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Michigan State football: 3 takeaways from disappointing loss to Washington

By Emmett Matasovsky

Sep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) escapes a potential safety sack by Washington Huskies linebacker Dominique Hampton (7) during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) escapes a potential safety sack by Washington Huskies linebacker Dominique Hampton (7) during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) catches a touchdown pass against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) catches a touchdown pass against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Keon Coleman is the next Spartan great at wideout

If I had written about this game at the half, there would not be much positive to say. Keon Coleman was flashing his potential, but in the second half, he exploded.

With Jayden Reed out with injury, Coleman was receiving target after target.

Headed into this game, Thorne was completing around 30 percent of his attempts to Coleman. This narrative changed on Saturday. Coleman was the go-to guy and provided the spark to try to bring the Spartans back into this game.

Coleman finished with two touchdowns on nine catches, totaling 116 yards. Additionally, he caught both successful two-point conversions, including an acrobatic diving catch on a deflected ball that was presumably not even meant for him. He also had a touchdown whistled back on offensive pass interference. This play should have been a touchdown if he was not as handsy with his defensive back, as mentioned on the broadcast.

Coleman had a knack for getting open and making plays in space. I have been high on him since he committed to Michigan State football, and he was the playmaker I imagined against Washington. If Reed has to miss more time or is limited with injury in the next few games, Coleman has put himself as the next man up.

Whatever was off for the chemistry between Thorne and Coleman was fixed on Saturday. Unfortunately, the effort of those two alone was not enough to lead the Spartans to victory. I am also sad that the last Spartan offensive play for those two during this game will be an incompletion, as it does not reflect the game they played.

Life does not get any easier for the Spartans next week. They play Mohammed Ibrahim, Tanner Morgan, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers in East Lansing.

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