Aidan Chiles passed for 270 yards and a touchdown and added 76 rushing yards as Michigan State remained unbeaten with a 41-24 win over Youngstown State in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday.
Nick Marsh caught six passes for 94 yards for the Spartans (3-0) before departing with a leg injury. The severity of the injury wasn’t immediately known.
Beau Brungard passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns for Youngstown State (2-1), and Jaden Gilbert rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Michigan State led 17-10 at the break.
The Penguins controlled the ball for over half of the first quarter but settled for Andrew Lastovka’s 28-yard field goal.
The Spartans gained the lead on their first possession. Rodney Bullard Jr. scored on an end-around from 8 yards. The drive was extended when Chiles scrambled for 10 yards on a 4th-and-8.
The Spartans made it 14-3 on a 12-play, 87-yard drive capped by Makhi Frazier’s 1-yard run. Chiles completed two passes apiece to Marsh and Jack Velling during that possession.
Youngstown State got those points back on Gilbert’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with 5:59 left in the second quarter. That score was set up by Gilbert’s 66-yard run.
Armorion Smith intercepted a Brungard pass with 1:14 left in the half at the Michigan State 24. Chiles then drove his team into scoring position, and Martin Connington kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
Omari Kelly’s 83-yard punt return set up Brandon Tullis’ 4-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, pushing Michigan State’s advantage to 24-10.
Kelly had a 20-yard reception on Michigan State’s next possession. That got the Spartans into Penguins territory, and they scored three plays later on Chiles’ 28-yard pass to Michael Masunas.
Youngstown State scored late in the third on Brungard’s 3-yard pass to RK Dandridge, capping an 80-yard drive.
Lastovka missed a 37-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Connington made a 27-yard field goal with 8:44 to play for a 34-17 Spartans lead.
Brungard connected with Kylon Wilson on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 3:05 left for Youngstown State. Elijah Tau-Tolliver scored Michigan State’s last touchdown on a 22-yard run.
