Makhi Frazier rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in his first career start and Aidan Chiles threw for 155 yards and a touchdown Friday night to help host Michigan State to a 23-6 victory over Western Michigan in the season-opener for both schools.
Chiles was shaken up with 5:40 to play in the game when he was sacked and fumbled the ball. He was replaced by Alessio Milivojevic on the next Michigan State drive.
The Spartans (1-0) have won 25 consecutive home openers against nonconference opponents, dating back to 1999.
Western Michigan (0-1) has lost 14 straight games to Michigan State dating back to 1921. Brady Jones, a transfer from Riverside Community College, started for the Broncos and completed 11 of 23 passes for 97 yards and one interception. Broc Lowry also completed 5 of 10 passes for 91 yards.
Michigan State scored its first two drives. After forcing Western Michigan to give up the ball on downs off the opening drive, the Spartans went ahead 7-0 when Brandon Tullis broke free on a 12-yard touchdown run with 5:30 left in the first quarter.
Chiles capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive in the second quarter when he tossed a touchdown pass to Nick Marsh, giving the Spartans a 14-0 lead. He later set up Michigan State’s next score when he ran 26 yards to the Broncos 9. One play later, Frazier pushed the margin to 21-0 with his 9-yard scoring run up the middle with 1:50 remaining in the half.
Michigan State’s defense, which forced Western Michigan to turn the ball over on downs three times, registered a safety with 8:01 left in the third quarter when Alex VanSumeren and Jalen Thompson stopped Broncos tailback Jalen Buckley in the end zone.
Western Michigan, which was held to 29 yards rushing, had an opportunity to score late in the third quarter but Hunter Smith missed a 46-yard field goal.
The Broncos only score came with 2:51 left when Milivojevic was intercepted by former Michigan State linebacker Tate Hallock and returned 32 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed.
–Field Level Media
