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University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota vs. Northwestern
November 1, 2008
Postgame Notes
Series Notes
- Minnesota leads the all-time series against the Wildcats 49-30-5, though Northwestern has now won two straight over the Gophers after Minnesota had won the previous three.
Team Notes
- Northwestern’s first quarter touchdown was just the third first-quarter touchdown allowed by the Gophers this season. Ohio State and Montana State were the only others.
- Northwestern had 209 total yards in the first half after Minnesota limited Purdue to just 226 total yards for the entire game last week. The Wildcats finished with 363 total yards.
- Northwestern’s 220 yards rushing was the most allowed by the Gophers this season.
- The Gophers had a drive that lasted eight minutes, seven seconds in the third quarter and resulted in a missed field goal. It was Minnesota’s second-longest drive of the season behind an eight-minute, 57-second drive against Northern Illinois.
- Minnesota entered the game leading the nation in turnover margin and added two more takeaways with one giveaway. The Gophers now have 26 takeaways and 10 giveaways for the season.
- The Gophers failed to score in the second half for the first time this season and the first time since against Michigan on Oct. 27, 2007.
- The attendance of 54,122 was Minnesota’s largest of the season.
Individual Notes
- Junior wide receiver Eric Decker’s second-quarter touchdown catch tied his own school record from last season with his 67th reception of the season. He finished with seven catches overall to give him 73 for the year.
- Decker moved alone into third place on the Gophers’ all-time receiving touchdowns list with the 18th of his career. Sophomore quarterback Adam Weber also moved alone into fourth place in school history with his 35th career touchdown pass.
- Brandon Smith’s game-winning interception return for the Wildcats was the first defensive touchdown allowed by the Gophers this season. It was Smith’s second returned interception return for a touchdown this season, having also done so against Syracuse.
- Weber had thrown one interception in his last 172 passing attempts prior to Smith’s pick in the final seconds. It was only Weber’s fourth interception of the year.
- Weber’s 51 passing attempts were a career high. His previous high was 47 last year at Florida Atlantic. His most this season had been 37 against Northern Illinois and Indiana.
- Weber’s 31 completions matched a career best from last year at Florida Atlantic. His previous high this season was 24 against Northern Illinois. His 327 yards passing was also a season-high, eclipsing his 298 against Northern Illinois. It was his fourth career 300-yard game.
- Junior wide receiver Ben Kuznia set career highs for receptions and yards with seven catches for 98 yards.
- Traye Simmons’ interception return for a touchdown was the Gophers’ third defensive touchdown of the season. Simoni Lawrence had a fumble and interception return for touchdowns. Simmons added another interception in the third quarter and now has four interceptions for the season.
- The last Minnesota player with two interceptions in a game was Jamal Harris on Sept. 8, 2007 against Miami (Ohio).
- Lawrence’s nine tackles matched a career high set earlier this year against Illinois.
- Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher had started 25 consecutive games prior to missing Saturday’s contest.
- Wildcats’ quarterback Mike Kafka was eight-for-eight passing for 103 yards in the first quarter and was four-for-eight for 40 yards the remainder of the game.
- Kafka rushed for 217 yards on 27 carries, which was the most by a Gophers’ opponent since Wisconsin’s Zach Brown had 250 yards in last year’s season finale. Kafka’s total marked a Northwestern record for rushing yards by a quarterback.
- Kafka accounted for 360 yards of Northwestern’s 363 yards of total offense (217 rushing, 143 passing).
- Kafka’s 53-yard rushing play in the second quarter was the longest allowed by the Gophers this season.
