and their rush attack and he did it again today.
With many starters out in the safety and db room, players stepped up and made plays on the defensive end.
Redshirt senior Ed Woods racked up five tackles with three solo tackles on the night. Locking down his side of the field. But when MSU needed a play to be made, redshirt junior Charles Brantely always delivered, and did today with a 100-yard pick-six touchdown on the other end. Brantley also gained two solo tackles capping off his night.
“It was my longest run since high school as a punt returner,” said Brantley. “Our defense runs on team execution, toughness, and technique.”
MSU’s defense has been a focal point of success for this team, with many ranked opponents coming up on their schedule. MSU’s defense is going to have to succeed in many ways, like they did today.
Aidan Chiles coming into his own:
Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles is starting to embrace the QB1 role in East Lansing, scoring the first touchdown of the day with a 6-yard run across the right Pylon. Coming into this game, Chiles looked to take care of business and not make sloppy mistakes with the football.
Chiles also threw to one of his favorite targets, Senior Montorie Foster Jr. Hitting him on two drives to get the passing attack for MSU going.
Chiles also used his second favorite target, Big Ten freshman of the week Nick Marsh for a 20-yard gain putting the Spartans in position.
Chiles scored twice in the first quarter with no interceptions, first with a quarterback keeper for a six-yard touchdown, and a 17-yard pass to Redshirt freshman Aziah Johnson. He ended the day throwing 12-19 with 173 and one touchdown before being taken out of the game in the third quarter.
Lots of player depth got into the game at the beginning of the second half, and Chiles did a great job of getting everyone touches and opportunities to make plays.
“We needed to show up so that they could play,” Chiles said. “And we did that, we executed. We got to see a lot of guys play, got to see a lot of guys run, which is a beautiful thing.”
With the gauntlet coming up next week and during the month of October playing many ranked teams, Chiles is gearing up for ranked football in the Big Ten with this game today.
Running Back attack:
On the opening drive, Michigan State ran the ball 8 times on their opening drive, sparking Junior Nate Carter and Senior Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams confidence on the offensive end.
In the second quarter, Carter erupted up the middle for his first touchdown of the season running for 60 yards.
MSU’s run game and their passing game are accompanying one another sparking the offense.
Carter ended the day with 91 yards, one touchdown averaging 11 yards per carry. During the first two games not playing his best ball, Carter came into this one playing fast and strong and he is working to gain momentum going deeper into the season.
“It opens up things. We need to get an explosive run or two like that,” said head coach Johnathon Smith. “He’s got that natural skillset, with cutting the ball back and outrunning the defender. I go back and forth about him and Kay’Ron with how they complement each other”.
Lynch-Adams played an important role in this offense, with the one-two punch between these two running backs. He has established himself as a quick and dominant player, finishing the game with 63 yards on four yards per carry.
The Spartan running back room has shown flashes of success, and with the one-two punch of Carter and Lynch Adams, the run game will flourish as the season progresses.
MSU receivers dominate:
MSU’s receiver room has dominated on many occasions throughout the season, and this game against Prairie View is no different.
Chiles spread the love to many receivers in this game, letting them all get a chance at success. Aziah Johnson led the team in yards with 50 and a 17-yard touchdown to start MSU’s run in the first quarter, with Chiles not looking back.
Junior tight end Jack Velling led next for the Spartans with 42 yards and a 34-yard catch to move the chains. Montorie Foster, redshirt sophomore Antonio Gates Jr., and Nick Marsh contributed to the Spartans’ success moving the ball against the Panthers.
“Marsh got a couple of catches, Johnson was big in the red zone, and Gates came in a couple of different times and had some nice catches as well,” Smith said.
MSU’s depth at the receiver position opens up opportunities down the field for different schemes against tough Big Ten opponents to score.
The Spartans come into the week 3-0 after the win against Prairie View A&M, now the Spartans travel to Boston to take on the Eagles at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
