Michigan State takes down Boston College in double overtime, 42-40

Michigan State headed into Saturday night's matchup against Boston College wanting to avenge its loss in Chestnut Hill last season and continue to rack up wins in pursuit of ending its bowl draught this season. After two overtimes, the Spartans did just that, downing the Eagles 42-40. The win also snapped a two-game losing streak in the series dating back to the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl. It also improved MSU to 2-5-1 all-time in the series, the other lone win coming in 1995 in a 25-21 victory in East Lansing.

Quarterback Aidan Chiles threw for 231 yards on 19-for-29 passing and four touchdowns. Chiles didn't throw a single interception on the night and added 39 yards on the ground, including a touchdown in the first overtime. He briefly seemed questionable for overtime after being helped off the field on MSU's final drive after appearing to tweak his knee when getting sacked but returned to lead the Spartans to victory in the two overtimes.

Other great performances by MSU included a two touchdown performance on five catches for 68 yards by Nick Marsh, including a long of 41 and yards after catch of 18. Omari Kelly added four catches for 60 yards, while Jay Coyne and Michael Masunas each added a touchdown as well for the receiver group. Running back Makhi Frazier led the Spartans' ground attack with 81 yards on 17 carries.

Punter Ryan Eckley once again came in clutch several times, pinning BC deep on its own 12, its own one, and again on its own one yard lines, respectively. Alanta Brown also ran it back 63 yards on one kickoff return, totaling 100 on his two attempts. Kicker Martin Connington scored on both field goal attempts, including a career long of 50 yards in the third quarter.

On the defensive side, Jordan Hall led MSU with 15 tackles, including nine solo and forced a fumble. Ade Willie, Wayne Matthews, and Armorion Smith all totaled eight tackles apiece with Matthews leading the pack in solo with five, including 0.5 for loss. Darius Snow led the team in tackles with loss with 1.5, while Chance Rucker, David Santiago, and Brady Pretzlaff all logged a pass breakup. Rucker also had a quarterback hurry.

The Eagles totaled 457 yards of offense with quarterback Dylan Lonergan throwing for 390 on 34-for-45 passing and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, the BC ground game managed just 67 yards on 25 attempts.

First Half

Both teams had a sloppy start to the game. While Michigan State's defense held Boston College to a three-and-out to start the game, the punt was fumbled by MSU at its own 39 yard line and recovered by BC. Hall managed to force the fumble four plays later by punching it out of Richard Turbo's arms at the one yard line and it was recovered by Smith in the end zone for a touchback. After a review, the ball went to MSU at its own 20.

On its ensuing drive, the Spartans almost lost it five plays later as Kelly fumbled when trying to fault a BC defender, but it was bumped out of bounds by Eagles players as they tried to recover resulting in it being brough back to where Kelly fumbled and staying with MSU. The Spartans were able to keep the momentum going Marsh powered through multiple Eagles players for the first score of the game. After the PAT, MSU led 7-0 with 5:23 left in the first quarter.

After both teams were forced to punt on their next respective drives, BC immediately went big on its opening play for a 56 yard gain with time ticking down in the first quarter. Five plays later, the Eagles had tied it up at 7-7 with 12:50 left in the second quarter as the drive last into the next quarter. The Spartans were unable to answer on their next drive, turning it over on downs after trying for it on fourth and one from its own 49 yard line on a controversial play call, opting for the wildcat formation to get the extra yard. BC took advantage to march it 49 yards over eight plays for a second straight touchdown. After the PAT, the Eagles led 14-7 with 7:45 left in the half.

This time, Michigan State responded big and took little time to do it. Given excellent field position by Brown's 63 yard kick return, Makhi Frazier ripped off a 16 yard gain on the second play of the drive and drew a facemask penalty against Chuck Nnaeto. That advanced the ball to BC's eight yard line where Chiles connected for his second touchdown pass of the game two plays later. The PAT was good and MSU tied it at 14.

Boston College answered with another score of its own, and the final of the half, as it drove 80 yards in 10 plays to set up a 21-0 lead heading into the locker room a few minutes later.

Second Half

MSU received the ball to start the second half and just four plays later tied it up again. Back-to-back deep passes from Chiles to his receivers capped off the drive, including a 30-yard gain by Kelly and then the 41-yard touchdown pass to Marsh, his first multi-touchdown performance as a Spartan. The PAT tied it up at 21.

Boston College answered right back with a drive that ended in a 37-yard field goal to take a narrow 24-21 lead with 7:00 minutes left in the third. The Spartans pieced together an 11-play drive of their own that included an impressive 19-yard scramble by Chiles below.

MSU capped off the drive with what might be one of the most impressive college kicking debuts most viewers will ever see. On his first career attempt, Connington nailed it from 50 yards out on the BC 40 yard line to tie it up at 24 with 2:17 left in the third.

That would mark the last points for the third, and it was deep into the fourth before either team was able to get into position to change that. Though, there were the occasional highlight performance such as a 23-yard catch by Chrishon McCray.

The Spartans were unable to finish that drive with a score, but on their next they were able to eat almost 6.5 minutes off the clock before settling for a field goal from 39 yards out. Connington added his second of his career and gave MSU a narrow 27-24 lead with just 4:08 left in the game.

The Eagles also managed their own deep drive, but the MSU defense held firm and forced a field goal, this one from 38, and it was a tie game with 1:16 left.

MSU was unable to finish its own drive despite back-to-back big gains of 17 yards on passes by Chiles to open its attempt. Pressure from BC after those plays led to two straight sacks, a QB hurry, and then yet another sack, this one leaving Chiles down and needing helped off before the Spartans punted it away with just 21 seconds remaining. Boston College kneeled it out and this one headed into overtime.

Overtimes

The Spartans took the ball to start and scored in five plays on a short pass to Jay Coyne. MSU's PAT was good and the Spartans opened OT with a 34-27 lead.

The Eagles responded right back, also in five plays, and tied it up on a six-yard pass. After the PAT, this one headed into double overtime. BC got the ball to start and scored in just two plays. The two-point conversion was incomplete, and the Spartans had the chance to get the win if they could complete their own drive and attempt.

MSU did just that with Chiles leading the Spartans despite the injury scare to end regulation. After a nine-yard pass to Masunas and a 13 yard rush by Frazier, Chiles kept it and rushed up the middle for the score.

Then, on the two-point conversion, Chiles connected with Kelly on a well-drawn play for the win. Final score: Michigan State 42-Boston College 40.

Michigan State returns to Spartan Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 13 to take on Youngstown State to wrap up its non-conference schedule. Kick is set for 3:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.