EAST LANSING, Mich. – Payton Thorne threw for four touchdowns, including two long strikes to Jayden Reed, and ran for another score as Michigan State rolled to a 42-14 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday.
Thorne connected with Reed on Michigan State’s first play from scrimmage, the second straight game in which the Spartans scored from 75-yards out on its opening play.
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They also combined on an 85-yard score during the second quarter. Thorne completed 15-of-21 passes for 280 yards.
Reed caught four passes for 181 yards, while Jordon Simmons rushed for 140 yards on 19 carries for the Spartans (2-0), who led 35-7 at halftime.
Demeatric Crenshaw rushed for 69 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown for the Penguins (1-1).
Kenneth Walker III scored on a 75-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in the Spartans’ season-opening victory at Northwestern. This time, he took a handoff and pitched it back to Thorne on a flea flicker. Reed caught the ball at the Penguins’ 37 and raced into the end zone on the 75-yard score.
Thorne scored on a 10-yard run midway through the first quarter.
Thorne’s 85-yard pass to Reed with 13:59 left in the first half gave the Spartans a 21-0 advantage. Thorne’s 20-yard pass to Elijah Collins and Walker’s 6-yard run accounted for Michigan State’s other first-half scores.
Thorne found Jalen Nailor on a 16-yard scoring pass in the third.
THE TAKEAWAY
Facing an overmatched opponent, the Spartans lightened Walker’s workload. The Wake Forest transfer erupted for 264 yards on 23 carries and four touchdowns in his Michigan State debut last weekend. Walker carried just seven times, including four during the Spartans’ final first-half drive, and gained 57 yards.
UP NEXT
Youngstown State: The Penguins have a week off, then host Western Illinois on Sept. 25. The Leathernecks recorded their lone victory of the spring season against Youngstown State, 27-24.
Michigan State: The Spartans play another non-conference game on Saturday at Miami, Florida. Michigan State is 0-4 all-time against the Hurricanes but haven’t played them since 1989.