Recap: MSU downs Western Michigan, 35-13, behind Payton Thorne's four TDs

Michigan State didn't play their best game. They had two turnovers and several key mistakes, but their talent bailed them out in the end against Western Michigan as they beat them, 35-13.

Don't let that final score fool you. Western Michigan played a good game. They stayed in it into the fourth quarter when they were down 21-13, dominating time of possession. They had the ball with the chance to tie, but went three-and-out. MSU's offense got its act together from there.

Payton Thorne threw four touchdown passes, but looked a little rusty all night. He was missing throws that he usually makes. He even made a poor decision on an interception.

MSU's defense had seven sacks on the night, including four from UNLV transfer Jacoby Windmon. Their secondary, though, was still pretty leaky. They still had trouble getting off the field on third down because of it.

MSU played sloppy, but Western Michigan played sloppier. They fumbled twice deep in MSU territory and had some untimely penalties. In the end, that was the difference.

RECAP

-Final: Michigan State 35, Western Michigan 13. 

-4Q 2:33 Windmon with his fourth sack of the night. Seven sacks total for MSU's defense. WMU punts.

-4Q 4:07 On the first play, MSU plants the dagger. Thorne finds Tre Mosely wide open over the middle. Four touchdown passes for Thorne. MSU up 35-13

-4Q 4:13 It's now a three-sack night for UNLV-transfer Jacoby Windmon. WMU goes for it an fourth down and can't convert. Turnover on downs, MSU takes over at the WMU 43.

-4Q 6:28 4th and goal for MSU. Berger punches it in. Much-needed TD there. MSU up 28-13.

-4Q 8:53 Berger takes off for 50 yards. First and goal for MSU.

-4Q 9:36 Looked like a broken play for MSU. Thorne threw up a prayer to Coleman and he hauled it in for 34 yards.

-4Q 10:16 Not sure what Jeff Thorne was thinking with the run on third and five. Western punts as a result. MSU is in desperate need of a long scoring drive.

-4Q 12:02 MSU's defense continues to struggle getting off the field on third down. It was a major issue last year. WMU ball near midfield.

-4Q 14:47 Berger just dropped a screen pass. Nothing going right for MSU right now. They will punt and Western has a chance to tie.

-End of third quarter. MSU leads 21-13. MSU can't get much going on offense and WMU is keeping the pressure on.

-3Q 0:49 Jacoby Windmon with his second sack of the night for MSU forces 42-yard WMU field goal, which goes right down the middle. MSU lead down to 21-13.

-3Q 3:00 WMU TD called back due to ineligible receiver downfield.

-3Q MSU's defense is dropping like flies. Darius Snow and Xavier Henderson are already out, now Dunn just went down. First down WMU at the Michigan State 15 after the timeout.

-3Q 4:00 MSU secondary getting shredded. This was a huge problem last year. Western is driving.

-3Q 5:29 Coleman has it go right through his hands. Would have been first and goal. Jack Stone missed the field goal for MSU. Kicker might be an issue for them this season.

-3Q 7:13 Thorne back in.

-3Q 7:39 Thorne takes a shot, flag on WMU's Dashon Bussell. He comes out of the game. Noah Kim in at QB

-Injury update to MSU safety Xavier Henderson: https://twitter.com/mattcharboneau/status/1565871604915048449

-3Q 8:20 Touchdown Western Michigan. Sean Tyler 4-yard run. It's now 21-10.

-3Q 8:50 45-yard run by Sean Tyler. First and goal for Western Michigan. 

-3Q 9:55 Western goes for it on fourth down and converts. Sean Tyler picks it up on a three-yard run.

-3Q 12:03 Play confirmed as a fumble. WMU ball on their own 41. Second turnover for MSU.

-3Q 12:03 Refs didn't blow whistle and Berger fumbled the ball on top of a pile. Recovered by Western Michigan. Play under review.

-3Q 12:15 WMU picks off the pass, but the CB Ware interfered. First down for MSU at the WMU 46.

-3Q 13:28 WMU to punt after one first down. Salopek can't find his receiver down the sideline.

-3Q 14:54 Second half underway. WMU ball at WMU 17.

-Some WMU first half stats: QB Jack Salopek: 8-14, 74 yards, 5 rushes, 55 yards. RB Sean Tyler: 7 rushes, 14 yards. WR Corey Crooms: 2 rec, 17 yards.

 -Some MSU first half stats: QB Payton Thorne: 9-17, 3TDs, 1 INT. RB Jalen Berger: 7 rushes, 51 yards. WR Keon Coleman: 2 rec, 48 yards, TD. WR Germie Bernard 1 rec, 44 yards, TD.

-Halftime. Michigan State leads Western Michigan 21-3, though it could have been more. They couldn't take advantage of two WMU turnovers. WMU will get the ball to start the second half.

-2Q 0:44 Bad decision by Thorne. He should have just ran for the first down, but instead he throws late over the middle and it's picked off. WMU ball at the MSU 10.

-2Q 1:10 Michigan State calls a timeout, their second. They are on the WMU 29 after a big play from Thorne to Reed. Did you know they've played together since middle school?

-2Q 2:17 WMU into MSU territory, but RB Sean Tyler fumbles and MSU recovers. Second fumble for Western in as many drives.

-2Q 3:54 Western converts on fourth down.

-2Q 4:13 Salopek overthrows his target deep down the sideline on third down. Western may be going for it on 4th and 3. MSU calls a timeout. 

-2Q 5:45 Thorne overthrows Coleman on a third down slant. Those two are still not quite on the same page. MSU to punt.

-2Q 7:41 Salopek fumbles, recovered by MSU's Chester Kimbrough. Jacoby Windmon forced it out. Ends long drive for WMU.

-2Q 10:55 Big run for Western Michigan QB Jack Salopek. 61 yards. MSU had no QB spy on it appeared. WMU in business.

-2Q 12:20 Timeout WMU. 30-second TO.

-2Q 12:26 Touchdown MSU. Thorne 41-yard TD to Keon Coleman. Beautiful pass. Thorne really starting feel it. 21-3 MSU.

-2Q 14:47 MSU's defense starting to get going as well. DE Khris Bogle with a sack and TFL. Western to punt.

-2Q 14:55 Thorne finds RB Daniel Barker for the 13-yard TD. MSU now leads 14-3, with the offense starting to get into a rhytym. 

-End first quarter. Michigan State leads Western Michigan 7-3, but the Spartans are driving. 

-1Q 2:36 WMU can't overcome nine-yard loss on first down. Aaron Brule with the sack on third down for MSU. WMU to punt.

-1Q 4:37 Touchdown MSU. Payton Thorne to Germie Bernard who takes it 44 yards to the house. 7-3 MSU

-1Q 6:09 MSU has its first first down on a run by Jalen Berger.

-1Q 6:31 WMU strikes first with a chip shot field goal. They lead 3-0 over halfway through the first quarter.

-1Q 6:38 Timeout WMU. Big third down and five coming up from the MSU 10.

-1Q 8:34 MSU CB Ameer Speed called for personal foul. Late hit out of bounds.

-1Q 9:00 Western has a drive going. They are down to the MSU 31

-1Q 11:00 First first down of the game belongs to Western Michigan

-1Q 11:28 MSU punt, out of bounds at WMU 24. First down Western Michigan. 

-1Q 11:34 Payton Thorne had Reed open downfield but he overthrew him. Another three-and-out for Michigan State.

-1Q 12:19 WMU punt, Jayden Reed fair catch at WMU 46. First down Michigan State.

-1Q 13:29 MSU punt, downed at WMU 3. First down Western Michigan.

-1Q 14:54 MSU drive starts at 25-yard line.

-Western Michigan wins the toss and defers. Michigan State gets the ball first.

Pregame

Michigan State kicks off Year 3 of the Mel Tucker era against Western Michigan in a season opener that isn’t short on story lines.

The matchup will pit father against son, with Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne facing Broncos first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Thorne. It will also pit a pair of players — MSU senior receiver Jayden Reed and WMU senior running back La’Darius Jefferson — against their former teams where they started their college careers.

For the Spartans, the contest will provide the first look at an offensive unit that lost star running back Kenneth Walker III, who won the Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards last season. They will do so against a Broncos defense that’s no pushover and ranked in the top 20 in the nation in total defense (329.5 yards) and pass defense (186.4 yards) in 2021.

If recent history suggests anything, it’s that Western Michigan is more than capable of putting up a fight, with three of the past four meetings between the teams being decided by 14 points or fewer.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Matthew Scheidel.

Western Michigan at Michigan State

► Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Spartan Stadium, East Lansing

► TV/radio: ESPN2/WJR 760

► Records: Season opener for both teams

► Series: Michigan State leads, 14-2

► Line: Spartans by 22½