.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Decker, Defense Lead Gophers Past Hoosiers 16-7
10/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Behind a career day by junior wide receiver Eric Decker and a dominant defensive performance, the Minnesota football team won its first Big Ten Conference game of the Tim Brewster Era on Saturday.
Decker caught a program-record 13 passes for a career-high 190 receiving yards and Ted Roof’s defensive unit forced three turnovers, notched four sacks and came up with key fourth quarter stops as the Gophers beat Indiana 16-7 in front of 40,511 at the Metrodome. Minnesota’s fifth win of the season means the maroon and gold is now one win away from being eligible for a postseason bowl game.
“Eric puts the team on his back and says throw me the ball,’” sophomore quarter Adam Weber said. “He’ll find a way to get open. Every single week you ask the question, how are we going to get Eric the ball? He just stays open. It’s just one of those things that is a testament to a good player, a good wide receiver, and a competitor. “
While Decker carried the Gophers offense, this victory started and ended with the play of Minnesota’s defense, according to head coach Tim Brewster.
“How about that defense? Just absolutely spectacular. It feels good to win a game where we leaned on the defense here at Minnesota,” the second year coach said. “That was a character victory today.”
In last year’s 40-20 Hoosiers win, Minnesota and Indiana combined for 28 first quarter points (14-14). A shootout was expected again, but, after a scoreless first 15 minutes of play, it quickly became evident that points would be at a premium this time around.
The Gophers won the coin toss and elected to receive, but couldn’t make good on a lengthy 16-play opening drive. Minnesota, which entered the game scoring on 19 of 20 red zone opportunities, took nearly 10 minutes off the clock but came up empty despite driving down to the Indiana 4-yard line when kicker Joel Monroe missed a 28-yard field goal attempt.
More importantly though, the Gophers survived a huge scare at the end of the opening drive. On third and goal, quarterback Adam Weber went down at the Indiana 11-yard line after being sacked up by the Hoosiers’ Jammie Kirlew. Shaken after the hit, Weber hobbled to the sideline on his left foot, putting no pressure on his right, as two Minnesota trainers helped escort him off the field.
To the sigh of relief of Gold Country, the sophomore from Mounds View returned to field on Minnesota’s next offensive series. Shortly thereafter, Weber found his groove.
On the final play of the first quarter, Weber found Decker for a 20-yard completion near midfield - a play which set the tone for the Gophers first scoring drive of the afternoon. Two plays later, Weber completed a 40-yard pass to tight end Nick Tow-Arnett down to the Hoosiers’ 1-yard line. Shady Salamon scored on the next play to put Minnesota up 7-0.
Meanwhile, Ted Roof’s defensive crew was stifling the Hoosiers high-octane offense. The Gophers defense, vastly improved from a season ago, held the Hoosiers to just four yards of total offense on six first quarter plays. Equally impressive, the maroon and gold held the Hoosiers’ to just two first downs all half. Unfortunately for Minnesota, one of those one of their few breakdowns of afternoon - tied the game.
After Minnesota and Indiana traded turnovers with under five minutes remaining in the half - an errant option pitch by Weber, followed by an interception by Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell that ended up in the lap of Gophers’ linebacker Lee Campbell - the Hoosiers finally made offensive progress. Chappell, who fills in sporadically behind center for Lewis, threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Thigpen with 2:29 remaining in the half to tie the game.
Carrying the momentum of their last-minute first half TD, the Hoosiers came out firing to start the second stanza and looked destined to take the lead. But, again, Minnesota’s defense stepped up. With the Hoosiers down to the Minnesota 24, linebacker Steve Davis sacked Lewis, forcing a fumble in the process that was recovered by Campbell. Three plays later, Weber threw a 53-yard strike to Decker, setting up an eventual go-ahead 29-yard field goal by Monroe which gave the Gophers a 10-7 lead.
That would be all the scoring Minnesota would need on this day. Up 13-7 following a 43-yard third quarter field goal by Monroe, the Gophers offense went on a 15-play, seven minute and 21 second drive to seal things.
Facing fourth-and-one with 3:21 remaining, Eskridge who finished the day with 76 yards on 29 carries- kept the chains moving and the clock ticking. Three plays later, Eskridge picked up another first down on a third-and-two with 2:42 left. The Gophers ran the clock down to 22 seconds before Monroe converted his third field goal of the afternoon this one from 38-yards out to put the game out of reach.
With their nine-game Big Ten losing streak now a thing of the past, the Gophers will look for their second consecutive conference victory when they travel to Champaign, Ill. to face Illinois next Saturday.
