Michigan State walked away from an electrifying 42-40 double-overtime victory over Boston College on Saturday night with more than just a win, as several players earned weekly honors for their standout performances.
Two Spartans stood out above the rest, with junior quarterback Aidan Chiles and junior linebacker Jordan Hall each earning Big Ten weekly recognition.
It was no surprise to see the Spartans quarterback named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for five touchdowns and 270 yards of total offense, including the game-tying rushing touchdown and throwing the game-winning 2-point conversion in double overtime.
He became the first MSU player to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors since former tight end Maliq Carr, who had a seven-reception, 117-yard and two-touchdown performance against Indiana in Week 12 of the 2023 season.
“A lot to like with Aidan in regards to his effort, quarterback play, and decision making,” MSU head coach Jonathan Smith said at his weekly press conference Monday afternoon.
It was a performance worthy of national TV coverage, one that won’t soon be forgotten by Spartan fans or by Chiles himself, especially with his four touchdown passes marking a new career high.
On top of his Big Ten honor, Chiles was also named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list, which highlights the top eight quarterback performances in college football each week.
“I just did what I had to do to help my team succeed,” Chiles said after Saturday’s game. “It was just me playing football.”
On paper, awarding the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week to a player on a defense that allowed 40 points might seem questionable, but Hall’s career-high 15 tackles and relentless play made it impossible to overlook.
On top of his career-high tackle total, Hall’s stat line included nine solo stops and a key forced fumble in the first quarter that kept the game tied 0-0. He also led a defense that held Boston College to just two field goals in the second half after giving up 21 points in the first.
Hall becomes the first Spartan since former linebacker Cal Haladay to be named Defensive Player of the Week, after a 10-tackle performance against Indiana in Week 12 of the 2022 season.
“There were times in this game where things we felt like just couldn’t go our way,” Hall said after Saturday’s game. “But at the end of the day, we were able to respond when it mattered most and put our offense in the best position to win the football game.”
Even though the awards were given for their stat lines, their toughness and determination were also on display Saturday night. Both players experienced injuries that forced them to the sideline at times, but neither could be kept off the field in such an intense game. Their performances exemplify why both are captains, an important role in MSU’s player-led locker room.
“This team is really committed to the goal, and we’re all committed to one common goal, and we continue to grow off that,” Chiles said after Saturday’s game. “We go out there and we play football how we know to play football because this team actually wants to do that.”
It’s a mentality that shows, even with such accolades, Chiles, Hall, and the rest of the Spartans remain hungry for whatever opportunities lie ahead. Their next opportunity comes Saturday at Spartan Stadium at 3:30 p.m., when they’ll face Youngstown State, aiming to start 3-0 for the second straight season.
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