When Michigan State running back (and Ohioan) L.J. Scott plunged into the end zone from the one-yard line with 4:41 to go against Ohio State, head coach Mark Dantonio faced a decision.
Kick the probable P.A.T. and tie the game, or go for the jugular with a two-point attempt.
To Dantonio's ultimate credit, he went for the throat.
Ohio State safety Malik Hooker, however, spoiled that attempt by intercepting Spartan quarterback Tyler O'Connor in the end zone.
After MSU stymied the ensuing OSU drive at midfield, the Ohio State defense rendered a sack and an interception on the next two plays to seal the victory in East Lansing.
Afterwards, Dantonio explained his decision:
“All week long I said if we get close at the end of the game, we’re going for two, we’re going to take an aggressive approach and play to win the football game rather than tie a football game at the end,” Dantonio said. “That’s what I felt like we wanted to do.”
[...]
“I felt like we still had an opportunity with four minutes to go that the risk would be that if we stopped them, that we still had the opportunity to get the ball back, kick a field goal and win a football game,” he said. “…I felt like either way, we had a chance to win the game.”
Michigan State is 3-8. It heads to Penn State on Nov. 26th to take on the Nittany Lions at 3:30 p.m.
