Michigan State hangs on against Toledo, 30-20, for the win

Michigan State started strong but soon had mission control worried against the Toledo Rockets. Special teams came through with enough field goals, though, to ensure a Spartan win as MSU opened the season 1-0 with a 30-20 win over Toledo.

Alessio Milivojevic finished the night with 247 yards on 26-for-34 passing, including a touchdown, while Cam Edwards led the ground attack with 98 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown. Chrishon McCray led MSU in receptions with eight for 69 yards on 10 targets, but Rodney Bullard Jr. led the team in yards with 90 on seven catches (11 targets) and a touchdown. Yet the leading scorer was really kicker Liam Boyd who connected on five of six field goal attempts.

On defense, Devin Vaught, Michael Richard, and Brady Pretzlaff led the team with five tackles apiece. Eli Coenen added a sack and Kenny Soares Jr. added an interception.

Toledo's John Richter finished the night 12-for-21 passing for 196 yards while adding two touchdowns through the air alongside one interception. Adjatay Dabbs scored both touchdowns while grabbing four catches for 60 yards.

First Half

The Spartans started out the season strong enough. After winning the coin toss and deferring, the defense forced an immediate punt while the offense marched it 63 yards on 13 plays for a touchdown. Fans were perhaps a bit unsettled that it took two fourth-down conversions to keep the drive alive, but even

The defense again forced a punt by the Rockets, though it gave up a few first downs on this one first. MSU's offense had two big plays for 17 yards on its next drive, but ultimately stalled out after it got just inside the red zone and was forced to kick a field goal from 32 yards out. It was good and the Spartans opened their lead to 10-0 with just six seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The offense didn't have long to wait to try again as just three plays later Kenny Soares, Jr. picked off Richter at the Rockets' 40 yard line.

A holding call against MSU on first and 10 stalled the drive on just its second play after a quick 15-yard gain and the Spartans again settled for a field goal attempt, this one from 42 yards. The kick was again good and MSU was up 13-0 with 11:37 left in the half.

The Rockets finally got on the board on their next drive, though, as the defense gave up a 60 yard touchdown on a pass to Adjatay Dabbs at the MSU 42 he was able to run in from there. After the PAT, it was 13-7.

The Spartans would add two more field goals to end the half, from 48 and 35 yards out, respectively. and head into the locker room up 19-7. MSU ended the half with a 212-80 yardage advantage and a 21:46-8:14 time of possession edge.

Second Half

As great as the first half went for MSU, the second half is one fans might hope to forget over the weekend. The Spartans yet again stalled out on offense after marching to the Rockets' 36 yard line and called out the field goal unit. The 54 yard attempt was blocked and Toledo used the field position of starting at its own 40 to its advantage, or at least it did after its first play which was called for intentional grounding and an 11 yard loss. Gains of 21 on the next play and 31 two plays later put Toledo in the red zone. Two plays later and the Rockets scored with the PAT cutting their deficit to just 19-14 with 6:49 left in the third.

Both teams were forced to punt it away on their next drives and then MSU tried yet again to convert on fourth and 1, this time at Toledo's 29 yard line as the fourth quarter began. Edwards was stood up at the line for no gain and Toledo took just two plays, an incomplete pass and a 71-yard run, to take the lead with a touchdown. The Rockets tried to make it a three-point lead with a two-point conversion but failed to hold just a 20-19 advantage.

The Spartans answered right back on offense just when it was needed, immediately gaining 26 yards on a pass from Milivojevic to Bullard and then two plays later another 15 yards by the same duo. Toledo also drew a roughing the passer penalty, advancing it from the Toledo 29 to the 14 and getting inside the red zone for MSU for the first time since the first half. Four plays later and the Spartans scored. A two-point conversion attempt was also good, again on a throw to Bullard, and MSU again took the lead, up 27-20 with 10:32 left in the game.

The Rockets tried their hardest to claw back in response, but the Spartan defense held firm at its own 24, forcing a field goal attempt on foruth and 8 that went wide right. The MSU offense also was unable to sustain a drive to the end zone again, but Boyd connected on a 51 yard field goal attempt with just 1:55 remaining to give the Spartans a 30-20 advantage.

Toledo was unable to finish its final drive, being forced to a turnover on downs with 1:15 left at its own 33 yard line and MSU burned the clock for a win.

The Spartans return next Saturday, Sept. 12 when they welcome Eastern Michigan. Kick is set for 3:30 p.m. in that matchup when MSU will look to make it 2-0.