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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Defense, Eskridge Deliver 27-20 Win
10/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Minnesota defense forced two key fourth quarter turnovers and DeLeon Eskridge ran for a pair of touchdowns as Minnesota defeated Illinois 27-20 in Champagne on Saturday. The Gophers (6-1, 2-1) earned their first Big Ten road win since a victory at Michigan State on Nov. 18, 2006. The Gophers are 6-1 for the first time since 2003.
Willie VanDeSteeg forced a Juice Williams fumble early in the fourth quarter that teammate Simoni Lawrence returned nine yards for a Minnesota touchdown to put the Gophers up by a 27-13 score. VanDeSteeg’s pressure on Williams later in the final quarter led to a Ryan Collado interception that helped Minnesota ice the victory.
DeLeon Eskridge ran for a season-high 123 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Eric Decker caught nine passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. VanDeSteeg finished with 3.0 sacks, five tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
The Minnesota offense controlled play for the majority of the game, and the Gopher defense executed a bend but don’t break’ philosophy to the nth degree. Although Illinois quarterback Juice Williams threw for a career-high 462 yards, the Gophers were able to create turnovers and stop the elusive Williams when it mattered most on Saturday afternoon.
During a key Illinois series at the end of the third quarter with Minnesota clinging to a 20-13 advantage, the Gophers were able to stop Williams on two consecutive rushing attempts from inside the Minnesota 1-yard line to turn the Illini over on downs.
The Gophers were able to take advantage of Illini miscues all day long. After Illinois kicked the opening kickoff out of bounds, the Gophers took the football and went on a five-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 25-yard Weber to Decker touchdown. Decker’s touchdown was his fifth of the season.
A 33-yard Matt Eller field goal in the second quarter was the only other score of the opening half, and the Gophers’ led 7-3 at halftime.
On Illinois’ first play from scrimmage of the second half, Minnesota defensive tackle Garrett Brown stripped Illinois running back Daniel Dufrene of the football and fellow defensive lineman Eric Small fell on the fumble at the Illinois 8-yard line. Eskridge scored his first touchdown of the afternoon three plays later from a yard out to increase the Minnesota lead to 14-3.
On the ensuing drive, Illinois drove 69 yards in nine plays, but were unable to get the ball in the end zone on a key third and five from the Minnesota 11-yard line and were forced to settle for another field goal attempt. Eller’s 28-yarder made the score 14-6 in favor of the Gophers.
The teams exchanged punts before the Gophers took over at their own 20-yard line with 14:04 left in the contest. The Gophers were able to move the ball to midfield after three consecutive Weber-to-Decker passes set Minnesota up with a first down just inside Illinois territory. On the next play, Eskridge found the corner around the right side, cut back to the middle and beat a pair of Illinois defensive backs to the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown scamper. Eskridge’s second touchdown gave the Gophers a 20-6 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half.
Illinois cut the lead back to a single score when they took the football and completed a five-play, 79-yard drive ended with a 54-yard scoring strike from Williams to Illini receiver A.J. Jenkins. Jenkins finished with the contest with three catches for 117 yards and two scores.
Justin Kucek’s punt was downed at the Illini 12-yard line after the following Minnesota drive stalled at midfield. On Illinois’ first play following the punt, VanDeSteeg got to Williams and forced the fumble that was returned by Lawrence that provided the Gophers with a 27-13 lead with just over five minutes left in the contest. Lawrence’s touchdown was his second of the season. The junior college transfer also returned an interception for a score in the Gophers’ 37-3 win against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 20.
The Gophers will enjoy a bye week next weekend in the Twin Cities before they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. on Oct. 25 to take on Purdue.
Willie VanDeSteeg forced a Juice Williams fumble early in the fourth quarter that teammate Simoni Lawrence returned nine yards for a Minnesota touchdown to put the Gophers up by a 27-13 score. VanDeSteeg’s pressure on Williams later in the final quarter led to a Ryan Collado interception that helped Minnesota ice the victory.
DeLeon Eskridge ran for a season-high 123 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Eric Decker caught nine passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. VanDeSteeg finished with 3.0 sacks, five tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
The Minnesota offense controlled play for the majority of the game, and the Gopher defense executed a bend but don’t break’ philosophy to the nth degree. Although Illinois quarterback Juice Williams threw for a career-high 462 yards, the Gophers were able to create turnovers and stop the elusive Williams when it mattered most on Saturday afternoon.
During a key Illinois series at the end of the third quarter with Minnesota clinging to a 20-13 advantage, the Gophers were able to stop Williams on two consecutive rushing attempts from inside the Minnesota 1-yard line to turn the Illini over on downs.
The Gophers were able to take advantage of Illini miscues all day long. After Illinois kicked the opening kickoff out of bounds, the Gophers took the football and went on a five-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 25-yard Weber to Decker touchdown. Decker’s touchdown was his fifth of the season.
A 33-yard Matt Eller field goal in the second quarter was the only other score of the opening half, and the Gophers’ led 7-3 at halftime.
On Illinois’ first play from scrimmage of the second half, Minnesota defensive tackle Garrett Brown stripped Illinois running back Daniel Dufrene of the football and fellow defensive lineman Eric Small fell on the fumble at the Illinois 8-yard line. Eskridge scored his first touchdown of the afternoon three plays later from a yard out to increase the Minnesota lead to 14-3.
On the ensuing drive, Illinois drove 69 yards in nine plays, but were unable to get the ball in the end zone on a key third and five from the Minnesota 11-yard line and were forced to settle for another field goal attempt. Eller’s 28-yarder made the score 14-6 in favor of the Gophers.
The teams exchanged punts before the Gophers took over at their own 20-yard line with 14:04 left in the contest. The Gophers were able to move the ball to midfield after three consecutive Weber-to-Decker passes set Minnesota up with a first down just inside Illinois territory. On the next play, Eskridge found the corner around the right side, cut back to the middle and beat a pair of Illinois defensive backs to the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown scamper. Eskridge’s second touchdown gave the Gophers a 20-6 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half.
Illinois cut the lead back to a single score when they took the football and completed a five-play, 79-yard drive ended with a 54-yard scoring strike from Williams to Illini receiver A.J. Jenkins. Jenkins finished with the contest with three catches for 117 yards and two scores.
Justin Kucek’s punt was downed at the Illini 12-yard line after the following Minnesota drive stalled at midfield. On Illinois’ first play following the punt, VanDeSteeg got to Williams and forced the fumble that was returned by Lawrence that provided the Gophers with a 27-13 lead with just over five minutes left in the contest. Lawrence’s touchdown was his second of the season. The junior college transfer also returned an interception for a score in the Gophers’ 37-3 win against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 20.
The Gophers will enjoy a bye week next weekend in the Twin Cities before they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. on Oct. 25 to take on Purdue.
Players Mentioned
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