The Spartans started the game with the kickoff for the touchback. Maryland tried to get the running game going early in the game, but after a couple of short pickups, they went airborne for the first down. On the second series, they were forced into another third and short, but they managed to run for a second first down. After a deep shot sailed too far, Maryland had a third third down, this time going 8-and-8, but they managed to move the chains on a botched play that ended with a shovel pass to avoid the sack. On the fourth series, they faced another third and 8, and a screen pass to Tai Felton ended in yards after catch for another first down at the MSU 30. The Spartans got a pass interference penalty on the next play, another deep shot, which put Maryland at the 15. On the second try, Billy Edwards hit a corner route to Felton, and this time the pass was complete for a touchdown. Maryland methodically moved down the field on its first drive. 7-0 Terps.

Michigan State started its first drive from the 15 after a short kick return. Like the first play, the first pass went to Montorie Foster, this time a block that gained 7 yards. On the 2nd, Chiles’ pass went through the hands of Jaron Glover. Nick Marsh caught the ball on the 3rd to move the chains, and he also drew a late hit on the play to put MSU on the Maryland side of the field. Nate Carter then broke through the line and picked up 30 yards to the 15. After another rush by Carter and an incomplete pass, Chiles hit Foster in the end zone with a slant pass to score. Chiles was precise and decisive in his first action of Week 2. 7:7 draw.

Both offenses looked good at the beginning and it felt like the game could come down to who could get the most stops and/or turnovers.

Charles Brantley blasted an end-around to start Maryland’s second drive and put them behind the chains. On 3rd-and-5, Maryland continued its perfection on 3rd down plays all game and moved the chains. Then a holding penalty put Maryland on a 1st & 20. Two incomplete passes later, it was 3rd & 20, and this time MSU’s defense was able to force the punt team out of the game. Foster called the fair catch at the MSU 19.

On MSU’s second drive, they failed to get a single first down. Chiles threw a pass on third down that was intercepted and Maryland returned it to the MSU 17-yard line. One play later, it was first and goal and then Billy Edwards kept the ball, ran left and crossed the goal line. 14-7 terpenes.

The first play of MSU’s next drive started with a 23-yard pass to Jack Velling…but the play was negated by an illegal formation. They went back to Velling to get those yards back. On the next play, Glover caught a pass for a first down, lost the ball, and Foster recovered it for several more yards. Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams then had his first action, running 8 yards. Chiles made the deep throw on 2nd down, but his pass went just wide of Foster’s hands in the end zone. Chiles kept it himself on 3rd and managed just enough to move the chains. After a negative run, Chiles threw it to Marsh on the perimeter for 3rd & 4. Lynch-Adams then made some nice moves to score 16 and keep the drive going. A personal foul against MSU for an illegal block put the Spartans on a 2nd & 23. Chiles said “no worries” and hit Glover on a seam route for his second touchdown pass of the game. 14:14 draw.

Maryland mistakenly returned the ensuing kickoff out of the end zone and also received a penalty on the return, leading to a drive that began at their 5-yard line. The Terrapins managed two first downs, but on the first down play of the next series, Khris Bogle came off the side and sacked Edwards for a loss of 9 yards. Two plays later, MSU forced another Maryland punt, which they bounced into the end zone for a touchback.

Chiles led the Spartans back onto the field with 5:25 left in the first half. The Spartans avoided another interception on the first play after a pass slipped through Marsh’s hands and nearly went into the arms of a diving defender. Two plays later, the drive was over and MSU punted for the first time, moving the ball to Maryland’s 35.

Two runs led to a 3rd & 1, which Maryland ruined with a false start. The MSU defense prevented a screen pass on 3rd & 6 and forced a punt that Foster caught fairly at the 12.

With 2:20 left in the half and two timeouts, MSU stormed down the field and picked up five first downs. But with time running out, Chiles took a foul sack that put MSU back at the Maryland 37-yard line with 5 seconds left. MSU took its final timeout and brought the field goal unit onto the field. Jonathan Kim missed a 55-yard throw, but Maryland was penalized for offsides, and Kim redeemed himself with a 50-yard throw that sent MSU to the locker room with the lead. 17-14 Spartans.

Michigan State received the ball early in the second half. Nate Carter got things rolling with a 13-yard run on the first play. Jaron Glover then caught a pass on 3rd & 10 for another first down, and then Lynch-Adams ran through the line for another 23 yards into Maryland territory. Then it was a trickeration reverse play that took MSU another 14 yards to the 21. A holding call got MSU back ten yards, and then Chiles attempted another throw to the end zone, but his pass missed and was intercepted in the corner. His second interception of the game ended a scoring opportunity for MSU.

Maryland took over at the 20 and immediately made the deep throw, catching a pass from Edwards to Felton at MSU’s 45-yard line. They followed with a 17-yard throw to Felton, but then stagnated, gaining only six yards on the next three plays to settle for a 40-yard field goal… which became a 45-yard field goal after a delay of game. 17:17 Draw.

On MSU’s second possession of the second half, they started with a holding penalty to get back on 1st & 20. Chiles then threw passes from 5, 6 and 9 to get the first down by a hair. But on the third attempt, Jack Velling, who caught the pass, got on the ball and needed help getting up. After a commercial break, MSU was caught on a run to the right and lost four points. Chiles narrowly failed to get the first down with his legs and MSU opted to punt instead of attempting it on 4th & 1 from their own 45. Ryan Eckley kicked the punt into the end zone for a touchback.

At the start of their next drive, Maryland attempted a halfback pass that was intercepted by MSU, but a pass interference penalty voided the penalty and moved Maryland forward 15 yards. Maryland then converted a 3rd & 6 to get to the midfield and keep the offense alive. The Terrapins then picked up yet another 3rd down to get to MSU’s 39. And on the final play of the 3rd quarter, Maryland moved the chains further, yes, a 3rd down run to the 28. On the opening play of the 4th quarter, Dylan Wade had complete space on the left side and Edwards easily got him the ball for the run into the end zone. 24-17 terpenes.

WOW! MSU goes wide on the first play. Chiles hits Marsh on a run over the middle. The play goes 57 yards to the Maryland 18-yard line. A false start by MSU leads to 1st & 15. Carter’s run is stopped in the backfield, leading to 2nd & 19. Chiles is caught in the pocket and just makes it back to the line. And on 3rd & 19, the ball slips out of Chiles’ hands and Maryland catches it for the interception, their third of the day, at the 37-yard line. The Spartans lost 19 yards after that big first play and were left with no points.

Maryland’s ability to get third downs continued on the ensuing drive, but then we got a little lucky when a pass bounced off Felton’s fingers and was intercepted by Charles Brantley at the MSU 23. Great play!

Unfortunately, MSU couldn’t capitalize on the loss and went home three yards after gaining only three yards. The Eckley punt brought Maryland back to their own 23… but wait, there were flags on that play. Wait, they were aimed at us? They ran straight into the punter. We were wearing face masks. Damn.

So Maryland took over at the 38 with 8:57 to play. The Terrapins went on the run game to run down the clock. MSU forced a 3rd and 13 on the second series. Predictably, Edwards hit Felton up the middle for 23 yards and a first down. That was a setback for the Spartans as Maryland was now in field goal range. Finally, MSU stopped a 3rd down play after that, and Maryland’s kicker fired the kick wide right to give MSU some life.

With 4:22 left, the Spartans took the lead. WOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW! Nick Marsh does it again. 77 yards to the house. The kick is good. 24:24 draw.

F*%^!! Kickoff out of bounds. Maryland starts with a negative run but then gets a big pass to set up 3rd & 1. But the MSU defense comes through and blasts the run for no gain. Maryland punts the ball with 2:20 left in the game, pinning MSU at the 16.

Michigan State comes onto the field with all three timeouts in the bag and momentum on their side. The first play of the game was a rush that goes nowhere. And then there’s that 2-minute warning. Chiles threw incomplete on the 2nd attempt and on the 3rd attempt MSU benefits from pass interference. From the 31-yard line, Chiles completed the pass to Antonio Gates Jr. for 7 yards and then Chiles kept the pass at the 2nd line for the first out at the 44-yard line. On the first attempt, Chiles hit Foster for 12 yards to get across the halfway line, but the clock is now under a minute. Next play, another pass reception for Marsh and another first down at Maryland’s 32-yard line. Chiles runs for 3 yards and MSU calls a timeout with 37 seconds left. On the 2nd attempt, Chiles hits Marsh on a misdirection play, but Marsh is stopped a yard short of the uprights. This time Maryland calls a timeout with half a minute left. MSU opted for a QB keep on 3rd & 1 and after a measurement, the Spartans are awarded a new set of downs as the clock ticked down to 24. Nate Carter made 3 on the ground and Maryland calls its second timeout. Carter made 2 more on 2nd and MSU used up another timeout with ten seconds on the clock. On 3rd & 5, MSU was charged with a false start as the ball was run back to the 21. Another run to Carter took it along the right hash to the 18 and MSU calls its final timeout with five seconds left. Jonathan Kim comes on the field for the winning attempt. The 37-yard attempt is delayed by Maryland’s final timeout. It doesn’t matter! Kim hits the kick! A penalty for Maryland is irrelevant. With one second remaining MSU leads 27-24!

The kickoff goes out the back of the end zone, so it’s time for some shenanigans on this final Maryland play. Hook & ladder & ladder & ladder & ladder & tackle by Cal Haladay. Game over.

VICTORY FOR MSU!

MSU is 2-0. Enjoy your Saturday night, Spartan Nation.