Michigan State University dropped a 21-14 football game against Washington after starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic left the contest due to an injury during the second quarter.
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch evaluated the team’s performance, noting that “MSU’s offense was doing well enough before quarterback Alessio Milivojevic went down.”
Milivojevic completed seven of twelve passes for 108 yards and led an opening touchdown drive, according to Lansing State Journal.
Backup quarterback Cam Fancher stepped in following the injury, but the Spartans struggled with penalties, inconsistencies, and turnovers as the game progressed.
Fancher rushed and threw under pressure, eventually throwing an interception while attempting to throw the ball away, which also resulted in an injury.
Running back Brandon Tullis carried the ball 21 times for 82 yards to help the Michigan State offense out-gain Washington 342 yards to 332 yards overall.
The defensive unit rebounded after allowing two early touchdowns by keeping the Huskies to 41 total yards across their first four second-half drives.
Washington was restricted to 44 rushing yards on 22 carries, showcasing a strong effort from the depleted defensive lineup.
Special teams encountered mixed results when kicker Liam Boyd missed a 50-yard field goal attempt wide right during the fourth quarter.
Punter Rhys Dakin managed a 39.6-yard average, landing three punts inside the 20-yard line while the coverage unit capitalized on a muffed return.
Coaching staff decisions drew scrutiny, particularly regarding the choice to return Fancher to the field after he was cleared.
Columnist Graham Couch observed that “the decision to go back to Fancher once he was cleared to return is one that can be fairly questioned.”
The loss leaves the Spartans with a 14-point final tally and a challenging short week ahead of a matchup against an ascending Oregon team.