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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Defeat Badgers 37-34 On Last-Second Field Goal
11/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota showed their running power again, rushing for 336 yards. The Gophers overcame an injury to starting quarterback Asad Abdul- Khaliq. He injured his shoulder with 30 seconds remaining in the first half and did not return to the game. Benji Kamrath completed 6- of-10 passes for 93 yards in the second half to guide Minnesota to the win.
Minnesota stormed out to a 24-6 lead in the first half. Laurence Maroney started the scoring just 56 seconds into the game on a 30- yard touchdown scamper. On the Gophers' ensuing drive, Lloyd capped a 14-play, 52-yard drive with a 34-yard field to give the Gophers a 10- 0 lead midway through the first quarter. Wisconsin closed the gap to 10-3 on a Mike Allen 27-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Gophers took a 17-3 lead on a 13-yard touchdown run from Abdul- Khaliq, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Another Allen field goal cut the score to 17-6 but Thomas Tapeh ended an 8-play, 79-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run with 2:01 remaining in the first half. The Badgers began a furious comeback with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jim Sorgi to Owen Daniels just 36 seconds later to cut Minnesota's halftime lead to 24-13.
Wisconsin continued the momentum to start the second half, scoring just 2:13 into the frame on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Sorgi to Lee Evans. Sorgi began the drive with a 47-yard pass to Brandon Williams and ended it just five plays later.
The Gophers quelled some of the momentum with a 7-play, 60-yard scoring drive, capped by a Lloyd 34-yard field goal to take a 27-20 lead with 9:17 left in the quarter. The teams traded punts and then Wisconsin went on an 8-play, 69-yard scoring drive that ended with a Sorgi 12-yard touchdown pass to Darrin Charles to tie the game 27-27. The drive was kept alive by two pass interference penalties on the Golden Gophers. Minnesota was penalized seven times for 77 yards in the game.
After a Minnesota punt, Wisconsin drove to the Minnesota 30-yard line but Sorgi was intercepted by Justin Isom at the 10-yard line. Minnesota used the momentum to go on a 7-play, 60-yard scoring drive, capped by a Marion Barber 11-yard touchdown run. The score gave Minnesota a 34-27 lead with 11:13 left in the game. Barber topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark in the game, becoming the 11th Gopher to accomplish the feat.
Sorgi responded for the Badgers, converting on two third down plays and directing the Gophers on a 9-play, 80-yard scoring drive. He connected with Owen Daniels on a 26-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 34-34.
Minnesota got the ball with 2:49 remaining in the game and converted twice on third down plays. Kamrath connected with Aaron Hosack twice in the drive, including a 22-yard pass. Barber grinded out 33 yards on the final drive. After two timeouts, Lloyd connected on the 35- yard game-winning field goal as time expired. It marked the first time since 1999 that the Gophers had won a game on a game-winning field goal.
Sorgi set a career record for passing yards with 305 on 23-of-34 attempts. He also threw a career-best four touchdowns. Evans led the Badgers with six catches for 66 yards while Booker Stanley had a team- best 68 yards on 20 carries.
Barber and Maroney both topped the 100-yard mark for the fourth time this season. Barber ran for 139 yards on 27 rushes while Maroney had 135 yards on 15 carries. Abdul-Khaliq, the nation's top-rated passer, was 5-of-7 for 66 yards before his injury. Ben West led Minnesota's defense with 11 tackles and a sack. Isom had eight tackles to go along with an interception and two pass breakups.
Minnesota ends the regular season at Iowa next Saturday at 11 a.m.
GAME NOTES
This was the 113th meeting between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Minnesota leads the series by a 59-46-8 advantage. The Golden Gophers hold a 37- 17-2 advantage in games played in Minneapolis.
Minnesota:
Rhys Lloyd's game-winning field goal was the first by a Golden Gopher since Dan Nystrom kicked the game-winner in a 24-23 win at No. 2 Penn State on Nov. 6, 1999.
Minnesota has nine wins in a season for the first time since 1905. Minnesota had won eight games nine times since 1905 and twice under Glen Mason.
Minnesota broke the school's single-season record for total offense with 5,444 yards. The old record of 5,149 yards was set in 2000. It is the sixth single-season team record the offense has broken this year.
Minnesota has held a double-digit lead in 10 of its 11 games this season (lone exception - 10/18 vs. Michigan State). UM also held a double-digit lead in its final game of the 2002 season vs. Arkansas.
Minnesota rushed for three or more touchdowns for the seventh time this season.
Minnesota has rushed for two or more touchdowns in 10 of 11 games this season.
This is the 15th straight game Minnesota has rushed for at least one touchdown.
Minnesota has scored in 40 of 44 quarters this season and 48 of 52 quarters dating back to the final two games of last year.
Minnesota has amassed more than 300 total yards in 13 straight games dating back to last season.
Minnesota had two players rush for 100 yards in the same game for the fifth time this season.
Minnesota eclipsed the 30-point plateau for the 10th time in 11 games this season. That is the highest number of games in a single season since the 1905 squad also did it 10 times.
Minnesota has scored first in nine of the 11 games this season and has an 8-1 record in those contests.
Minnesota has at least one sack in each game this season and in 12 straight dating back to last season.
Minnesota rushed for at least 240 yards for the 10th time in the past 11 games and rushed for over 200 yards in 18 of the past 25 contests.
Minnesota has rushed for 300 or more yards in five games this season.
Justin Isom recorded his team-leading third interception and the seventh of his career in the third quarter. His seven career interceptions are tied for 10th in school history.
Tapeh moved into 12th place on the school's all-time rushing list with 1,860 yards.
Tapeh moved into a tie for 11th place all-time with his 19th career touchdown run. He is tied with Jim Perkins (1974-76).
Marion Barber III collected his seventh 100-yard rushing day of the season and the ninth of his career. His total of nine ranks fifth on the school's all-time list.
Barber's seven 100-yard rushing games this season ties the school's single-season record. The record is held by Darrell Thompson (twice), Thomas Hamner and Tellis Redmon.
This is the second time this season that Barber has recorded three straight 100-yard rushing games.
Barber became the 11th Golden Gopher to surpass the 1,000 rushing yard mark in a single season. His total of 1,133 ranks 10th in school history.
With 24 career rushing touchdowns, Barber moved into fourth all-time in school history. He passed Herb Joesting (1925-27).
Barber added to his single season school record for rushing touchdowns with his 17th of the year in the fourth quarter. He is four ahead of Darrell Thompson (1987) and Jim Perkins (1976).
Barber moved into 11th place on the school's all-time rushing list with 1,944 yards, 55 yards behind No. 10 Wayne "Red" Williams (1942-45).
Laurence Maroney's second quarter touchdown moved him into 11th place on the single-season school list with nine rushing touchdowns. He is tied with three other players.
Maroney recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing performance and his fourth of the season.
Abdul-Khaliq recorded his 16th career touchdown run in the second quarter. That total is tied for 13th in school history with three other players.
Abdul-Khaliq has scored a touchdown, either passing or rushing, in 35 of 44 career games.
Ben Utecht moved into 10th place on the school's all-time reception list with 83. He his three behind ninth place held by Chris Gaiters (1987-89).
Backup quarterback Benji Kamrath appeared in his eighth game this season.
Minnesota has scored 20 or more points in 15 straight games, the longest streak in school history.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Eli Ward
"It was a must win for us. In order to move up in the Big Ten, you must win in November. It was a great accomplishment. It was great to get the ax."
"We ran a lot underneath. We had deep coverage. We gave the underneath routes. We didn?t want to give up the big play."
"We have confidence in Benji. He might not have the running game like Asad but he has a great arm. We are very confident."
Rhys Lloyd
On the time out, "It got me more pumped up. I had to laugh with Coach Mason, he just tried to relax me."
"As soon as I kicked it, I started running. I knew it was good."
Ukee Dozier
"You can't let anything bother you. You have to have a short-term memory out there. You have to keep playing."
"When Benji needs to make a play, he does it. In practice he works and gets a lot of reps."
"It proves the program can turn around. Everybody works hard and we are proving we are a good team."
On Sorgi, "He is tough. We were knocking him around but he got back up. He is a good player."
Ben West
"Being Senior Day, there was a lot of emotion being in front of a lot of friends and family."
"Iowa is a big rivalry. Asad seems to be doing alright but Benji did a good job. He will do what he has to do to win."
Darrell Reid
"It was important to get a big win. We persevered at the end even without Asad"
"We believe in Benji. He makes the big plays."
On Sorgi, "We hit with big shots, but they kept bouncing off. He kept getting up. That showed his toughness."
Marion Barber III
"I think the fans were a big plus on both sides. Our fans really kept the offense moving."
"It (the win) felt great for the seniors' last home game. When Rhys ran across the field, it was a great feeling."
"It was a big win for us. We have been working in practice and we have to keep preparing."
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Head Coach Barry Alvarez
On Badgers' final offensive possession, "We went three-and-out, and that's it. I don't know what you want me to tell you. We went three and out."
On Sorgi's play, "He played very well. I couldn't be more pleased. He took hits and made strong throws and played well off of surgery."
On first-half defense, "We missed a lot of tackles and we couldn't get off blocks in the first half."
Notes on Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi
? Career high 23 completions, 305 yards, 4 TDs and tied career high with 34 attempts
? First Badger quarterback to pass over 300 yards in a game since Nov. 18, 1995 vs. Iowa (Darrell Bevell)
Nick Cochert
On Defensive play, "We played the way we were supposed to but lapses on a few plays were the difference."
On Minnesota running game in the first half, "Everything was sideline to sideline. We couldn't get off blocks in the first half. We were stretched horizontally. It was all about making tackles and we couldn't do it."
On Wisconsin defense, "It's a shock seeing your defense among the best and having this happen. We didn't make the plays."
Jim Leonhard
On Wisconsin defense, "It was a matter of missed tackles. There was nothing wrong our scheme. We just didn't make tackles." On Minnesota, "I give them credit. They are one of the best running attacks I've seen. It all comes down to making plays in the fourth quarter and they did."
Booker Stanley
"They came out of it with the ax and that's frustrating."
