Photo ~ Dale Young / USA Today
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN, September 3, 2022 ~ Michigan State’s season opener took over East Lansing Friday, as the Spartan clinched a 35-13 win over the Western Michigan Broncos.
The near 74,000 on-hand members of Spartan Nation were on edge after halftime when Western rallied in the third quarter to within eight points. The Broncos’ momentum however was reigned in, with the Spartans’ defense forcing a pair of punts, and the offense scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a matter of three minutes.
September 2, 2022 ~ Michigan State Football play-by-play broadcasters George Blaha and Jason Strayhorn talk with 760 WJR’s Steve Courtney about the depth of returning Spartan football talent, including linebacker Cal Haladay, wide receiver Jayden Reed, and quarterback Payton Thorne.
September 2, 2022 ~ Playfly Sports General Manager Otis Wiley and Michigan State University and Pre and Post Game Commentator Jehuu Caulcrick talks with 760 WJR’s Steve Courtney about their path in becoming broadcasters, the nostalgia of opening day and their memories from being players, and the all-new Tuck-Town presented by Meijer, which features games, live performances, great eats, and more.
September 2, 2022 ~ EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN ~ Michigan State University Athletics Director Alan Haller talks about the depth and talent of this year’s Spartans football team. We also get his thoughts on the changes made recently to the Big 10 conference, plus a look at some of the other MSU Athletics programs starting up this fall.
(CONTINUED) “I was proud of the effort from our football team tonight,” MSU Head Coach Mel Tucker told reporters post-game. “Western … they’re very well coached and they came out and gave us everything we could handle. I have a lot of respect for that football team. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I like what I saw in the locker room after the game from our team and from our leaders. It’s a hungry football team, and we know we need to get better, and it was just a very mature locker room after the game.“
Junior quarterback Payton Thorne completed 12 of his 24 passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Jalen Berger had 16 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman caught four passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. Junior wide receiver Tre Mosley made two catches for 51 yards.
September 2, 2022 ~ Michigan State Spartans Quarterback Payton Thorne hands off the football in the second quarter at Spartan Stadium during their game against Western Michigan University. Photo: Dale Young / USA TODAY Sports
(CONTINUED) On the defense, Junior safety Angelo Grose and graduate linebacker Ben VanSumeren each had 11 tackles, while sophomore linebacker Cal Haladay and sophomore cornerback Charles Brantley each had 10. Senior linebacker Jacoby Windmon had seven tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble.
Starting safety Xavier Henderson and starting linebacker Darius Snow both left the game in the second quarter due to injuries. Neither reentered. Updates on their conditions were not immediately available post game.
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