East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive 32-20 win over Iowa at Spartan Stadium on homecoming Saturday night. With the win, the Spartans inched one step closer to bowl eligibility with a game against their in-state rival looming a week from now.
After Michigan State capped off homecoming weekend with a critical Big Ten victory, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in from the press box at Spartan Stadium with news, analysis and insight in the latest V-Cast.
V-CAST TOPICS
Aidan Chiles takes a monster step: Even with what should have been an avoidable interception and a costly intentional grounding penalty, this was easily the best game that Chiles has played in seven starts at Michigan State. Coming off the bye week, Chiles did a nice job of playing within himself. And for the most part he excelled in his role as a risk manager against an Iowa defense built to make quarterbacks pay when they get too greedy. This was the most efficient we’ve seen Chiles play in a Spartan uniform. He completed 22-of-30 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown with one interception. He added 51 more yards on the ground in the win for Michigan State. This version of Chiles is one that none of the remaining opponents for the Spartans want to see.
Credible run game: Michigan State came out of the bye week determined to run the football effectively, and the Spartans accomplished that goal. The Spartans rushed for a season high 212 yards against and Iowa defense that had allowed less than 100 yards per game on average to this point in the season. Michigan State’s per-carry average in this game (5.3) is the highest the Spartans have had against an FBS opponent this season. The tailback duo of Nathan Carter and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams were as good as they’ve been together in a game for the Spartans, who also got a boost from Chiles, who was an asset for the ground game.
Michigan State beat Iowa at its own game: Physicality and toughness are hallmarks of Iowa football on both offense and defense. In this game, however, Michigan State played with more physicality. That was apparent on defense with the effectiveness of a Spartan run defense held dynamic Iowa tailback Kaleb Johnson well under his season average despite giving up a 75-yard touchdown run. On offense, Michigan State consistently moved Iowa off the line of scrimmage giving tailbacks room to run and Chiles time to throw the ball.
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