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Michigan State survives injuries to key starters in season-opening win
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- Michigan State survives injuries to key starters in season-opening win
EAST LANSING – Michigan State survived to secure a season-opening win.
The Spartans didn't get out their first 60 minutes of the fall without injury concerns to key players.
Running back Cam Edwards, left tackle Ben Murawski and linebacker Jordan Hall – all starters – were among those who spent time on the sideline banged up in Friday's 30-20 win against Toledo to mark coach Pat Fitzgerald's debut .
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"We wanted to play a lot of guys tonight," Fitzgerald said, "we obviously don't want to have to do that through some bumps and bruises and injuries."
Edwards, an offseason transfer from UConn who Fitzgerald expects to be the best running back in the country, finished with 27 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. He was initially injured in the third quarter and then again in the fourth before finishing the game.
"Today was a tough day from a humidity standpoint," Fitzgerald said. "He cramped up a little bit at times and he kept coming back and wanted to get back in the game so I'm just really thankful for him."
Hall, who has spent all four seasons with the Spartans and is now playing for his third head coach, suffered a right arm injury on Toledo's second possession of the game. The two-time co-captain came out of the game for stretches and was replaced by Caleb Wheatland but was back on the field late and finished with four tackles. Hall was spotted wearing a brace on his right elbow while walking out of the stadium.
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Murawski, also a transfer from UConn, was a key piece of Michigan State's offensive line rebuild through the portal. He was injured early in the second half and replaced by Rakeem Johnson, who began the game as the starting right tackle. Murawski returned with the field goal unit as Liam Boyd drilled a 51-yarder with 1:55 remaining to close the scoring.
"I don't have an update right now," Fitzgerald said of Murawski. "He wasn't on my end-of-the-game injury report so I don't have anything on that."
Backup running back Marvis Parrish also left injured and safety Angelo Grose was among those who didn't dress for the game. Fitzgerald cited the weather and the offense being on the field for more than 43 minutes as issues that affected health.
"I don't know if you noticed, I'm still sweating," he said. "It was thick out there."
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When asked about injuries, Fitzgerald first talked about the players who filled in for those who went to the sideline. Michigan State survived hits at the top of the depth chart and a Toledo rally to get the win with a visit from Eastern Michigan (1-1) coming next week.
"I think it's just knowing that our preparation and next-man-up mentality is going to have to hold true," quarterback Alessio Milivojevic said. "There's going to be guys who cramp, especially in a humid game like this, there's going to be guys who have little injuries here and there. It's just knowing that the next guy behind him is going to do the same job as him just as good if not better."
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