FOOTBALL

Gallery From Michigan State Football’s Win Over Toledo

Published

9 hours ago

September 7, 2026

Photo by Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

On Friday night, Pat Fitzgerald and Michigan State football started the year 1-0 win a 30-20 win over Toledo. The Spartans outlasted a feisty Rockets team that took the lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

Spartan Shadows had photographer Nolan Gerou on hand to capture the game, and here are his best shots from Friday’s action. For those wanting more of his work, check him out on Instagram, @nolangerouphotography.

: Alessio Milivojevic throws the ball during warmups. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Pat Fitzgerald observes warmups for Michigan State football. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: KK Smith hauls in a pass during warmups. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: The defensive line prays before the football game. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Jayden Savoury runs a route in warmups. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Kayd Coffman partakes in his first game day warmups at Spartan Stadium. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Alessio Milivojevic slings the ball in warmups. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Peyton Babbitt runs out for warmups. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Eddie Whiting (84) prepares to warm up against Carson Gulker. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Jayden Savoury catches a pass in warmups. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Nick Sharpe warms up for Michigan State football’s season opener. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Tom Izzo greets Mark Dantonio prior to the season opener. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Michigan State football walks across the end zone with locked arms. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: The Spartan Marching Band prepares to take the field. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: The wall of athletes is formed for the season opener as the National Anthem concludes. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Cal Thrush (97) holds the American Flag and leads the team out of the tunnel. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Michigan State football runs out of the tunnel for their 2026 season opener. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Sparty jumps up and is planting the flag for Michigan State football. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Sparty does his traditional one-armed push ups before the season opener. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Rocky the Rocket points at the camera. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Two Spartan Troopers stare at the camera. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Toledo’s team takes the field. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Toledo’s John Alan Richter warms up. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Anelu Lafaele gets pressure on Toledo’s John Alan Richter. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Chrishon McCray returns a punt in the season opener. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Cam Edwards (0) jaws with a Toledo defender on the opening drive. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Cam Edwards gestures for a first down against the Rockets. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Marvis Parrish lowers the shoulder against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Cam Edwards and the offensive line celebrate after the first touchdown of the season. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Liam Boyd (37) kicks the first extra point of the season. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Tre Bell (in green, 3) drags down Toledo’s quarterback. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Cam Fancher runs the ball forward for a gain. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Jayden Savoury prepares to take a big hit. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: The second part of the hit, where Jayden Savoury is sent toppling to the ground. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Langston Long celebrates making a play for Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Brady Pretzlaff leaps to ensure a Rocket is tackled. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Michael Richard (right, 7) and Nikai Martinez celebrate. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Kenny Soares Jr. holds the ball up after an interception with Chuck Brantley (4) and Anelu Lafaele (11) celebrating. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Bryson Williams leaps for a pass. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Liam Boyd follows through on a successful field goal. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Tre Bell (left, 3) and Ben Roberts (55) celebrate after Bell gets a sack. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Tre Bell leaps and grabs Toledo’s quarterback for a sack. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Kenneth Williams runs the ball for his only return of the night against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Alessio Milivojevic throws the ball while rolling out. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Rhy Dakin celebrates after a Liam Boyd field goal is good. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Trey Lisle III jumps around. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Caleb Gash runs after a kickoff. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Jordan Hall, now with a brace on his arm after an injury. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Mikeshun Beeler (52) and Eli Coenen (96) bury Toledo’s running back for a loss. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Jordan Hall celebrates after a play. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Cam Edwards finds a hole and accelerates against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Fans pose for the camera during Michigan State football’s home opener against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Alessio Milivojevic calls a play out against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Cam Edwards plants a Toledo defender to the ground. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Sparty observes Michigan State football in their season opener. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Bryson Hammer runs the ball for Toledo football. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Nikai Martinez prowls the field in the season opening win over Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: The Spartan defense celebrates following a big play. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Michael Richard (in green) lays a hit on Toledo’s Bryson Hammer. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Chrishon McCray leaps for a pass for Michigan State football. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Rod Bullard Jr. hauls in the go-ahead touchdown pass against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Fredrick Moore (left) and Rod Bullard Jr. celebrate Bullard’s go-ahead touchdown. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Rod Bullard Jr. hauls in a two point conversion attempt to give the Spartans a 7 point lead. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Jordan Hall puts his fist in the air to signify fourth down against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Liam Boyd kicks a field goal as the Spartans open their season against the Toledo Rockets. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Tre Bell poses after making a play for Michigan State football. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Deuce Edwards (31) and KJ Deriso (29) walk off the field following Michigan State football’s 30-20 win over Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Zeke the Wonderdog hauls in a frisbee during Michigan State football’s season opener against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Jaxon McCaig celebrates and talks with fans after winning against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Kenny Soares Jr. pokes his tongue out at the camera after Michigan State football won against Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Eli Coenen and other Spartans and Rockets pray after a 30-20 Michigan State football win. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Alessio Milivojevic carries the ball during his celebration over Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Chrishon McCray walks off the field following Michigan State football’s win over Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Pat Fitzgerald celebrates the win over Toledo, still holding a game ball. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Alessio Milivojevic celebrates the win over Toledo with fans alongside Ben Murawski. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Ben Roberts high fives fans following Michigan State’s 30-10 win over Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Brady Prezlaff and Derrick Simmons (98) celebrate after Michigan State football won over Toledo 30-20. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Darrin Jones Jr. puts his fingers to his facemask following Michigan State football’s win over Toledo. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

: Robert Wright Jr. (71) runs off the field after Michigan State football’s win. Nolan Gerou, Spartan Shadows

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Emmett Matasovsky

Michigan State Media and Information Management Class of '22. Emmett covers primarily football, recruiting, and basketball for Spartan Shadows, alongside writing for Detroit Lions on SI. He has also written for Spartan Avenue, Basic Blues, and Hail WV.