EAST LANSING- The Michigan State Spartans traveled into Boston with a 3-0 record taking on the Fighting Eagles, with a back-and-forth game in heavy downpour rain, both teams battled to the very end.
MSU started off the game strong, winning the coin toss and choosing to start on defense, which was the right choice, getting a quick three and out with a big sack from sixth-year defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan.
The Spartans’ defense was the anchor point for MSU, making many plays to set the offense up for chances to convert.
Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles sparked the MSU offense early, showing off his dual-threat capabilities and rushing for a nine-yard gain.
Chiles also utilized the tight-end connection, completing a 13-yard pass over the middle to junior tight-end Jack Velling, his number-one target of the night.
The first quarter of action was a defensive front for both sides, ending with a score of 3-0 from a 41-yard field goal from sixth-year kicker Jonathon Kim.
With MSU coming out on the top in the first quarter, Boston College and their dynamic offense did not stay down for long.
Junior quarterback Thomas Castellanos and the running back cohort carried most of the offense for the Fighting Eagles, testing the Spartans’ run defense on every drive.
After moving down the field, freshman running back Turbo Richard goes up the right sideline for 11 yards to the pylon, putting the Fighting Eagles up 6-3.
A muffed punt in the rainy conditions gave MSU a crucial scoring advantage.
Chiles continued to use his legs during the second half, rushing for an 11-yard gain early in the drive.
With the run game struggling hard for MSU, Chiles relies on his arm converting on the 40-yard gain to redshirt senior Montorie Foster Jr. putting the Spartans on the Boston College one-yard line.
Chiles seals the deal with the QB sneak and would put the Spartans up 10-6, taking the lead and ending the half up seven with a field goal from Jonathan Kim.
In the second half, mistakes started to halt the Spartan’s success offensively, starting with sixth-year running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams fumbling a punt near the Eagle’s endzone to turn the ball over, giving Boston College a chance to respond.
“Offensively, we have to get better in the run game, staying away from negative yardage. We had some missed opportunities with Montorie a couple of times, and those things could have changed the game,” MSU head coach Jonathon Smith said postgame.
Boston College quickly capitalized with graduate student running back Treshaun Ward flying down the field for a 36-yard touchdown.
The Fighting Eagles gained the lead by three with 12 minutes left in the quarter. Off an incompletion to redshirt junior running back Nate Carter, MSU would march up the field and Jonathan Kim would make a 51-yard field goal to tie the game 16-16.
The Spartans failed to spark any offense in the second half, and the struggles continued in the fourth quarter. Chiles drove down the field on two tries but failed to convert in the red zone.
Boston College and Castellanos gained the chance to win the game, and they took the opportunity in stride.
Castellanos delivered a 42-yard touchdown to his number-one target, junior receiver Lewis Bond, who iced the game for the Fighting Eagles.
In MSU’s second challenge of the season, they came up short in Chestnut Hill 23-19.
The Spartans go on to start their biggest test of the season yet, taking on the ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in East Lansing on Saturday, September 28.
