Michigan State football's game vs. USC was a roller coaster, but the Spartans at least can say they kept getting on the ride.
LOS ANGELES – The way Aidan Chiles saw it, there was no chance Michigan State football would lose.
Not after watching teammate after teammate leave the field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with injuries. Not down 21 points in the third quarter. Not even down two touchdowns in the waning minutes as USC responded to the Spartans’ resolve.
“I thought we were gonna win the game the whole game,” Chiles said. “Until the clock hits zeros.”
Time eventually ran out on Chiles and the Spartans. His counterpart, Jayden Maiava, and a rough first half stretch in which four starters departed the game proved too much to overcome.
Maiava accounted for five touchdowns, three through the air and two on the ground, to trump Chiles’ four scores in a 45-31 loss to the Trojans on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Star wide receiver Makai Lemon also ran for a score and caught another, totaling 225 all-purpose yards. Waymond Jordan gashed MSU’s defense for 187 of USC’s 289 rushing yards, with Eli Sanders adding 90 yards as part of a 523-yard offensive outburst against a depleted but determined Spartan group that had defensive end Quindarius Dunnigan and safety Nikai Martinez leave the game late in the first half after colliding trying while tackling Jordan and linebacker Wayne Matthews III get taken off on a stretcher after bringing down Sanders one play later.
“We knew that they were a big, explosive operation. And we needed to come out and start fast,” defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren said. “And we necessarily didn’t do that.”
MSU (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) is no longer perfect, not that the nonconference slate didn’t show red flags that got exposed repeatedly by the Trojans (4-0, 2-0) and their No. 1-ranked offense. Coach Jonathan Smith, a native of nearby Pasadena, said fixing the repeated mistakes and issues on defense is a high priority during the upcoming bye week before the Spartans head to Nebraska on Oct. 4 (time/TV still TBD).
However, the second-year coach also recognized his team looks markedly different after this loss compared to a year ago, when MSU opened with three straight wins before a loss at Boston College that spiraled into a stretch in which would lose six of seven games and ultimately miss the postseason.
“I think they know it's a long game. I think they've learned we've gotta be able to play 60 minutes of quality football,” Smith said early Sunday morning. “But the quality of that is some of the detail – being in the right spots, being able to tackle and get them down. And this is what you're facing in the Big Ten, it's some good opponents and all of that.
“But I do like the fight in the guys.”
Matthews, who was strapped to a backboard, was transported across the field on a cart and went by ambulance to LA General Hospital for evaluation. A program spokesman said the senior returned home with the team and arrived in Lansing early Sunday morning, and Matthews said on "X" that he's "doing a lot better" while thanking people for the prayers.
“It was awful seeing him go down like that. Anyone, but especially Wayne,” VanSumeren said. "He’s a great leader, he’s a huge piece of our defense.”
Dunningan and Martinez did not return to the game after their collision. Left tackle Stanton Ramil also left the game late in the first quarter and did not return.
After a long stoppage for Matthews’ injury, USC scored the next play to carry a 24-10 lead into halftime. The Trojans smothered MSU’s offense at the outset of the third quarter, with Jordan ripping off a 40-yard run immediately after the Spartans’ punt. Maiava capped the four-play, 57-yard drive with a 10-yard TD pass to pull ahead, 31-10.
It was looking like it was over. But on the next drive, Chiles and the MSU offense somehow compiled an 11-play, 87-yard drive thanks to some timely penalties from the Trojans and a suddenly feisty offense, with Chiles finishing things off with a spinning 4-yard TD.
On USC’s ensuing offensive play, MSU safety Armorion Smith forced a fumble, and defensive tackle Grady Kelly recovered at the Trojans’ 32. Chiles, from nearby Long Beach, picked up one third-down conversion with a sneak and hit tight end Jack Velling on another for a 2-yard touchdown.
Somehow, some way, MSU went into the fourth trailing just 31-24.
“That was a game that had some unique twists and turns,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “We, I thought, were controlling the game. Obviously, we had a couple errors there in the third quarter with the penalties, especially on the punt and obviously the turnover that allowed them to come back and capture some momentum. But I thought our team responded and separated back in a really good way. ... A lot to learn from, a lot that's gotta continue to get better. But if you're learning lessons as you win, it's hard not to be excited about what you see out of this football team."
Just as fast as the Spartans got back in the game, it started slipping away. Maiava and the Trojans’ offense answered with a long scoring drive to start the fourth quarter, and then MSU got stuffed on downs deep in its own territory, then USC scored again.
Still, Chiles and Co. didn’t quit. Less than 20 seconds after USC’s final score, Chiles hit wide receiver Omari Kelly for a 75-yard touchdown. If anything, the Spartans’ work for their bye week began at that moment and came into full focus, a final positive building block before their Oct. 4 trip to Nebraska (TV/time TBD).
“Ain’t no sitting around,” Chiles said. “We have a chip on our shoulder. We just lost a football game, and we gotta figure that out.
“There is no discouragement. This team, like I said before the season, wants to win and will do whatever it takes to win. I mean, you’ve seen us claw and fight back for it. And now, we actually have to do it.”
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football's game vs USC was absolute roller coaster
Category: General Sports
