Grinz on Green Blog: Spartans Win Fourth-Down Situations
9/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Grinczel, MSUSpartans.com Online Columnist | @GrinzOnGreen
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State lived by the fourth down while Oregon died by the fourth down.
Another way to describe a significant factor in the Spartans' 31-28 victory over the Ducks on Saturday night is that MSU converted both of its fourth-down attempts while stopping four of the six tried by Oregon.
"Coming into the game, we talked to the guys about how they'll go for it on fourth down just about at any time, so you need to expect that after a third down, stop to play another play," said Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. "We talked about how important it is to win those `money downs' so you can get off the field."
The Spartans proved to be extremely coachable against the Ducks.
With MSU holding a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, Oregon drove from its 17-yard line to the Spartan 3, where it had first-and-goal. After a false-start penalty set up second-and-6, the Ducks moved the ball to the 1.
But on fourth down, linebacker Jon Reschke and defensive end Lawrence Thomas stopped running back Royce Freeman for no gain.
Late in the fourth quarter, Oregon began its final possession at the MSU 48 after a 19-yard Bralon Addison punt return.
On third-and-6 at the MSU 33, Thomas and linebacker Chris Frey sacked Duck quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. for a 10-yard loss. On fourth-and-16, blitzing middle linebacker Riley Bullough's ferocious pass rush forced Adams to make a poor throw for an incompletion that secured the win.
"As a defense, that's what we love," Bullough said. "We love having it put on our shoulders at the end of the game. That's what we live for and that's what we practice for year-round. I knew guys were going to step up and make plays in the end, and they did. I knew our offense was going to give us enough firepower and points, and that's what happened."
Offensively, head coach Mark Dantonio's decisions to go for it on fourth down earned big returns.
The Spartans took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter after quarterback Connor Cook sneaked 2 yards on fourth-and-1 at the Oregon 21. Two plays later, Cook threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Burbridge.
In the third quarter, Cook's 28-yard pass to Burbridge on fourth-and-6 at the Duck 34 set up LJ Scott's 6-yard touchdown run for a 21-14 lead.
"I just thought it was a little long for a field goal and a little short for a punt," Dantonio said. "I got a lot of faith in Connor Cook and our passing game. I knew we would protect him and that he's going to throw the ball very effectively. And Burbridge in this case made it.
"But, you know, we knew we were going to have to take chances in this football game, calculated risks, and we were prepared to do that. We want to win the football game, so you had to take chances to do that."
While Dantonio's coaching style is often depicted as being ultra-conservative, senior center Jack Allen knows better.
"That's a huge game-changer for us to convert on that fourth down," Allen said. "It just goes to show that Coach D likes to roll the dice and he likes to put the ball in his playmakers' hands. It's great that he has confidence in us to do that, because we have confidence in ourselves, and we feel like any time he calls my number or Burbridge's number, Josiah Price, whoever it is, we are going to come up big."
