Recap: Nailor has career day as Michigan State beats Rutgers 31-13

Jalen Nailor and the Michigan State Spartans refused to score from their opponents' territory on Saturday, as the Spartan receiver hauled in two 63-yard touchdown passes and one 65-yard touchdown pass to cruise past Rutgers in Piscataway, 31-13.

Running back Kenneth Walker III also broke a 94-yard touchdown run in the second half, as Michigan State racked up 588 yards of total offense to run away with the victory.

Final leaders

Passing

MSU - Payton Thorne: 16/27, 339 yds., 3 TD

RU - Noah Vedral: 16/31, 208 yds.

Rushing

MSU - Kenneth Walker III: 29 atts., 234 yds., TD

RU - Isaih Pacheco: 11 atts., 48 yds.

Receiving

MSU - Jalen Nailor: 5 recs., 221 yds., 3 TD

RU - Shameen Jones: 8 recs., 109 yds.

Second half

Michigan State stops Rutgers' last gasp

Rutgers gets the ball into Michigan State territory, working it down to the 40, but eventually turn it over on downs.

FINAL: Michigan State 31, Rutgers 13 

Michigan State adds field goal in late stages

Michigan State takes over at its own 8, leading 28-13 in the fourth with 8:27 to go.

A first-down pass to Jayden Reed is caught for a gain of 13. Kenneth Walker rushes for 2 yards on the next play, then takes off for a 28-yard gain to bring his total on the day to 224. He comes up limping and hops onto the trainer's table. 

Payton Thorne misses on first down, then hands to Jordon Simmons for a pickup of 4. Thorne throws an interception on the next play. It's being reviewed, as it looks like the ball might have hit the ground.

It's an interception after review.

Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13 (5:47 4th)

So, Rutgers will have it at the 44. Noah Vedral is sacked for a loss of 8, then throws incomplete.

Vedral is hit as he throws, the ball goes backwards, and it's picked up by Michigan State's Jacob Slade, who runs it back to Rutgers territory at the 41.

Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13 (3:59 4th)

Michigan State has it at the 41. 

Jordon Simmons rushes for 2. Payton Thorne throws complete for a gain of 13 to the Rutgers 26. 

Walker rushes for a yard and Thorne misses to Jayden Reed to bring up third-and-9.

Timeout #1 Michigan State (2:16 4th)

Walker rushes for 7 yards.

Timeout #3 Rutgers (2:07 4th)

Matt Coghlin's 35-yard field goal try is good. 

Michigan State 31, Rutgers 13 (2:04 4th)

Rutgers comes up empty in red zone

Rutgers takes over at its own 19, trailing 28-13. It is yet to pick up a first down in this half.

Noah Vedral hits Shameen Jones for a gain of 5 yards, and that'll bring the third quarter to a close.

END 3RD: Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13

Vedral goes to Jones near the sideline on the next play, and Rutgers has a first down for the first time this half. It's first-and-10 at the Rutgers 36.

Vedral hits Jones again on the next play, and that'll be an 8-yard pickup to the 44. Aaron Young rushes for a yard, then picks up 3 to move the chains.

Brandon Sanders rushes for 8 yards, into Michigan State territory at the 44. After a second-down incompletion, Kyle Monangai gets 5 yards for another first down.

Monangai gets 9, then 3, as Rutgers will have it first-and-10 at the Michigan State 27.

Vedral gets the ball to Jovani Haskins for a gain of 14, and Rutgers is in business. It'll be first-and-10 at the 11 of Michigan State.

Isaih Pacheco rushes for 2, then 5, to bring up third-and-5. Vedral is stuffed at the line on third down, fumbles, and it's recovered by Rutgers. It'll go for it on fourth-and-7, and it's a failure. The pass is broken up in the end zone. Turnover on downs.

Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13 (8:27 4th)

Michigan State stuffed, continues to take pre-snap penalties

After a penalty on the punt return, Michigan State takes over at its own 3. 

Kenneth Walker rushes for 3 yards on first down, 4 on second down. Connor Heyward catches a pass in the flat on third down and picks up 9 yards to move the chains.

Walker runs for 9, then 2, to bring up first-and-10 at the Michigan State 30.

Payton Thorne takes off, and this one is a 9-yard gain that brings up second-and-1.

Timeout #2 Rutgers (1:51 3rd)

Harold Joiner is stuffed for no gain on second down, as is Walker on third down. Michigan State takes another delay of game, and that'll back it up a bit.

Bryce Baringer's punt is downed at the Rutgers 19.

Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13 (0:03 3rd)

Rutgers struggling to move ball in third quarter

Rutgers takes over at its own 36 after a nice return by Jessie Parsons.

A holding penalty backs Rutgers up to first-and-20. Isaih Pacheco rushes for 3, and an incompletion brings up third-and-16. Rutgers doesn't get enough to move the chains, and goes 3-and-out again.

Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13 (5:09 3rd)

Walker adds 95-yard touchdown to Michigan State's impressive day on offense

Michigan State takes over at its own 5. It's been unable to move the ball so far this half.

Kenneth Walker puts a stop to that, though. He breaks free for a 95-yard touchdown run to give the Spartans a two-score lead. This team absolutely refuses to score from its opponent's territory.

Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13 (7:13 3rd)

Rutgers goes 3-and-out again

Rutgers is trying to get something going in the third quarter. The Scarlet Knights trail 21-13 and will take over at its own 40.

Noah Vedral misses on first down, and is popped after a gain of 2 on second down. Ronald Williams breaks up the third-down throw to force Rutgers off the field again.

Adam Korsak's punt is down at the 5.

Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13 (7:29 3rd)

Michigan State can't get offense going in third quarter

Michigan State takes over at its own 11.

Kenneth Walker is dropped for a loss of 2 on first down, and a second-down incompletion brings up third-and-12. The Spartans take multiple penalties on third down and will punt.

Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13 (8:24 3rd)

Rutgers barely misses touchdown, goes 3-and-out

Rutgers takes over at its own 45, trailing 21-13 in the third.

Aron Cruickshank is dropped for a 2-yard loss on first down. He's wide open down the sideline on the next play, but Noah Vedral misses him by a fingertip. It's third-and-12.

Timeout #1 Rutgers (10:00 3rd)

Vedral completes to Brandon Sanders on third down, but only for a gain of 10.

Adam Korsak's punt is fair caught at the 10.

Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13 (8:58 3rd)

Michigan State can't get out of its own way on first series of half

Michigan State takes over at its own 17, leading 21-13, with 12:06 left in the third quarter.

Payton Thorne's first-down throw to Tre Mosley loses 2 yards, and he misses the target on second down. It's a third-and-12 turned third-and-17 after a false start. Jayden Reed can only pick up 8.

Michigan State then takes a delay of game, then takes a false start. The Spartans' punctuality is lacking, to say the least.

Bryce Baringer's punt goes out of bounds at the Rutgers 45.

Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13 (10:37 3rd)

Michigan State forces quick Rutgers punt to open second half

Rutgers takes over at its own 16 to start the second half, trailing 21-13.

Isaih Pacheco rushes for 3 yards on first down. A holding penalty on the next play makes it second-and-17, and a holding penalty on the play that follows it will bring up second-and-16. 

Noah Vedral picks up 13 yards to make third down a manageable third-and-2. Vedral is dropped for a loss of 2.

Adam Korsak's punt goes out of bounds at the Michigan State 17.

Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13 (12:06 3rd)

First half

First half leaders

Passing

MSU - Payton Thorne: 11/15, 295 yds., 3 TD

RU - Noah Vedral: 8/16, 105 yds.

Rushing

MSU - Kenneth Walker: 17 atts., 87 yds.

RU - Noah Vedral: 8 atts., 43 yds.

Receiving

MSU - Jalen Nailor: 4 recs., 208 yds., 3 TD

RU - Aron Cruickshank: 3 recs., 38 yds., TD

Michigan State has nightmare sequence to end first half, still leads 21-13

Michigan State takes over at its own 27, leading 21-13 with 4:59 to go.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 3, then 10, to set up first-and-10 at the Michigan State 40.

Connor Heyward gets his first touch of the game and goes for 6, as another 9-yard pickup from Walker moves the chains into Rutgers territory.

Walker goes for 13 more, setting up first-and-10 at the Rutgers 32.

There he's finally stopped for a loss of 4. He gets 5 back on second down to bring up third-and-9: Thorne scrambles, finds Tre Mosley, and the two connect for a 19-yard gain to the Rutgers 12, where he gets out of bounds with 1:01 left in the half.

Walker picks up 2 on first down.

Timeout #2 Michigan State (0:54 2nd)

Walker bounces the next carry outside for a Michigan State touchdown, but it's called back for holding. It's now second-and-18 at the 20. Heyward is brought down after a gain of 5.

Michigan State doesn't use their timeout, lets the clock roll down, and snaps it with about 10 seconds left. The play looks way too long to develop, and Thorne's throw lands out of bounds as time expires.

Mel Tucker contends that there was a second left on the clock, and it's now being reviewed.

After review, there was 1 second left on the clock when the ball hit the ground. Lucky break for the Spartans.

Timeout #1 Rutgers (0:01 2nd)

Timeout #2 Rutgers (0:01 2nd

Shiano doesn't use this third timeout though it looks like he might, and Rutgers blocks the field goal try. What a sequence.

END 2ND: Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13

Rutgers punts quickly after Michigan State breaks game open

Rutgers takes over at the 25 after the Michigan State touchdown.

Noah Vedral misses on first down, completes a 5-yard pass on second down, can't connect on third down. The Scarlet Knights will punt.

Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13 (3:31 2nd)

Michigan State uses big play again to take 21-13 

After Rutgers kicks the ball out of bounds on the kickoff, Michigan State takes over at the 35, leading 14-13 with 6:21 to go in the half.

The flea flicker returns! Payton Thorne goes over the top to Jalen Nailor for another massive touchdown, this one for 65 yards, and that'll give Nailor 208 yards receiving on four catches for three scores. This is just a preposterous display from this two young fellas. 

Michigan State 21, Rutgers 13 (6:10 2nd)

Michigan State fumbles as Rutgers draws within a point

Michigan State takes over at its own 9, leading 14-10 with 8:33 to go in the second.

Harold Joiner rushes for 12 yards, then 2 yards. Payton Thorne tries another deep shot for Jalen Nailor, but this one can't connect.

The next snap by Michigan State is fumbled, and recovered by Rutgers at the 13 of Michigan State.

Michigan State 14, Rutgers 10 (6:26 2nd)

After a 2-yard run by Isaih Pacheco, Noah Vedral rushes for a yard and then throws incomplete to the end zone. The Scarlet Knights will take the field goal.

Michigan State 14, Rutgers 13 (6:21 2nd)

Michigan State defense forces quick punt

Rutgers takes over at the 25.

Isaih Pacheco rushes for 8 yards, and Noah Vedral comes up firing to Aron Cruickshank for a gain of 15 on the next play.

Vedral misses on his next two throws, then picks up a couple with his feet on third down to end the drive. Adam Korsak's punt is fair caught at the 9.

Michigan State 14, Rutgers 10 (8:33 2nd)

Nailor does it again, gives Michigan State 14-10 lead

Michigan State takes over at the 13, trailing 10-7.

Jayden Reed takes the first-down carry for 4. Kenneth Walker moves the chains with a 15-yard pickup on second down.

Thorne goes deep to Tre Mosley down the sideline, and while a flag is initially thrown, it's picked up. Reed hauls in a 5-yard completion to bring up third-and-5.

Thorne goes over the top to Nailor, who somehow avoids going out of bounds, reverses field, and lets Rutgers chase him all the way to the end zone for another touchdown.

Michigan State 14, Rutgers 10 (10:18 2nd)

Rutgers regains lead with field goal

Rutgers takes over at the 20 after the touchback. Game is tied at 7 with 0:44 left in the opening frame.

Noah Vedral fakes a handoff, fakes a pitch, and hits Jovani Haskins for a pickup of 25 to the Rutgers 45.

Aaron Young rushes for 4 yards on the next play, bringing the first quarter to a close.

END 1ST: Michigan State 7, Rutgers 7 

An offensive holding penalty on Rutgers will make it second-and-7; Matt Alaimo catches a 9-yard pass. Michigan State's Jacub Panasiuk is flagged for a late hit on the next play, and it's a really bad call. Then Michigan State is flagged for roughing the passer, and it's a good call, but it'll make it first-and-10 at the 21.

Aaron Young rushes for 8 and 3 yards to move the chains.

Vedral throws it out of bounds on first-and-goal at the 7. Kyle Monangai rushes for a loss of 1. The third-down pass is batted down, and that'll force a field goal.

It's good from 26, and Rutgers regains the lead.

Rutgers 10, Michigan State 7 (12:10 2nd)

Michigan State punts from Rutgers territory 

Michigan State takes over at the 17 in a 7-7 game with 2:45 to go in the first.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 3 yards on first down. Payton Thorne hits Tre Mosley on second down for a huge gain of 41 yards that'll give the Spartans first-and-10 at the Rutgers 39.

Thorne hits Tre Mosley for a gain of 4, and Walker picks up 2 yards on his next carry. Thorne's next pass is batted into the air and goes right to Jalen Nailor, but he drops it. 

Michigan State takes a delay of game before fourth down, and they'll punt.

Baringer's punt bounces into the end zone.

Michigan State 7, Rutgers 7 (0:51 1st)

Rutgers can't convert another third-and-long

Rutgers opens at the 27 after a return by Aron Cruickshank.

Isaih Pacheco rushes for 3 yards on first down; Matt Alaimo comes up with a 13-yard reception on second down to move the sticks.

A holding penalty makes it first-and-20, and Johnny Langan, in at quarterback, is sacked, then fires complete for 6. Noah Vedral's 8-yard run isn't enough for a first down.

Adam Korsak's punt is returned 1 yard to the 17.

Michigan State 7, Rutgers 7 (2:22 1st)

Michigan State answers quickly

Michigan State takes over at the 25.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 12 yards on first down.

Payton Thorne throws a bomb to Jalen Nailor on the next play, and nobody is gonna catch him. He's gone for a 63-yard touchdown pass. What an answer by the Spartans.

Michigan State 7, Rutgers 7 (6:05 1st)

Rutgers survives early third down to take 7-0 lead

It's Rutgers ball at the 28 after the fake field goal.

Isaih Pacheco rushes for a yard on first down. Simeon Barrow sacks Noah Vedral on second down for a loss of 9, and on third down, Vedral throws a strike to Aron Cruickshank for 19 yards to get exactly enough yardage needed.

Pacheco carries for 2 on first down, and Vedral takes off for a pickup of 9 to the 50-yard-line, where Rutgers will have a new set of downs.

Rutgers stays on the move: Vedral throws to Jovani Haskins for an 11-yard gain, then after a 2-yard run by Vedral, he takes off again for a 33-yard run to the Michigan State 4. That'll force Michigan State to regroup.

Timeout #1 Michigan State (6:57 1st)

Cruickshank gets it on the next play and scurries into the end zone for a Rutgers touchdown.

Rutgers 7, Michigan State 0 (6:51 1st)

Michigan State has empty opening drive after fake field goal

Michigan State takes over at the 25 after a touchback. 

Kenneth Walker busts it outside on first down for a 14-yard gain on first down, and the Spartans are off and running.

Walker is wrapped up for a loss of 3 on the next play. Payton Thorne delivers a strike to Jalen Nailor on second down for a pickup of 17 to the Rutgers 47, first down.

After a 5-yard pickup from Walker, Thorne goes back to him in the passing game for a 13-yard pickup to the 29. An offsides penalty sets up first-and-5.

Walker is stuffed for no gain, then gets to to make it third-and-3. Walker's attempt to get to the outside is halted by a diving Rutgers defender for a loss of 3.

Michigan State runs a fake field goal, and it does not go well. Bryce Baringer is chased down by the Rutgers defense to force a turnover on downs.

Michigan State 0, Rutgers 0 (10:55 1st)

Pregame

The Spartans could be looking to redeem themselves, after fumbling and bumbling their way through seven turnovers in a 38-27 loss to Rutgers in last season's opener, the start of a 2-5 effort in Mel Tucker's first campaign as Michigan State's head football coach.

While Tucker has the Spartans rolling, the Scarlet Knights are 3-2, but off to an 0-2 start in Big Ten play. Rutgers gave Michigan all it wanted in a 20-13 loss in Ann Arbor, before it was throttled last week by Ohio State, 52-13.

Michigan State at Rutgers

► Kickoff: Noon Saturday, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

► TV/radio: Big Ten/760

► Line: Michigan State by 4

► Records: No. 11 Michigan State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), Rutgers (3-2, 0-2)

► Series: Michigan State leads 8-4 (Last time — October 24, 2020: Rutgers 38, (at) Michigan State 27)