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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Football Gameday Blog - NIU
8/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Gopher Game Day Blog
10:00 p.m.
Gophers win 31-27. Coach Brewster decides to go for it on 4th-and-1 at the Northern Illinois 4-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the game. Duane Bennett was short of the goal line on the 4th down play, but picked up the first down. One play later, Bennett was in the end zone with the game-winning score. Northern Illinois got within striking distance on the last play of the game, but wide receiver (and outfielder for the Gopher baseball team) Eric Decker played a perfect center field on the last ditch Huskie pass, knocking it down to preserve the victory.
Following the game, Coach Brewster said Bennett told him he wanted the ball on 4th down. He also called Decker "a heck of a center fielder." That's going to do it for tonight. Heck of a finish and the Gophers are 1-0.
-AS
8:45 p.m.
Northern Illinois has just taken its first lead of the game with 8:09 remaining in the contest. Nathan Palmer just hauled in a long touchdown pass for the Huskies to give them a 27-24 lead. But there's plenty of time left for the Gophers.
It's time for me to go down to the field and locker room. We'll be back to wrap things up in a while. 5:00 remaining with the Gophers still trailing 27-24.
-AS
8:30 p.m.
Eric Decker just made his 10th catch of the game. It is his second career double-digit receiving game. His career-high for receptions in a game is 12, which he recorded at Florida Atlantic last season.
-AS
8:15 p.m.
Thanks to staff photographer Eric Miller and Director of Athletic Communications Garry Bowman, here's a Photo Album from some of tonight's action.
The third quarter has come to an end. More points were scored in the third quarter (24) than the two teams combined for in the first and second quarters combined (20).
-AS
8:03 p.m.
The big plays for the Gopher offense just keep on coming. Following an NIU field goal that made the score 17-13, Duane Bennett was off the races. Minnesota got a nice kickoff return by freshman Troy Stoudermire, putting the ball at the Gophers' 39-yard line. On the first play of the ensuing possession, Bennett went over the left side. After breaking a tackle or two, it was off to the races for Bennett down the Minnesota sideline. His 61-yard touchdown run was the longest run of his career and the longest running play of the Coach Tim Brewster era.
It was the longest run for a Golden Gopher since the 2005 season, when Laurence Maroney went 93 yards against Wisconsin.
In the time it took me to type that, another big play just happened. This time, it was NIU. A 91-yard touchdown catch and run by Nathan Palmer. Gophers lead 24-20 ... whew, what a crazy past few minutes.
-AS
7:47 p.m.
If you read my preseason camp blog, you saw me write a lot about Jack Simmons showing up nearly each day with big plays. Well, it transferred over to tonight's game. Simmons just put together a very nice, 53-yard catch and run off a pass from Adam Weber. The play went for a touchdown and was a career-long reception for Simmons. His previous best was a 38-yarder two years ago. Gophers 17, Huskies 10 with 11:25 remaining in the third.
I want to pass along something that the Gopher Athletic Communications staff is doing to give you updates, if you can't read the blog and you aren't near a radio or TV that is able to receive the game. You can sign up to have scores texted to you for selected Gopher sports by clicking here for Gopher EScores. It is a really nice service to be able to receive instant score updates on your favorite Gopher teams.
-AS
7:42 p.m.
The second half is under way and the Gopher defense comes up with a three-and-out. Willie VanDeSteeg sniffed out a quarterback draw on third down.
-AS
7:15 p.m.
Just got back from my halftime duties on the field. While I was down there, Decker had what he thought was a touchdown pass. It was ruled incomplete on the field and the replay official backed the call up. Minnesota settled for a field goal and took a 10-7 lead.
A blocked punt by Northern Illinois was recovered at the Minnesota 27-yard line a few minutes later. After mustering just five yards on the ensuing possession, the Huskies settled for a 39-yard field goal off the foot of Mike Salerno to tie things up 10-10 at the intermission.
In his radio interview at halftime, Coach Brewster mentioned that it's a 60-minute game and the Gophers were in this position plenty last year. Indeed, Minnesota was no stranger to close games last season. No team in the country lost as many close games (7 points or less) than Minnesota last season. Here's hoping the Gophers will take advantage of the lessons learned last season in tonight's second half.
The Minnesota band is entertaining the crowd. Back for the second half in about 15 minutes.
-AS
6:40 p.m.
We've got a tied-up ballgame at 7-7. NIU went 74 yards, capped by a Justin Anderson 2-yard touchdown run. A 26-yard pass from Chandler Harnish to Matt Simon was the big play in the drive.
-AS
6:31 p.m.
That's the end of the first quarter, with Minnesota holding a 7-0 advantage. NIU couldn't get anything going on its first possession. The Gophers went three-and-out on their second possession. But Justin Kucek, after booting 13 50-plus-yard punts last season, hit a 51-yarder on his first punt this season. As we go to the second quarter, NIU has the ball 1st-and-15 at its own 33-yard line.
Just received an e-mail from Gary in Los Angeles, who can't see or hear the game on TV or radio. The M flag is flying in front of his house today and he's following along with us here at GopherSports.com.
-AS
6:15 p.m.
Minnesota won the toss and elected to receive. The first two offensive plays of the seaosn were complete passes to Eric Decker, with the second resulting in a first down.
Gopher QB Adam Weber opened the game completing his first five pass attempts of the season. Four of those completions went to Decker. He was 8-of-9 on the opening drive, including a sixth pass to Decker for an 8-yard touchdown pass. The drive was 18 plays long, covered 90 yards and took 8:57 off the first-quarter clock.
If you were going to script the opening drive of a season, I'm not sure you could do it any better. Great start to the 2008 season for the Gophers.
-AS
5:55 p.m.
There go the pyrotechnics ... the Gophers are on the field! We're just about to get the 2008 campaign started ...
-AS
5:50 p.m.
The band is on the field! The band is on the field!
The Minnesota Marching Band has begun its pregame show and the crowd is really beginning to file in now. There's a small red-clad Northern Illinois contingent in sections 234 and 235. My uneducated guess would be around 300 or so Huskie fans in attendance.
In regard to crowd, I'm very impressed with the Minnesota student section. Most of the students are decked out in gold t-shirts, which were passed out as the students entered the Dome. As I'm typing the Rouser is being played. My first time hearing the Rouser in person!
Less than 15 minutes until kickoff ...
-AS
5:05 p.m.
Many of the Gophers (specialists, receivers, QBs, running backs, etc.) have made their way out for pre-game warmups. We've now gotten a look at the first new uniform color combination for the Gophers this season. Minnesota is wearing its fairly traditional maroon tops with gold bottoms.
Some of the crowd is filing in, including a pretty decent early showing from the student section.
A coupel nuggets to pass along from the Big Ten Network. I received some predictions from Howard Griffith and Gerry Dinardo of the BTN. Howard Griffith picks Minnesota as his "sleeper" pick of the Big Ten Conference. In addition, both Griffith and Dinardo have predicted the Gophers' Tramaine Brock to be the Defensive Newcomer of the Year in the league.
Less than an hour until kickoff ...
-AS
4:10 p.m.
The Gophers are in the Dome! The Gopher Victory Walk took place right on time, if not a few minutes early this afternoon. The Gophers came down the Metrodome steps about five minutes ago. Many of the Minnesota players are now on the field and doing some preliminary stretching, etc.
More updates soon.
-AS
3:30 p.m.
It’s the next best thing to Christmas morning, college football fans! The first Saturday of college football is upon us. I’ve been at the Metrodome for a few minutes now, the cheerleaders are on the field getting in some practice.
So, welcome to college football season and welcome to the Gopher Football Gameday Blog. Throughout the day, I’ll have some updates regarding what’s happening at the Dome, during the game, etc. If you aren’t able to hear this game on the radio or see it on television for some reason, please join us and follow along here at GopherSports.com.
A number of games are already in the books, as well. I watched some of Bowling Green’s upset win over Pittsburgh earlier today. But for now, the Gophers’ focus is squarely on Northern Illinois.
Please join us and feel free to send questions and comments to aseeley@umn.edu, if you’d like.
-Andy Seeley
