University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA DEFEATS NORTHWESTERN 33-14
10/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
The victory marks the first Big Ten road victory since a 17-14 victory over Wisconsin (10/22/ 94) in Madison, Wis. It also marks the Golden Gophers first Big Ten road opener win since a 19-7 decision over Purdue on October 6, 1990, in West Lafayette, Ind.
Senior quarterback Billy Cockerham struck first for Minnesota with a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to go up 7-0. Minnesota scored again in the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown rush by senior Thomas Hamner, who finished the day with his 10th career 100-yard rushing game with 118 yards on 25 carries.
Northwestern entered the scoring ranks with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Zak Kustok to Teddy Johnson late in the first quarter. Just before the half, Minnesota freshman Dan Nystrom split the uprights from 27 yards out to go up 17-7 at the half.
Northwestern brought the score to 17-14 in the third quarter when Kustok ran the ball in from 11 yards out. The Wildcats had a chance to tie the game late in the third quarter, but kicker Tim Long missed from 39 yards out.
With just seven seconds remaining in the third quarter, Cockerham connected with Hamner on a career-high 64-yard touchdown pass to go ahead 24- 14. Minnesota tacked on another score in the fourth quarter and the defense blocked a third punt of the season to score a team safety and increase the lead to 33-14.
Cockerham finished the game completing 17 of 38 pass attempts for 222 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, the team collected seven sacks, three of which belonged to junior linebacker Ben Mezera.
