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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Lose Homecoming Heartbreaker
11/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Northwestern scored the game-winning touchdown on a 48-yard interception return with 12 seconds left to play handing No. 20 Minnesota a heartbreaking 24-17 Homecoming defeat at the HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers fall to 7-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play.
Wildcat junior safety Brandon Smith collected a tipped Adam Weber pass intended for Eric Decker and darted 48 yards through the Gopher offense to tally the winning score. Senior cornerback David Oredagba was credited with the tip.
While Smith made the play of the game for the Wildcats, it was junior backup quarterback Mike Kafka who was Northwestern’s difference maker. Starting for injured starter C.J. Bacher, who had a streak of 25 consecutive games started halted, Kafka rushed for 217 yards and accounted for 360 of Northwestern’s 363 yards of total offense.
The Minnesota defense had just made the big stop to give the Gophers a chance for a game-winning drive. A 55-yard Northwestern punt backed up the Gophers to their own 14-yard line, but with two timeouts and 47 seconds remaining, the season-high crowd of 54,122 has hoping for a big finish in the last Homecoming game in the Metrodome.
Weber passes fell incomplete on the first two plays of the drive and it took a diving Decker grab, tiptoeing on the Gopher sideline, to gain 12 yards and keep the drive alive. Weber rushed for three yards on first down before the costly interception took place on second down.
Weber passed for 327 yards, his fourth career game with 300 or more yards passing. He set a career high with 51 attempts, tying his best with 31 receptions. Ben Kuznia pulled down seven catches for 98 yards.
The teams battled to a 17-17 halftime tie, with the stat sheet reflecting equality as well. Both teams notched nine first downs and around 200 yards of total offense (Northwestern 209, Minnesota 193).
The Wildcats struck paydirt first, taking the opening kickoff and marching down the field for seven-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Kafka to Jeremy Ebert.
Minnesota was uncharacteristically forced to punt on a three-and-out on its first possession of the game. In five other games this season, the Gophers scored on their opening offensive possession of the game.
Northwestern (7-2, 3-2) capitalized on its defensive stand and continued its impressive offensive output to start the game. The Wildcats’ second possession resulted in a 34-yard field goal by Arnado Villarreal and a 10-0 lead.
The Gopher offense finally found its stride as the first quarter came to a close. Weber found tight end Nick Tow-Arnett on consecutive plays for large gains, one for 31 yards and the next for 26 yards, to put Minnesota in scoring position.
The Gophers were held scoreless in the first quarter for only the second time this season, but quickly erased the goose-egg from the scoreboard on the first play of the second quarter. Weber connected with Decker on a 7-yard touchdown score on the play, a reception that allowed the Gophers’ All-America candidate to tie his own single-season reception record of 67 catches (set last season).
Junior cornerback Traye Simmons gave the Gophers their first lead of the game at 14-10 at the 10:07 mark of the second quarter when he jumped the pass route, making a clean pick and returning the interception 23 yards for the touchdown. The interception was Simmons’ third of the season and provided the opportunistic Gopher defense with their first takeaway of the day.
The Wildcats would go three-and-out on their next possession, but the Gophers would do the same after Decker grabbed set a new single-season mark with a 1-yard reception on first down. Northwestern regained the lead with a touchdown with 6:03 remaining in the half. Kafka escaped from the pocket for a 53-yard run down the left sideline, then connected with Josh Rooks for a 2-yard scoring strike.
The Gophers basically ate up the remainder of the first-half clock with a 13-play drive that resulted in a 21-yard field goal by Joel Monroe to tie the score at the intermission.
Minnesota returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 8, playing host to Michigan in the battle of the Little Brown Jug.
Wildcat junior safety Brandon Smith collected a tipped Adam Weber pass intended for Eric Decker and darted 48 yards through the Gopher offense to tally the winning score. Senior cornerback David Oredagba was credited with the tip.
While Smith made the play of the game for the Wildcats, it was junior backup quarterback Mike Kafka who was Northwestern’s difference maker. Starting for injured starter C.J. Bacher, who had a streak of 25 consecutive games started halted, Kafka rushed for 217 yards and accounted for 360 of Northwestern’s 363 yards of total offense.
The Minnesota defense had just made the big stop to give the Gophers a chance for a game-winning drive. A 55-yard Northwestern punt backed up the Gophers to their own 14-yard line, but with two timeouts and 47 seconds remaining, the season-high crowd of 54,122 has hoping for a big finish in the last Homecoming game in the Metrodome.
Weber passes fell incomplete on the first two plays of the drive and it took a diving Decker grab, tiptoeing on the Gopher sideline, to gain 12 yards and keep the drive alive. Weber rushed for three yards on first down before the costly interception took place on second down.
Weber passed for 327 yards, his fourth career game with 300 or more yards passing. He set a career high with 51 attempts, tying his best with 31 receptions. Ben Kuznia pulled down seven catches for 98 yards.
The teams battled to a 17-17 halftime tie, with the stat sheet reflecting equality as well. Both teams notched nine first downs and around 200 yards of total offense (Northwestern 209, Minnesota 193).
The Wildcats struck paydirt first, taking the opening kickoff and marching down the field for seven-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Kafka to Jeremy Ebert.
Minnesota was uncharacteristically forced to punt on a three-and-out on its first possession of the game. In five other games this season, the Gophers scored on their opening offensive possession of the game.
Northwestern (7-2, 3-2) capitalized on its defensive stand and continued its impressive offensive output to start the game. The Wildcats’ second possession resulted in a 34-yard field goal by Arnado Villarreal and a 10-0 lead.
The Gopher offense finally found its stride as the first quarter came to a close. Weber found tight end Nick Tow-Arnett on consecutive plays for large gains, one for 31 yards and the next for 26 yards, to put Minnesota in scoring position.
The Gophers were held scoreless in the first quarter for only the second time this season, but quickly erased the goose-egg from the scoreboard on the first play of the second quarter. Weber connected with Decker on a 7-yard touchdown score on the play, a reception that allowed the Gophers’ All-America candidate to tie his own single-season reception record of 67 catches (set last season).
Junior cornerback Traye Simmons gave the Gophers their first lead of the game at 14-10 at the 10:07 mark of the second quarter when he jumped the pass route, making a clean pick and returning the interception 23 yards for the touchdown. The interception was Simmons’ third of the season and provided the opportunistic Gopher defense with their first takeaway of the day.
The Wildcats would go three-and-out on their next possession, but the Gophers would do the same after Decker grabbed set a new single-season mark with a 1-yard reception on first down. Northwestern regained the lead with a touchdown with 6:03 remaining in the half. Kafka escaped from the pocket for a 53-yard run down the left sideline, then connected with Josh Rooks for a 2-yard scoring strike.
The Gophers basically ate up the remainder of the first-half clock with a 13-play drive that resulted in a 21-yard field goal by Joel Monroe to tie the score at the intermission.
Minnesota returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 8, playing host to Michigan in the battle of the Little Brown Jug.
Players Mentioned
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