MSU (9-1 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) attempted two fourth down conversions Saturday, both of which resulted in one-yard touchdown runs by sophomore running back Edwin Baker. Meanwhile, Minnesota (1-9, 0-6) went for it on fourth down five times, converting on three of its attempts.

“Fourth down is critical,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “Obviously, they were very crucial in the game and swung in our favor.”

Both of the Spartans’ fourth down conversions occurred in the first half. The first one gave Baker his second touchdown of the day a little more than nine minutes into the second quarter, while the second came as time expired in the first half.

“Had we not made those two fourth downs on the goal line, it would have been 7-0 at halftime,” Dantonio said. “It was obviously very critical.”

Junior offensive guard Joel Foreman said the offensive line was calling for Dantonio to go for it on both occasions. Foreman also said that by displaying his trust in the offensive line, Dantonio gave the unit a much-needed boost of confidence after struggling in recent weeks.

“To put it on us is something special,” Foreman said. “(Dantonio) came over and said, ‘We’re getting in the end zone, but we’re getting in on the ground.’ We took it upon ourselves, and we went out there and did it.”

Finding a role

Sophomore defensive tackle Jerel Worthy was one of the reasons for the Spartans’ success stopping Minnesota on fourth down after making the first stop and assisting on the second.

“Those gave us a ton of confidence,” Worthy said of the stops. “Especially because there were a lot of guys in there who weren’t used to those situations like that.”

One of those players was junior defensive tackle Antonio Jeremiah. Coming in for short yardage situations, Jeremiah was valuable as a run stopper, and at 360 pounds, demanded double teams that helped leave the MSU linebackers unblocked.

Jeremiah started the season on the offensive line, but Worthy said he’s easily been able to transition to the defensive side of the ball.

“I think he’s going to be a good asset for us down the road,” Worthy said.

Injury update

The Spartans’ win Saturday came in spite of a number of major contributors not seeing the field.

Junior receiver Keshawn Martin and sophomore linebacker Chris Norman both were out with lower leg injuries, although Dantonio said both could have played if needed.

Freshman cornerback Darqueze Dennard also did not play, and sophomore offensive guard Chris McDonald was not in uniform after an apparent knee injury against Iowa last week.

Dantonio said senior receiver Mark Dell, who injured his right leg in the second quarter Saturday, could have played in the second half if necessary but was held out as a precaution.