The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Washington Uses Late Touchdown, Final-Drive Stop to Beat Michigan State 21-14
By Sadie Calloway
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Washington scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:24 remaining and stopped Michigan State’s final possession in the closing minute to secure a 21-14 victory at Spartan Stadium. Jayden Limar’s 1-yard run capped an eight-play drive, breaking a tie that had held since the second quarter and making the Huskies bowl-eligible.
Washington improved to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten. Michigan State dropped to 3-7 and 1-6, extending its run without a bowl appearance to five consecutive seasons.
The game began after a disrupted travel schedule for Washington. A nationwide flight ground stop on Friday delayed the team’s departure by 6.5 hours, and the Huskies arrived in the East Lansing area at 3 a.m. Kickoff was delayed 75 minutes.
Michigan State opened the scoring with Carson Gulker’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Washington answered when Demond Williams Jr. connected with Chris Lawson for a 58-yard touchdown, tying the score at 7-7.
The Huskies took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter on another Williams-to-Lawson connection, this one covering 17 yards. Lawson finished with five receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for both of Washington’s receiving scores.
Michigan State responded before the half. Bryson Williams caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Cam Fancher to even the score at 14-14. Bryson Williams finished with four catches for 63 yards.
The Spartans had to adjust at quarterback after starter Alessio Milivojevic left in the second quarter with a left hand/arm injury. Milivojevic completed 7 of 12 passes for 108 yards. Fancher took over and finished 11-of-19 for 116 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. The 14-14 deadlock continued into the fourth until Williams directed Washington’s winning possession. Williams completed 22 of 33 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Limar, who had 10 carries for 29 yards and four catches for 24 yards, finished the drive with the 1-yard score. Tyler Robles made the extra point for a 21-14 Washington lead.
Michigan State still had an opportunity to answer. The Spartans converted two fourth downs on their final drive, but Fancher’s completion to Gulker was punched out by Xe’ree Alexander in the final minute. Russell Davis II recovered the ball, ending the possession and preserving Washington’s lead.
The teams finished with comparable yardage: Washington totaled 335 yards, while Michigan State had 324. Brandon Tullis led the Spartans’ ground production with 22 carries for 79 yards.
Washington’s late scoring drive and final defensive stop turned a game that had been level since the second quarter into the Huskies’ sixth win and secured their place in the postseason.
Sadie Calloway
College Football, The Library Media
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