EUGENE, ORE. >> Michigan State was looking at a fourth-and-2 on its opening drive of Friday night’s game at No. 6 Oregon. Of course, the Spartans, eager to set an aggressive tone early, were going for it.

It was a bold call, but one that paid off as sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles connected with freshman wide receiver Nick Marsh for a 44-yard catch that set up first-and-goal.

The pass had been Chiles’ second great throw of the night. Moments earlier on a third-and-long, Chiles threaded the needle to receiver Jaron Glover to move the sticks.

Michigan State, just two yards from the goal line after Marsh’s reception, appeared poised to punch it in the end zone to score the first points of the game. But that didn’t happen.

Disaster struck on the next play as Chiles fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Oregon in the end zone.

“It was a bummer it happened,” tight end Jack Velling said after the Spartans’ 31-10 loss. “I don’t think it really set the tone for anything, we just shook it off and we kind of just tried to get back to work.”

But nothing seemed to work against the Ducks’ defense, who shut out Michigan State until the fourth quarter.

That first drive, though, was Michigan State’s offense in a nutshell as the team reached the halfway point of the season. Chiles shows flashes of jaw-dropping potential only to have an egregious turnover smear the positive outlook.

Michigan State maintains faith in Chiles, and coach Jonathan Smith will continue to trust the 19-year-old with the keys to the offense.

It’s a learning process — one that will surely test Jonathan Smith’s patience but not his belief in Chiles and the rest of the offense.

“Aidan’s a competitive player,” Smith said. “He’s going to go put his shoulder in there and all of that, but you got to keep the ball locked up.”

At the halfway point of the season, Michigan State is still figuring out what it can be. The Spartans’ run game has been stuck in neutral and its protection for Chiles has proved to be more porous than what’s preferred.

Smith said it’s not just about keeping Chiles’ confidence high, but the whole offense.

“We’re going to stick together and find ways to do it better,” Smith said. “I’m confident these guys keep working, we’ll improve. And we need to.”

A familiar place

Velling and Smith weren’t thinking about their past experiences at Auzten Stadium Friday night when the new Spartans took the field Friday.

Of course it was nice to see some familiar faces, and Velling said “it’s good being back in the Pacific Northwest.” But the two former members of the Oregon State football program were more so locked in on the task at hand.

Velling said it was “an honor” to be named a game-day captain for Friday’s game, “but I wish we could’ve done more.

“It’s nothing too crazy, more focused on what we had to go out and execute,” Velling said. “But didn’t get it done tonight, but we’re gonna go correct it and improve in the bye week.”

A familiar face

The Ducks’ first sack of the game was registered by a player Spartan fans may remember.

Derrick Harmon corralled Chiles 11 yards behind the line of scrimmage near the 6:12 mark of the first quarter. The drive ultimately resulted in a three-and-out for the Ducks’ defense.

Harmon, who also registered a pass breakup Friday, spent the spring with the Spartans before transferring to Oregon in May.

After the game, Harmon told reporters that he was motivated by the chance of playing his former team.

“Like I said all week… I wanted to beat those guys,” Harmon said (via 247sports.) “Still got family over there, teammates, still love them like I said earlier, but I wanted to be those guys. My whole motivation was beating them.”

Harmon is up to 19 tackles on the season, including three sacks.