Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams scored on a 63-yard run and Michigan State gave new head coach Jonathan Smith a victory in his debut as the Spartans topped Florida Atlantic, 16-10, in East Lansing, Mich., on Friday night.
Lynch-Adams finished with 101 yards on nine carries. Aidan Chiles, who followed Smith from Oregon State, was held to 114 passing yards and threw two interceptions. Chiles had a rushing touchdown, and the Spartans defense notched two turnovers and seven sacks.
Owls quarterback Cam Fancher passed for 116 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions. He led FAU in rushing with 67 yards on 25 carries.
The Spartans led 16-3 at halftime.
They scored their first points of the season on a safety in the first quarter. Fancher was sacked in the end zone by D’Quan Douse.
Nikai Martinez’s 41-yard interception set up the Spartans’ first touchdown in the second quarter. Chiles scored three plays later on an 11-yard run.
After a three-and-out series from the Owls, Michigan State made it 16-0 on Lynch-Adams’ 63-yard scamper. The Massachusetts transfer took advantage of a big hole up the middle and outraced the defense.
Florida Atlantic got on the board when Morgan Suarez made a 43-yard field goal.
The Spartans were on the verge of scoring with three minutes left in the third quarter. They drove to the Owls’ 5-yard line but Chiles’ pass was picked off by Phillip Dunnam. He returned the interception 58 yards to the Michigan State 40
The Owls cashed in seven plays later on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fancher to Jayshon Platt with seven seconds remaining in the quarter.
Michigan State drove inside the Florida Atlantic 10 on its next possession. This time, the Spartans turned the ball over on downs as Lynch-Adams was thrown for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1.
Florida Atlantic also turned it over on downs after driving to the Spartans’ 37. Anthony Jones sacked Fancher on fourth down.
After the Spartans were forced to punt, Fancher came up short on a fourth-and-1.
Fancher was sacked twice on the Owls’ final possession.
