Photo: Nick King ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING, November 22, 2024 ~ Michigan State football (5-6) is now within one win of a bowl game after holding off the Purdue Boilermakers (1-10) 24-17 under the Friday night lights at Spartan Stadium.
“We managed to come out with the win in the end which is always a positive,” head coach Jonathan Smith told WJR Correspondent Nick Lundberg after the game. “But this is a huge game next week, especially for all of the seniors.”
It was a tale of two halves as the MSU offense lit up the scoreboard for 24 points in the first half, but did not muster a single scoring drive in the second. The defense stepped up when it needed to though, recording crucial stops and sacks to help push MSU to victory.
Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles was strong in the first 30 minutes, throwing his only two touchdowns of the night. He found redshirt senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. for the first score and then hit redshirt junior running back Nate Carter on a wheel route for his second touchdown of the day after rushing one in from two yards earlier in the afternoon.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
What a throw. What a catch. @ai6an_ x @_natecarter5 pic.twitter.com/vpxle53lmP
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 23, 2024
(CONTINUED) Junior tight end Jack Velling was carted off the field after taking a huge hit on a deep route over the middle of the field.
As the third quarter progressed, the weather started to get worse. While it was windy the whole night, the rain picked up to make it tough to hold onto the ball.
The Spartan defense finally broke their six week long streak without a sack, tallying three total. Sixth year defensive end Khris Bogle forced a fumble while redshirt senior linebacker Jordan Turner caught a tipped pass for an interception. Additionally, the unit did not allow positive rush yards for Purdue, as they finished with -4.
Although the offense punted on every single possession of the second half with Purdue scoring both of their touchdowns in the same time frame, the defense came in clutch on Purdue’s last possession with back-to-back sacks to shut the door on the Boilermakers.
The green and white will stay in East Lansing for their final game of the season, welcoming Rutgers into Spartan Stadium.
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