CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Here are the Michigan State football players who helped or hurt their stock in the Spartans’ 23-19 loss Saturday at Boston College.
Winners
Defense
It was another impressive showing from new coordinator Joe Rossi’s defense, holding the Eagles to just 292 total yards and containing elusive quarterback Thomas Castellanos to just 15 rushing yards on 15 carries, which included four sacks. MSU bowed up deep in the red zone twice, holding Boston College to a field goal early in the third quarter after Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half. The Spartans stuffed the Eagles twice inside the 2-yard line with the score tied 16-16 in the fourth quarter, with Malik Spencer forcing a fumble that BC recovered and then Jordan Hall demolished Castellanos on a fourth-down keeper to force a turnover on downs. MSU did not force a turnover otherwise, and the Spartans also gave up two long touchdowns that proved costly, a 36-yard scoring run early from Treshaun Ward early in the third quarter after Aidan Chiles’ interception immediately followed the defense’s first stop and then Castellanos’ 42-yard game-winning TD pass to Lewis Bond past the hobbled Spencer and Angelo Grose with 1:28 to play.
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TE Jack Velling
For the first time this season, Velling served as one of MSU’s primary targets in the passing game and produced six catches for 77 yards. That included three catches for 39 yards on the Spartans’ last drive that ended with Chiles’ third interception of the day. With MSU missing four receivers, Velling had 11 targets (second only to Montorie Foster’s 13) and flexed out frequently in multiple tight end sets with either Michael Masaunus or Brennan Paracheck.
K Jonathan Kim
With offensive scoring at a premium in the steady, sometimes heavy rain, Kim delivered on all four of his field goal attempts in adverse kicking conditions to give the Spartans a chance for a road win. The senior had plenty of leg for a 51-yarder in the third quarter to tie the game, then gave MSU a lead briefly with 4:12 left to close out a long 89-yard, 18-play drive that ate 9:24 off the clock. For the season, Kim is 8-for-8 on field goal attempts, ranking ninth nationally in field goals per game and 43rd in scoring with 33 total points.
Losers
QB Aidan Chiles
When the expectations are great, anything less than success is subject to hypercritical scrutiny. That definitely is the case four games into the starting career of Chiles, whose three interceptions Saturday brings his total up to seven for the season. The sophomore Oregon State transfer finished 17-for-35 for 241 passing yards with no touchdowns through the air, with a number of errant deep throws missing open targets. However, the Spartans would not have had a chance to win without Chiles’ electric ability to evade oncoming rushers for 57 yards and his 1-yard sneak for a touchdown.
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OL Brandon Baldwin
Jonathan Smith and his coaches are juggling the offensive line “trying to put our best five out on the field.” The decision was made during the week to move the senior Baldwin from his left tackle spot to right guard, where MSU lost both Kristian Phillips and Gavin Broscious for the season. The results were rough, with Baldwin getting beat repeatedly and looking lost in transitioning to a new position on the fly.
RB Nate Carter
For some reason, every time Carter gets a handoff, he’s being met in the backfield by an opposing defender … or two … or three. Saturday was no different, with the junior starter getting smothered for just 9 yards on nine attempts, losing 15 yards on four negative carries and being stopped for no gain once. Lynch-Adams found better traction, particularly late, in running for 38 of his 61 yards on six fourth-quarter carries. Carter is averaging 51.75 yards per game and 4.4 per carry. Lynch-Adams is up to 67.75 a contest and 5.5 an attempt, and the senior could usurp the captain for his starting role if that continues.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football winners/losers: QB Chiles, RB Carter struggle
