Michigan State Athletics
Omari Kelly’s late fourth-quarter touchdown grab sealed Michigan State’s 38–28 win over Maryland on Saturday night at Ford Field, closing the Spartans’ season with a victory behind one of their strongest offensive performances of the year.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic posted a career night, finishing 27 of 39 for 292 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs. His final scoring throw — a 10-yard strike to Kelly on fourth-and-7 with 1:56 remaining — pushed MSU’s lead back to double digits and effectively ended Maryland’s comeback bid.
Kelly caught five passes for 76 yards, while sophomore Nick Marsh added a team-high seven receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Senior tight end Jack Velling matched Kelly with five receptions and hauled in a 9-yard TD late in the first half that sent the Spartans (4–8, 1–8 Big Ten) to the locker room leading 24–7.
On the ground, Elijah Tau-Tolliver powered MSU with 95 rushing yards on 13 carries, including a 38-yard burst that jump-started a crucial fourth-quarter drive.
Michigan State also delivered highlight-reel special teams play, as graduate receiver Alante Brown — returning from a nine-game injury absence — broke free for a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown with 6:12 left in the third quarter. It was MSU’s first kick return touchdown since 2014.
Defensively, freshman corner Aydan West led the Spartans with eight tackles, while Aveon Grose ended Maryland’s final possession with an interception at the Terrapins’ 35-yard line with 1:36 to play. Quindarius Dunnigan added a key fourth-quarter sack, and West and linebacker Jordan Hall combined on another to force a turnover on downs.
Maryland (4–8, 1–8) rallied from a 17-0 deficit and later pulled within 31-28, powered by quarterback Malik Washington’s 459 passing yards and three touchdowns. But a missed 27-yard field goal with 7:38 left and Grose’s interception stalled the Terps’ comeback.
“Really happy and proud of that locker room,” MSU head coach Jonathan Smith said. “We’ve been through a lot… but they continued to battle. I’m happy for them to come out with a win like they did.”
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
