EAST LANSING - The No. 12 ranked Michigan State Spartans hosted the Utah State Aggies Friday night in Spartan Stadium. A slow start to an 83 degree day in East Lansing, however the Spartans would take this one home with a win.

Utah State would get on the board first leading Michigan State 7-0 only a minute into the game. The Spartans unable to convert on downs in the first quarter would settle for two field goals by Matt Coughlin, and trailed the Aggies 7-6 going into the second quarter. Cody White and Felton Davis would come up strong for the Spartans pulling ahead leading the Aggies 20-14 at the half.

“We had the ability to run the ball in the second half and I think that helped our cause a little bit,” said Michigan State Head Coach, Mark Dantonio.

A 17-yard touchdown by Connor Heyward would put the Spartans ahead by 13 points with 9:06 left in the 3rd quarter. A late interception by Utah State’s Gaje Ferguson would have the Aggies trailing the Spartans by three points, after he returned it for 40-yards down the home stretch.

The Spartans would hold off the Aggies with two minutes left in the game, and a final score of 38-31.

“It was a great environment and somehow someway were 1-0 things could be a lot worse, and so I'll take it and our players will take it. Never gonna apologize for winning a football game. But with that being said we need to do some things better. But that's always been the nature in every game that we play when you look at it. Sometimes you play up, sometimes you don't so we’ll keep pushing and take the next step,” said Dantonio.

Sept. 8 the Spartans will travel to Tempe, Arizona to take on Arizona State at 10:45 EST.