50 defining moments from the 2021 Michigan State football season: No. 32

Today marks 32 days until Michigan State football and will highlight the Peach Bowl for the first time in this series. Jayden Reed steps up for the Spartans.

Welcome back to the 19th edition of the series and the 32nd moment of my 50 defining moments of the 2021 Michigan State football season. Today, against the Narduzzi-led Pitt Panthers, Jayden Reed catches a touchdown against their vaunted defense.

For those of you who missed yesterday’s article, please click here. If you would like to look at previous articles of this series, feel free to scroll through my writing profile.

No. 32: Jayden Reed’s 28-yard TD reception vs. Pitt

Not to be confused with Reed’s go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, this touchdown came in the first quarter and offensive drive for the Spartans.

Why No. 32?

This play opened the scoring of the Peach Bowl and appeared as if the game would be a route for Michigan State football. After a kickoff perfectly bounced so that Pitt had to return it and started from inside their own 10, the Spartans forced a three-and-out and Jayden Reed had a good punt return that set up the Spartans from inside the Pitt 30.

After a few plays, Payton Thorne threw a perfect ball to Reed.

This play was significant as the Spartans would be playing without their star and one of the most dynamic players in college football, Kenneth Walker III. This answered the question as to who would step up in Walker’s absence.

Reed shined on this play, beating the defensive back and accelerating up the field to dive out and barely break the plane before touching the ground. I remember watching this play and being in shock, as “Reed really did that!? This game is so over!” I quickly regretted calling the game over, however.

This play was dynamic and exciting, as well as important. This throw tied Thorne with Kirk Cousins for single-season passing touchdowns in Michigan State football history.

The Peach Bowl had a lot of hype over the potential matchup of Kenny Pickett and Walker (unlike Pat Narduzzi, I like to include both headlining players). Due to very understandable opt-outs, the game would instead be a slugfest. As I said in my last Reed piece, he would have been the star of the 2021 season if K9 did not transfer to Michigan State. Reed certainly proved that on both this play and this game.

Additionally, as someone who has seen Pickett play in a bowl game (2019 Quick Lane Bowl), I do not believe Narduzzi’s claim of an easy Pitt victory. I watched the coach have to rely on a come-from-behind victory against Eastern Michigan in the final minute. This is no shade at Pickett, but the Pitt play-calling is a bit lackluster.

Anyways, I cannot rate this play higher, as this was a low-scoring affair at halftime, 14-10 in favor of Pitt. This play fits the bill for every category except the most important one, how it set up and impacted the game. This was not a tone-setter, as Pitt would respond on the next drive with their own touchdown. Michigan State would tack on a field goal later in the quarter but was then held scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Statistically, this was one of Reed’s two touchdowns on the day, helping place him into the top 10 in the Big Ten for the season in touchdowns from scrimmage. For Thorne, as mentioned earlier, this tied Cousins’ single-season mark, one that Thorne would break in the fourth quarter. This was one of three Thorne touchdown throws on the day.

Tomorrow, the Spartans’ game against Miami is again featured, but on a different side of the ball than yesterday.