.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 20 Gophers Set to Host Wildcats for Homecoming
10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Football Notes - vs. Northwestern
NO. 20 GOPHERS HOST NORTHWESTERN FOR HOMECOMING
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will host their annual Homecoming game Saturday, facing Northwestern. No. 20 Minnesota (No. 17 BCS) enters this week’s game with a 7-1 overall record and a 3-1 Big Ten mark. Northwestern is 6-2 overall and is 2-2 in the Big Ten.
The Golden Gopher defense was instrumental in the victory for a third straight game. Minnesota allowed just six points and 109 passing yards to the Boilermakers. It was the fewest passing yards for Purdue in the Joe Tiller era. The Gophers also scratched out four more turnovers in the game. Meanwhile, Northwestern traveled to Indiana last week and dropped a 21-19 decision to the Hoosiers. The Wildcats turned the ball over five times in the loss and saw their starting running back and quarterback leave the game with injuries.
This week’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2. Dave Pasch will call the play-by-play. Former Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware will be the analyst.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota is now 7-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Big Ten after defeating Purdue 17-6 last week. The Gophers are No. 1 in the nation in turnover margin and won the turnover battle 4-1 against the Boilermakers.
Adam Weber has taken nearly every snap for Minnesota at quarterback and has thrown 243 of the Gophers’ 244 passes this season. He led the Gophers to a win at Illinois two weeks ago, just six days after arthroscopic knee surgery. Weber has passed for 1,824 yards and 10 TDs through eight games. Eric Decker has been the main beneficiary of Weber’s aerials. Decker ranks No. 3 in the nation with 8.25 catches per game and No. 7 with 104.1 receiving yards per game. Leading the way on the ground is true freshman DeLeon Eskridge. Despite limited carries in the first two games, Eskridge has rushed for 520 yards on 137 carries.
Defensively, junior middle linebacker Lee Campbell is the team’s top tackler with 48 stops. Safeties Kyle Theret and Tramaine Brock each have 47 tackles. Theret has a team-leading three interceptions. Junior transfer cornerback Traye Simmons is No. 3 in the nation in passes defended, averaging 1.75 per game. Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg has 12.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, ranking 14th and 21st in the nation, respectively.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern opened the season with five straight wins. The Wildcats have lost two of their last three, with losses to Michigan State and Indiana sandwiched around a win over Purdue.
Offensively, Northwestern is paced by RB Tyrell Sutton and QB C.J. Bacher. Sutton has rushed for 776 yards (97.0 ypg) and six TDs. Bacher has passed for 1,700 yards (212.5 ypg) and 10 TDs. He has also rushed for 244 yards and three scores. Ross Lane is the Wildcats’ top receiver with 37 receptions for 390 yards.
Defensively, Brad Phillips leads Northwestern with 67 total tackles. He has also compiled four pass break-ups and two interceptions. Cory Wootton leads the Wildcats with 11 tackles for-loss and 5.5 sacks. Sherrick McManis is Northwestern’s top cover man in the secondary. He has broken up eight passes and also has an interception.
QUICK HITTERS
> Minnesota will enter consecutive games in the national rankings for the first time since 2004, when the Gophers were in the polls for seven straight games to open the season.
> The Golden Gophers are the No. 1 team in the nation in turnover margin. After a +3 outing at Purdue, Minnesota has an average turnover margin of +1.88.
> Purdue’s 109 yards passing in last week’s game were the fewest in the Joe Tiller era.
> Minnesota has now held two Big Ten opponents (three overall) to seven points or less.
> Minnesota ranks 20th in the NCAA in scoring defense (17.13 points allowed per game).
> The Gophers are No. 20 in the NCAA in red zone efficiency (.890, 25-of-28).
> Gopher WR Eric Decker is No. 3 in the nation in receptions and No. 7 in receving yards.
BOWLING FOR GOPHERS
Back on August 15, head coach Tim Brewster brought his Golden Gophers out to Rod Wallace Field for the second of a two-a-day practice. What his team didn’t know, however, was that they were about to get out of practice and go bowling as a reward for their hard work to that point in camp.
Now, as a reward for their hard work to this point in the season, Minnesota has virtually assured itself of a bowl berth later on this year (or maybe even early next year). The Gophers are 7-1 overall (3-1 in the Big Ten) after last week’s 17-6 win over Purdue.
Back on August 15, the team went to Memory Lanes. Now the Gopher squad is hoping to make some more memories, as every potential victory from now through the end of November could improve their December/January destination when bowl season rolls around.
BAKING TURNOVERS
Minnesota defenders have been busier than pastry chefs this season. The Gopher defense has baked up 24 turnovers so far this season, which is No. 1 in the nation. Meanwhile, Minnesota has been pretty good at maintaining possession of the ball. The Gophers have only coughed it up nine times (tied for No. 14 nationally). All that leads to an average turnover margin of +1.88 per game, which is No. 1 in all the land.
Of Minnesota’s 24 takeaways, the Gophers have converted 16 into points, for a success rate of 66.7 percent. Eleven of those scores have been touchdowns. Minnesota scored 41 points off just 14 turnovers during the entire 2007 campaign. The Gophers already have 92 points off takeaways in eight games this season.
-UM-
