Recap: Michigan State rolls to 40-21 win over Maryland

It wasn't always pretty, but in the end, Michigan State's 40-21 victory over Maryland in East Lansing on Saturday was a commanding one. 

The Spartans still have some cleaning up to do in the defensive backfield with Ohio State waiting for them next weekend, but Michigan State's offense still has its swagger. Kenneth Walker III had 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns, Jayden Reed had 114 yards receiving with two touchdowns, and Payton Thorne threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns on 22-for-30 passing.

Final leaders

Passing

MSU - Payton Thorne: 22/30, 287 yds., 4 TD, INT

UMD - Taulia Tagovailoa: 29/48, 350 yds., 2 TD, INT

Rushing

MSU - Kenneth Walker III: 30 atts., 143 yds., 2 TD

UMD - Taulia Tagovailoa: 5 atts., 42 yds., TD

Receiving

MSU - Jayden Reed: 8 recs., 114 yds., 2 TD

UMD - Chigoziem Okonkwo: 8 recs., 112 yds., 2 TD

Second half

Michigan State closes out Maryland

Maryland takes over at the 18 and starts shuffling its way downfield.

The Terps get a new set of downs at the 31, completes a 12-yard pass, then find themselves facing a fourth-and-16. They convert with a 26-yard completion to Darryl Jones.

There's an intentional grounding penalty, a completion, and then a false start. It's fourth-and-12 for Maryland: Tagovailoa's pass falls incomplete.

Michigan State 40, Maryland 21 (3:24 4th)

Michigan State runs out the clock on the ground.

FINAL: Michigan State 40, Maryland 21

Maryland, Michigan State trade quick drives

Maryland takes over at its own 20, trailing by 19 in the fourth.

Taulia Tagovailoa comes up firing on the first play for a 22-yard gain.

After an 8-yard completion, Maryland can't make the line-to-gain. Turnover on downs on a fourth-and-1 run that goes for no gain.

Michigan State 40, Maryland 21 (8:44 4th)

Michigan State takes over at the 49, but they don't get very far. Payton Thorne is sacked, Kenneth Walker runs for a yard, and Thorne's third-down pass misses.

Michigan State 40, Maryland 21 (7:31 4th)

Michigan State goes up three scores with Walker touchdown

Michigan State takes over at the 24 with 13:59 left in the fourth quarter.

Payton Thorne moves the chains with a 28-yard completion to Jayden Reed. On the very next play, Kenneth Walker rushes for 36 yards to the Maryland 20.

Thorne takes a shot that draws a flag and sets up first-and-goal at the Maryland 8.

Walker puts Michigan State up three scores with a rushing touchdown.

The two-point conversion fails.

Michigan State 40, Maryland 21 (10:34 4th)

Bad penalties derail Maryland drive that ends with turnover on downs

Maryland takes over at the 35.

After a 5-yard completion, Taulia Tagovailoa throws incomplete, then rushes for 4 yards to bring up fourth-and-1. Colby McDonald moves the chains with a 2-yard run.

Michigan State gives Maryland a free 15 yards with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but on the very next play, the Spartans force Taulia Tagovailoa into an intentional grounding penalty.

Tagovailoa runs for 11 on second-and-25, bringing the third quarter to a close.

END 3RD: Michigan State 34, Maryland 21

Tagovailoa throws for 10 yards on third down, but misses his target on fourth-and-4 to force a turnover on downs.

Michigan State 34, Maryland 21 (14:09 4th)

Michigan State has drive ended early by third-down sack

Michigan State takes over at its own 23 after the missed field goal.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 6, then 2; Jayden Reed's third-down catch is caught, and after review, officials deem that he stretched the ball across the line-to-gain before going out of bounds. First down.

After Walker rushes twice, Payton Thorne is sacked on third down for a loss of 10.

Bryce Baringer's punt is returned to the 35.

Michigan State 34, Maryland 21 (1:49 3rd)

Maryland forces turnover, misses field goal

Michigan State takes over at its own 25, looking to keep pace with Maryland's offense.

And that doesn't happen: Tyler Hunt is stripped after hauling in the first-down pass, and it's recovered by Maryland and returned to the 26 of Michigan State.

Michigan State 34, Maryland 21 (8:08 3rd)

Rakim Jarrett gives Maryland first-and-10 at the 13 with a 14-yard reception.

Maryland picks up a first down at the 2, but quickly loses 3 yards. It's third-and-goal at the 5 after a second-down incompletion. Tagovailoa is flagged for intentional grounding on third down, which backs Maryland up to the 23-yard-line for fourth down.

Terps kicker Joseph Petrino misses the field goal as badly as one can miss a field goal.

Michigan State still leads by 13.

Michigan State 34, Maryland 21 (5:37 3rd)

Maryland scores on another quick drive

Maryland takes over at its own 36, trailing 34-21 in the third quarter.

Taulia Tagovailoa completes passes of 11, 21 and 32 yards on consecutive throws to get Maryland back in the end zone. Goodness gracious.

It's a two-score game once again.

Michigan State 34, Maryland 21 (8:33 3rd)

Michigan State extends lead to three scores

Michigan State gets it at the 36 after the interception.

A holding penalty makes it first-and-18, where Kenneth Walker rushes for 26 yards, into Maryland territory at the 24.

Then, Payton Thorne throws a dart to Tre Mosley that's good for 21. Walker rushes for the Maryland 2-yard-line for a gain of 11. It's first-and-goal.

Jayden Reed hauls in a throw over the middle for a Michigan State touchdown.

Michigan State 34, Maryland 14 (9:37 3rd)

Maryland throws red-zone interception on first drive of half

Maryland takes over at its own 32 to start the half, and they waste no time working the ball downfield.

Taulia Tagovailoa completes passes of 9, 4 and 26 yards to give Maryland first-and-10 at the 38 of Michigan State.

After a 7-yard completion, Tagovailoa goes to the end zone for a pass that draws a pass interference flag. 

On first down from the 16, Noah Harvey steps up and intercepts the pass for Michigan State, returning it to the Michigan State 36.

Michigan State 27, Maryland 14 (12:43 2nd)

First half

First half leaders

Passing

MSU - Payton Thorne: 16/22, 209 yds., 3 TD, INT

UMD - Taulia Tagovailoa: 12/23, 130 yds., TD

Rushing

MSU - Kenneth Walker III: 16 atts., 45 yds., TD

UMD - Taulia Tagovailoa: 3 atts., 52 yds.

Receiving

MSU - Jayden Reed: 5 recs., 80 yds., TD

UMD - Rakim Jarrett: 6 recs., 44 yds.

Michigan State can't get more points before half

Now it's Michigan State looking to get downfield quickly, taking over at its own 22 with 41 seconds left and two timeouts.

Payton Thorne completes passes of 12 and 14 yards before Maryland is flagged for having 12 men on the field. It's first-and-5 at the Maryland 47.

Thorne's next two passes fall incomplete, but Maryland is offsides on third down. A 5-yard penalty gives Michigan State the ball at Maryland's 42 with 6 seconds left in the half.

Thorne gets a free play by drawing Maryland offsides again, and while his throw to the end zone is intercepted, they'll have another go at it.

Thorne's next Hail Mary attempt is also intercepted. Nick Cross has just one man to beat as he approaches midfield, but unfortunately for him, that man is Thorne, and he was not going to let his Hail Mary turn into a pick 6.

That's the end of the half.

END 2ND: Michigan State 27, Maryland 14

Maryland scores quickly, cuts deficit to 27-14

Maryland takes over at its own 20 with 1:42 left in the half.

Taulia Tagovailoa completes passes of 23, 20 and 32 yards to get Maryland into the end zone with a touchdown catch by Chigoziem Okonkwo.

Michigan State 27, Maryland 14 (0:56 2nd)

Michigan State scores after forcing 3-and-out

Maryland takes over at its own 25, trailing by 13.

A completion for no gain and two incompletions will force a quick punt.

Michigan State 20, Maryland 7 (7:26 2nd)

Michigan State takes over at its own 32.

The Spartans pick up a first down with a 2-yard run by Kenneth Walker on third-and-1, then convert on third-and-3 in the next set of downs with a 17-yard throw to Walker in the flat. It's first-and-10 at the Maryland 33.

Jayden Reed makes a phenomenal catch on the next play to give Michigan State first-and-10 at the Maryland 12, where Connor Heyward hauls in a 7-yard pass to bring up second-and-goal from the 5.

Walker loses 6 yards, but a pass interference call on Maryland sets up first-and-goal at the 2.

Timeout #1 Michigan State (1:47 2nd)

Walker scores a touchdown on the next play.

Michigan State 27, Maryland 7 (1:42 2nd)

Michigan State regains two-score lead in second quarter

Jayden Reed returns the kickoff to the Michigan State 42, bringing the first quarter to a close.

END 1ST: Michigan State 13, Maryland 7

A 9-yard run by Jordon Simmons and holding penalty on Maryland gives Michigan State a first down at the Maryland 40.

Simmons gains 8, then loses 4, as Payton Thorne moves the chains with a 9-yard completion to to the 27.

Thorne rushes for 12, and then Simmons gets 7 more. After an incompletion, Kenneth Walker rushes for 2 to set up fourth-and-1 at the 5-yard-line. Thorne sneaks it to move the chains and set up first-and-goal inside the 3.

Thorne finds Connor Heyward in the flat on third down for a Michigan State touchdown.

Michigan State 20, Maryland 7 (8:11 2nd)

Maryland gets on board, cuts Michigan State lead to 13-7

Maryland takes over at its own 24.

A 1-yard run and second-down incompletion brings up third-and-9, where Taulia Tagovailoa completes a big throw down the sideline to move the sticks.

But the play will be reviewed. Stay tuned.

And the play stands, a 19-yard gain that brings up first-and-10 at the 44 of Maryland.

Moments later on third-and-3, Tagovailoa takes off down the sideline for a 45-yard run that sets up first-and-goal at the 4, where Maryland scores from on the very next play on a 4-yard run from Peny Boone.

Michigan State 13, Maryland 7 (0:03 1st)

Michigan State gets pinned deep, punts quickly

Michigan State takes over at its own 9 after the Maryland punt.

Kenneth Walker is stuffed for no gain, and Payton Thorne's next two passes only go for only a few yards.

Bryce Baringer's punt is returned to the 24 of Maryland.

Michigan State 13, Maryland 0 (1:47 1st)

Maryland moves ball to midfield, punts

Maryland takes over at the 25, trailing 13-0 in the first quarter.

Taulia Tagovailoa throws complete to Rakim Jarrett for a gain of 11, then picks up a first down a couple plays later with a 6-yard completion to Darryl Jones, setting up first-and-10 at the 50.

Two straight incompletions bring up third-and-10, which is not converted.

Maryland's punt is fair caught by Jayden Reed at the 9.

Michigan State 13, Maryland 0 (3:54 1st)

Thorne-Reed connection gives Michigan State 13-0 lead

Michigan State takes over at its own 14, and after two quick completions, it's first-and-10 at the Michigan State 47.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 21, then 3, as Payton Thorne goes over the top to Jayden Reed on the next play for a Michigan State touchdown.

The PAT is missed.

Michigan State 13, Maryland 0 (6:51 1st)

Maryland punts from MSU territory

Maryland takes over at its own 14.

Peny Boone rushes for 8, then 28, to set up first-and-10 at the 50.

Runs of 7 and 3 yards give Maryland another first down at the Michigan State 40.

Taulia Tagovailoa throws three straight incompletions to end the drive.

Jayden Reed fields the punt with a fair catch at the Michigan State 14.

Michigan State 7, Maryland 0 (8:50 1st)

Michigan State matches 3-and-out

Michigan State takes over at the 16.

Kenneth Walker III loses 3, gains 4, and Payton Thorne throws incomplete on third down to end the drive after just three plays.

Bryce Baringer's punt goes out of bounds at the 14.

Michigan State 7, Maryland 0 (10:42 1st)

Maryland goes 3-and-out on first series

Maryland takes over at its own 25.

Pass interference on Michigan State gives Maryland first-and-10 at its own 32.

After a short run and incompletion, a 2-yard pass on third down won't do the trick.

The punt is fair caught by Jayden Reed at the Michigan State 16.

Michigan State 7, Maryland 0 (12:06 1st)

Flea flicker gives Michigan State early lead

Michigan State takes over at its own 18 to start the game.

After a face-mask penalty gives Michigan State first-and-10 at the Michigan State 48, they go to the tried-and-true flea flicker for a 52-yard touchdown pass to Montorie Foster. What a start by the Spartans.

Michigan State 7, Maryland 0 (13:43 1st)

Maryland at No. 8 Michigan State

►Kickoff: 4 p.m., Saturday, Spartan Stadium, East Lansing

►TV/radio: Fox/760

►Records: Maryland 5-4, 2-4 Big Ten; Michigan State 8-1, 5-1

►Line: Spartans by 13

►Series: Michigan State leads 9-2