Eastern Michigan has certainly had more embarrassing moments in East Lansing, though Saturday’s 35-7 loss at Michigan State didn’t end with a ton of positivity.

The offense had to wait 28 minutes before it scored its first and only touchdown of the afternoon, and was totally blanked in the second half.

Minus a late fumble and an end-of-half stop, Michigan State did everything that it wanted to do with the ball while EMU struggled to hold up against the superior Big Ten squad.

While the game wasn’t all bad, it wasn’t all good, either.

Here’s how Saturday’s action unfolded:

7-0 MSU, 6:32 | 18-YARD CATCH BY MSU WR FREDERICK MOORE, FROM QB ALESSIO MILIOJOVEIC (LIAM BOYD PAT)

Michigan State’s Chrishon McCray returned Eastern’s second punt 31 yards to the EMU 24-yard line. Three plays later, MSU found itself in the end zone.

MSU QB Alessio Miliojoveic found his receiver, Frederick Moore, open on a vertical route, and tossed it right over a couple of EMU defenders for a quick score.

14-0 MSU, 8:45 | 1-YARD RUN BY MSU RB CAM EDWARDS (BOYD PAT)

Miliojoveic might’ve had the completion with his fourth-down pickup on this drive. On 4th & 11 from EMU’s 25-yard line, he escaped Carter Evans’ pressure and found his open receiver on the right side of the field for a19-yard completion and a new set of downs. MSU running back Cam Edwards was given the ball four times in a row to finish the drive, and scored on a 1-yard run at the goal line.

14-7 MSU, 1:50 | 4-YARD RUN BY QB NOAH KIM (RUDY KESSINGER PAT)

After MSU scored to go up 14-0, EMU’s offense got into State territory thanks to some strong running by Blue (13-yarder to begin drive) and Bennett (16-yarder to get across midfield, converted on 3rd & 1 run). Kim got a first-down pickup with his feet, too.

From second and goal, Kim ran to his right and found enough green grass in front of him and ran in the score. It was his second rushing score of the year, and his first touchdown in East Lansing since 2023.

21-7 MSU, 1:50 | 2-YARD RUN BY MSU RB CAM EDWARDS (BOYD PAT)

MSU drove 75 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown on its first possession of the second half.

MSU converted on a QB sneak from midfield, and Miliojoveic came out of the game after he got hurt on the play. On a quick pass play from third down and goal, Bryce Llewellyn was penalized for defensive pass interference, and gave MSU an automatic first down from the 2.

What else was State to do but feed its running back again for his second score of the day?

28-7 MSU, 1:50 | 38-YARD CATCH BY MSU WR CHARLES TAPLIN, FROM QB MILIOJOVEIC (BOYD PAT)

Harold Mack fumbled the ball away as he was hit hard by a pair of State defenders on EMU’s first possession of the second half. Miliojoveic found his intended target wide open behind EMU’s defense and air-mailed a 38-yarder right into the end zone.

35-7 MSU, 7:48 | 7-YARD RUN BY MSU RB JAZUIN PATTERSON (BOYD PAT)

Michigan State’s rushing attack only got stronger as the game went along. Edwards followed his blocks and ran for 40 yards down the State sideline before he was finally pushed out. Two plays later, his backup, Jazuin Patterson, ran in a 7-yard score.

DEFENSE OPENS WITH THREE AND OUT

In all three games this season, EMU’s defense has stood offenses up with three-and-out punts.

Michigan State, which won the opening coin toss and opted to kick to EMU to begin the game, gained just one yard on its first offensive touch. Then a false start from its punting unit backed the team up five yards before the punt pinned EMU’s offense on its 3-yard line.

DIDN’T MISS THAT GUY

The former Kent State receiver made a big play to help MSU out on its first score of the day.

Chrishon McCray returned Daniel Hull’s second punt 31 yards deep into EMU territory, and State got into the end zone just three plays later for a 7-0 lead.

McCray caught two passes for 10 yards Saturday.

In McCray’s two previous games with Kent State against EMU, he caught 10 total passes for 258 yards and scored twice.

EMU TRIPS TO MSU’S SIDE

Braydon Bennett’s 22-yard reception on a swing play, followed by a creative shovel pass to Benson Prosper, put EMU’s offense in State territory for the first time late in the first quarter.

On third down from MSU’s 41, Mack caught a short pass and created enough space to pick up seven yards on the play. EMU opted to keep its offense on the field on fourth down, but a delay of game penalty was drawn right before the snap to move the offense back five yards.

Rudy Kessinger and his field goal unit took the field to make it look like he was going to try a 56-yard kick, but he ended up punting the ball into the end zone instead.

EMU’s second trip on MSU’s side of the 50 turned into its first offensive score of the day; EMU chewed up 78 yards in 13 plays.

EMU got to MSU’s side twice in the third quarter, and both chances ended poorly. The first drive ended with a fumble by Harold Mack (with a missed targeting call against MSU’s defense). The second ended up with a 9-yard sack against Kim from a 3rd & 15 scenario. Hull punted again, which resulted in a touchback.

FIRST SACK FOR #0

The #0 jersey got its first sack of the season.

EMU’s coaching staff assigns a different defender the number each week for recent performance reasons. Last game, Hardin’s fumble against San José’s quarterback turned into a defensive touchdown (Bryce Llewellyn recovery, score), and he got to wear #0 against Michigan State.

#0 was worn by Donmiel in the season opener, then Makhi Gilbert last week. Neither of them recorded a sack in their games with the unique number assignment, but Hardin did this week.

As MSU’s offense took the field for its final possession of the first half, the Spartans were able to cross into EMU’s side of the field before #0 dropped its quarterback for a loss.

On second down from EMU’s 38-yard line, Hardin sacked Milivojevic for a 4-yard loss, then a dropped pass on the next play put MSU’s punt team on the field for the first time.

MACK FUMBLE, NO TARGETING CALLED

Should there have been a flag on the field for an illegal hit to the head?

On EMU’s first offensive touch of the second half, Kim connected with Mack for a 20-yard gain to get across midfield, but Mack fumbled the ball away as he was hit by two MSU defenders. One got Mack by his legs; the second hit Mack in the head as he fired with his hit.

There was no penalty on the play, though it seemed like a hit that was borderline illegal. Creighton, after the game, said that the officials took a longer look at the hit and saw no reason for penalty.

CHRISTIAN FUMBLE, MARSHALL RECOVERS

To end a long drive by Michigan State, EMU’s defense stood up to Edwards, who would’ve otherwise scored his third touchdown of the game. On a handoff to him in the red zone, EMU’s defensive front met him in the backfield, and new transfer Payton Christian ripped the ball from Edwards’ grasp,p and Jason Marshall fell on the fumble for a turnover.

EMU’s defense gave up a huge explosive (46-yard catch by tight end Jaydon Savoury) on the drive that almost resulted in a score.

INJURIES

Ruled out: LB Barry Manning, DB Jaivian Norman, OL Cole Dellinger, WR Kozy Isaac

Ruled questionable, played: RB Amareon Blue, DE Hector Gonzalez

After the game, Creighton addressed Manning’s situation and noted that his senior player has no timeline to return to action this season.

EMU missed starters Barry Manning and Cole Dellinger, and Mack was a third-quarter exit against the Spartans.

Blue was listed as questionable before the game, but still recorded his third start of the year.

Gonzalez did not play until late in the fourth quarter, but it was his first time on the field this year.

INJURIES

Ruled out, of note: LCC

Ruled questionable, played: CB Caleb Coley

Ruled questionable, dressed but did not play: DE Hector Gonzalez

Tyler Brumfield, left tackle, left last week’s game but returned to the starting lineup this week, giving EMU the same starting five for the first two weeks of the year.

Manning went into the injury tent right before San Jose’s touchdown drive in the first half, and didn’t come out until the third quarter.

Dellinger also left the game with a left leg injury; Dennis Strey Jr. filled in at his right guard spot.

EMU has a second Big Ten game to play, and it’ll face Wisconsin (0-1) next week. Wisconsin lost to Notre Dame in its season opener at Lambeau Field (41-13), and plays Western Illinois tonight.