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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set To Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Game Notes - at Wisconsin
GOPHERS, BADGERS TO BATTLE FOR AXE SATURDAY
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are hoping to bounce back from back-to-back losses Saturday, when they travel to Madison, Wis. to battle the Wisconsin Badgers for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium.
Minnesota dropped a 29-6 decision to Michigan last weekend at the Dome. It was the first of three straight trophy/rivalry games to end the season for the Gophers. Minnesota wraps up that stretch with a Nov. 22 game vs. Iowa for Floyd of Rosedale. While Minnesota was suffering through its worst offensive performance of the season, Wisconsin racked up 55 points and 601 yards of offense against Indiana in a 55-20 demolition of the Hoosiers. The Badgers will be playing for bowl eligibility in Saturday’s game, as well.
This week’s game will be broadcast on ABC. Terry Gannon will call the game as the play-by-play announcer, while David Norrie will serve as the analyst.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota is now 7-3 on the season and 3-3 in the Big Ten after falling to Michigan 29-6 last week. The Gophers are No. 3 in the nation in turnover margin and have been even in that category for each of the last two games.
Adam Weber has taken nearly every snap for Minnesota at quarterback and has thrown 318 of the Gophers’ 320 passes this season. He has passed for 2,256 yards and 11 TDs through 10 games. One week after throwing for 327 yards vs. Northwestern, Weber managed just 105 vs. Michigan. Eric Decker has been the main beneficiary of Weber’s aerials. Decker ranks No. 8 in the nation with 7.4 catches per game and No. 23 with 89.2 receiving yards per game. Decker has caught six TD passes this season. Leading the way on the ground is true freshman DeLeon Eskridge. Despite limited carries in the first two games, Eskridge has rushed for 615 yards on 157 carries.
Defensively, junior middle linebacker Lee Campbell is the team’s top tackler with 65 stops. Safeties Kyle Theret and Tramaine Brock have 60 and 58 tackles, respectively. Junior transfer cornerback Traye Simmons is No. 2 in the nation in passes defended, averaging 1.70 per game. Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg has 15.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, ranking 13th and 23rd in the nation, respectively.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
With Saturday’s win at Indiana, Wisconsin is one win away from bowl eligibility, despite a four-game losing stretch midway through the season.
Offensively, Wisconsin is led by running back P.J. Hill. He has rushed for 845 yards and averages 4.9 yards per carry. Quarterback Dustin Sherer has seen action in eight games. He has passed for 770 yards (64-of-122) with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Garrett Graham is the Badgers’ top receiver, hauling in 35 receptions for 467 yards and four TDs. David Gilreath also has three receiving scores.
Defensively, Jaeve McFadden leads Wisconsin with 71 total tackles. DeAndre Levy has 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks to lead the defensive line. O’Brien Schofield leads the team with four sacks. Niles Brinkley is the top secondary man, with three interceptions and seven pass break-ups.
QUICK HITTERS
> The Golden Gophers are the No. 3 team in the nation in turnover margin. The Gophers have an average turnover margin of +1.50.
> Last week marked the first time Minnesota has gone without a touchdown since losing 44-0 to Ohio State on Oct. 28, 2006.
> Minnesota ranks 22nd in the NCAA in scoring defense (19.0 points allowed per game).
> The Gophers are No. 20 in the NCAA in tackles for loss (6.90 TFL per game).
> Gopher WR Eric Decker is No. 8 in the nation in receptions per game.
> Decker has broken his own school record for single-season receptions (currently 74).
> Minnesota CB Traye Simmons is No. 2 in the nation in passes defended.
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 this season. The Gophers are 7-3 overall (3-3 in the Big Ten) after last week’s 29-6 loss to Michigan.
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 destination when bowl season rolls around.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Minnesota ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 20 in the nation in tackles for loss with 69 this season (6.90 per game). The Gophers are also No. 5 in the conference and tied for No. 32 in the nation in sacks with 24 (2.40 per game).
Minnesota had just 11 sacks and 62 tackles for-loss all of last season. The Gophers had already more-than-doubled their sack total from 2007 and topped their tackle for loss total from last season with three games left to play in the regular season.
FIRST BLOOD
Minnesota fell behind 19-0 before scoring last week. The Gophers have lit the scoreboard before their opponents in six games this season. The Gophers are 6-0 when scoring first. When the opponents score first, Minnesota is now 1-3. The Gophers have scored five times on their first possession of the game.
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