Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Post-Game Notes: Rutgers
10/24/2020 11:11:00 PM | Football
Michigan State had its 21-game winning streak snapped in home season openers . . . the Spartans last loss at home to start a season came in 1998 to Colorado State . . . MSU is 102-22 all-time in home openers.
The Spartans had their six-game winning streak against Rutgers snapped . . . MSU is 6-1 against Rutgers in Big Ten play (since 2014) and 8-4 overall.
Michigan State is now 84-37-3 all-time in season openers . . . today marks the first season-opening loss for the Spartans since 2008 at California.
OFFENSE:
Rocky Lombardi recorded career highs in passing yards (319), pass completions (31) and passing touchdowns (3) . . . Lombardi is now 2-2 as the starting quarterback for the Spartans.
In his first game wearing the Green and White, redshirt sophomore Jayden Reed had 11 catches for 128 yards and two scores, becoming the first Spartan to record 100 yards receiving in his debut; Reed transferred from Western Michigan and sat out the 2019 season.
Redshirt sophomore Jalen Nailor hauled in a career-best six receptions for 84 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
DEFENSE:
Senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons led the Spartans with career highs in both tackles (11) and tackles for loss (3 for 8 yards). He also had a fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry.
Redshirt senior defensive end Drew Beesley had a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, including a 7-yard sack, with six tackles overall.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Matt Coghlin's 48-yard field goal to end the first half tied the second-longest of his career, behind a 49-yarder in 2018 season-opener vs. Utah State (8/31/18) and matching a 48-yarder vs. Purdue (10/27/18) . . . Coghlin now has at least one 40+ yard field goal in each of the last three season-openers, as he had the 49-yarder vs. Utah State in 2018 opener, then made three from 40+ yards vs. Tulsa in 2019 (47, 44, 40) and then two in Saturday's 2020 opener (45, 48) . . . Coghlin now has 17 career games with at least two made field goals, including his last four games playing going back to 2019 . . . he also now has made 18 career field goals of 40+ yards.Â
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The Spartans had their six-game winning streak against Rutgers snapped . . . MSU is 6-1 against Rutgers in Big Ten play (since 2014) and 8-4 overall.
Michigan State is now 84-37-3 all-time in season openers . . . today marks the first season-opening loss for the Spartans since 2008 at California.
OFFENSE:
Rocky Lombardi recorded career highs in passing yards (319), pass completions (31) and passing touchdowns (3) . . . Lombardi is now 2-2 as the starting quarterback for the Spartans.
In his first game wearing the Green and White, redshirt sophomore Jayden Reed had 11 catches for 128 yards and two scores, becoming the first Spartan to record 100 yards receiving in his debut; Reed transferred from Western Michigan and sat out the 2019 season.
Redshirt sophomore Jalen Nailor hauled in a career-best six receptions for 84 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
DEFENSE:
Senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons led the Spartans with career highs in both tackles (11) and tackles for loss (3 for 8 yards). He also had a fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry.
Redshirt senior defensive end Drew Beesley had a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, including a 7-yard sack, with six tackles overall.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Matt Coghlin's 48-yard field goal to end the first half tied the second-longest of his career, behind a 49-yarder in 2018 season-opener vs. Utah State (8/31/18) and matching a 48-yarder vs. Purdue (10/27/18) . . . Coghlin now has at least one 40+ yard field goal in each of the last three season-openers, as he had the 49-yarder vs. Utah State in 2018 opener, then made three from 40+ yards vs. Tulsa in 2019 (47, 44, 40) and then two in Saturday's 2020 opener (45, 48) . . . Coghlin now has 17 career games with at least two made field goals, including his last four games playing going back to 2019 . . . he also now has made 18 career field goals of 40+ yards.Â
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Players Mentioned
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