1. Maybe not a win for the ages, but one this era of MSU football badly needed
EAST LANSING — If Jonathan Smith is to have a successful tenure at Michigan State, there will be bigger wins and more impressive performances coming out of halftime.
But, for this moment, where this program is, this was a big one — a 42-40 double-overtime win over Boston College on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium that, perhaps, set the Spartans’ season on a different trajectory than if they’d lost.
Aidan Chiles’ two-point conversion throw to an on-the-run Omari Kelly in the opposite corner of the end zone will also go down as, perhaps, the biggest pass of his career — up there with the 41-yard touchdown he threw to Nick Marsh on the opening drive of the second half.
This was not a perfect day from Chiles, but it was a promising one — 19-for-29 passing for 231 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions, along with 39 yards rushing, a couple important ones included, among them the game-tying 3-yard touchdown run in the second overtime.
There are a lot of reasons to feel pretty OK about MSU’s football team after this one — after this second half and overtime. The Spartans got aggressive offensively in the passing game, but also continued to run the ball well for a second straight week, tallying 149 yards, 81 of them from sophomore lead back Makhi Frazier, who averaged 4.8 yards per attempt. His 13-yard run left of center in the second OT set up the win.
MSU found a kicker. Made big plays in special teams. Had some big moments defensively, also, including Armorian Smith batting away a 2-point conversion try in the second overtime. Jordan Hall had 15 tackles and a forced fumble at the goal line early that kept Boston College from getting out in front.
There is also plenty to be concerned about defensively. Unless Eagles QB Dylan Lonergan is actually Tom Brady, Michigan State’s defense has work to do. Because Lonergan — making his first road start of his college career — looked like Brady a lot, completing 34 of 45 passes for 390 yards with four scores and no interceptions. And he was never sacked.
But on a night when there was so much to lose and a lot to gain, MSU won. And that hasn’t happened enough around these parts in a while for anyone to complain.
2. The more Nick Marsh the better for MSU
There’s no such thing as too much Nick Marsh for this Michigan State football team. Of all the takeaways from Saturday’s double-OT win over Boston College — and there were a few, both promising and concerning — the notion that any pass thrown Marsh’s way is a good play should be No. 1 for an MSU team that has its flaws.
When MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles threw to Marsh on Saturday night, good things happened. Two touchdowns, for example — the first a slant during which Marsh dragged his defender into the end zone, Marsh playing the role of T.J Duckett. The second score was a 41-yard home run on the opening drive of the second half, a perfect throw, with Marsh separating as he reached the end zone.
He had five catches for 68 yards and drew another 15 yards on a pass interference penalty once he’d started to take control of the game. Twelve of the 29 passes Chiles threw were intended for Marsh.
MSU should get greedy with Marsh. More designed for him underneath, an early deep shot, just more.
He wants the ball. He demanded it at halftime Saturday, telling a coach (presumably coordinator Brian Lindgren), “I’ve got one-on-one coverage. Give me the damn ball.”
Marsh is not MSU’s only playmaker, but he’s the one that can do things you won’t see on many college football fields this season. He can be an effective decoy, but the Spartans’ coaching staff should make sure they’re getting the absolute most out of him. There’s more to get.
MORE: Couch’s grades for Michigan State’s performance against Boston College
3. A wild and mostly impressive night on special teams
There’s a reason Martin Connington is MSU’s scholarship kicker. We saw why Saturday night, when, with the very first kick of his career — coming off an injury, no less — he put a game-tying, 50-yard field goal through the uprights with 2:17 left in the third quarter.
Connington will likely attempt bigger kicks in his MSU career — arguably the 39-yarder he then hit late in the fourth quarter — but that first one will be as eye-opening as any, bringing with it the collective relief of a fan base that wasn’t sure the Spartans were going to have field goals this season. If Connington, a redshirt freshman from Idaho, is reliable and a threat from 50 yards out, that could be worth two wins — including this one — to an MSU team that’s going to play this season with thin margins.
Connington headlined an eventful night on special teams for MSU — with punt returner Omari Kelly fumbling once early on and, at the end of the third quarter, dangerously fielding a punt as Boston College’s coverage unit took him to the ground.
The Spartans’ kick return operation went a lot better, with forgotten man Alante Brown putting on a show, with returns of 37 and 63 yards. Brown’s 63-yard return, spinning through a tackle, helped MSU to a short touchdown drive that tied the game at 14. Again, this appears that it’s going to be an MSU season that, at best, is decided by narrow margins. A dangerous return game would help.
One thing MSU knows it can count on is having a punter who might not need his final year of eligibility before heading to the NFL. Ryan Eckley was as dazzling as a punter can be Saturday.
Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State football’s 42-40 double-overtime win over Boston College
Reporting by Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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