Photo by: MSU Athletic Communications
Post-Game Notes: Iowa
11/7/2020 5:08:00 PM | Football
TEAM
• Michigan State was making its first trip to Iowa City since 2013, and Saturday's loss snapped MSU's three-game win streak in the series, matching the Spartans' longest win streak over the Hawkeyes in the 67-year series history that dates back to 1953 . . . MSU's run started with 2013's victory in Iowa City, then 2015 in the Big Ten Championship game and 2017 in East Lansing . . . MSU also beat Iowa three straight times from 1973-75 . . . the Hawkeyes now hold a slim, 24-22-2, series lead, as MSU has lost for just the second time in last six meetings.Â
OFFENSE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Rocky Lombardi was 17-of-37 passing for 227 yards . . . Lombardi's 227 yards marked his third 200+ passing yard outing in as many games this season, as well as the fourth of his career . . . Lombardi now has 30+ passing attempts in all three games this season and in all six career games started . . . Lombardi completed at least one pass to a career-high 11 different receivers Saturday.
• Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jalen Nailor's 56-yard reception in the second quarter was a new career-long for only a quarter, as he topped that with a 57-yard catch in the third quarter, marking Nailor's second-straight game with a career-high, surpassing a 53-yarder last week at Michigan . . . Saturday's 119 receiving yards was Nailor's first career 100-yard receiving outing and also his new career-high, topping previous best of 84 yards in the season-opener vs. Rutgers (10/24/20) . . . Nailor's 119 receiving yards gave him a career-high 119 all-purpose yards, also topping his previous career-best in aforementioned game vs. Rutgers, with 102 yards (84 receiving, 18 punt return).Â
• Redshirt junior wide receiver Tyler Hunt's 1-yard TD dive in the third quarter was not only Hunt's first career TD, but also his first career rushing attempt . . . Hunt added one catch for 7 yards.
• Freshman running back Jordon Simmons has led MSU in rushing in all three games this season with nine carries for 34 yards Saturday .Â
• Redshirt sophomore tight end Trenton Gillison snared his first reception of the season with the third-quarter catch, going for 15 yards . . . Gillison finished with three catches for 26 yards, tying his second-highest outing for catches behind four receptions vs. Wake Forest in the Pinstripe Bowl and matching three catches last season vs. Ohio State.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Payton Thorne made his Spartan debut in the fourth quarter.
DEFENSE
• Redshirt junior linebacker Noah Harvey registered his sixth-consecutive game with at least 0.5 tackle for loss, as well as second game in a row with at least 1.5 TFL, with his 1.5 total as part of five overall tackles on Saturday . . . overall, it was Harvey's seventh career game with 0.5+ TFL, as he now has 8.5 career TFLs.
• Redshirt junior cornerback Shakur Brown now has four pass break-ups in his last two games, with two PBUs Saturday after two last week at Michigan . . . Brown now has nine career pass break-ups, the most of any active Spartan, and has nine pass break-ups in last eight games played, dating back to last season.
• Redshirt freshman Michael Fletcher logged both his first tackle and tackle for loss as a Spartan, ending with four stops and a total of 1.5 tackles for loss, adding one pass break-up.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Redshirt junior punter Bryce Baringer had six punts for a 42.7 ypp average with a long of 51-yards . . . Baringer now has six punts this season of 50+ yards and eight in his career.
• Graduate senior transfer punter Mitchell Crawford made his Spartan debut with four punts for a 37.2 ypp average with a long of 47-yards and one inside the 20.
• Michigan State was making its first trip to Iowa City since 2013, and Saturday's loss snapped MSU's three-game win streak in the series, matching the Spartans' longest win streak over the Hawkeyes in the 67-year series history that dates back to 1953 . . . MSU's run started with 2013's victory in Iowa City, then 2015 in the Big Ten Championship game and 2017 in East Lansing . . . MSU also beat Iowa three straight times from 1973-75 . . . the Hawkeyes now hold a slim, 24-22-2, series lead, as MSU has lost for just the second time in last six meetings.Â
OFFENSE
• Redshirt junior quarterback Rocky Lombardi was 17-of-37 passing for 227 yards . . . Lombardi's 227 yards marked his third 200+ passing yard outing in as many games this season, as well as the fourth of his career . . . Lombardi now has 30+ passing attempts in all three games this season and in all six career games started . . . Lombardi completed at least one pass to a career-high 11 different receivers Saturday.
• Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jalen Nailor's 56-yard reception in the second quarter was a new career-long for only a quarter, as he topped that with a 57-yard catch in the third quarter, marking Nailor's second-straight game with a career-high, surpassing a 53-yarder last week at Michigan . . . Saturday's 119 receiving yards was Nailor's first career 100-yard receiving outing and also his new career-high, topping previous best of 84 yards in the season-opener vs. Rutgers (10/24/20) . . . Nailor's 119 receiving yards gave him a career-high 119 all-purpose yards, also topping his previous career-best in aforementioned game vs. Rutgers, with 102 yards (84 receiving, 18 punt return).Â
• Redshirt junior wide receiver Tyler Hunt's 1-yard TD dive in the third quarter was not only Hunt's first career TD, but also his first career rushing attempt . . . Hunt added one catch for 7 yards.
• Freshman running back Jordon Simmons has led MSU in rushing in all three games this season with nine carries for 34 yards Saturday .Â
• Redshirt sophomore tight end Trenton Gillison snared his first reception of the season with the third-quarter catch, going for 15 yards . . . Gillison finished with three catches for 26 yards, tying his second-highest outing for catches behind four receptions vs. Wake Forest in the Pinstripe Bowl and matching three catches last season vs. Ohio State.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Payton Thorne made his Spartan debut in the fourth quarter.
DEFENSE
• Redshirt junior linebacker Noah Harvey registered his sixth-consecutive game with at least 0.5 tackle for loss, as well as second game in a row with at least 1.5 TFL, with his 1.5 total as part of five overall tackles on Saturday . . . overall, it was Harvey's seventh career game with 0.5+ TFL, as he now has 8.5 career TFLs.
• Redshirt junior cornerback Shakur Brown now has four pass break-ups in his last two games, with two PBUs Saturday after two last week at Michigan . . . Brown now has nine career pass break-ups, the most of any active Spartan, and has nine pass break-ups in last eight games played, dating back to last season.
• Redshirt freshman Michael Fletcher logged both his first tackle and tackle for loss as a Spartan, ending with four stops and a total of 1.5 tackles for loss, adding one pass break-up.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Redshirt junior punter Bryce Baringer had six punts for a 42.7 ypp average with a long of 51-yards . . . Baringer now has six punts this season of 50+ yards and eight in his career.
• Graduate senior transfer punter Mitchell Crawford made his Spartan debut with four punts for a 37.2 ypp average with a long of 47-yards and one inside the 20.
Players Mentioned
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QB
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