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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Gameday Blog - vs. Montana State
9/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Gopher Football Gameday Blog - vs. Montana State
It's game day for Minnesota Golden Gopher Football. Follow along with us here on GopherSports.com as Minnesota hosts Montana State at the Metrodome. We'll try to give you some insight into the game, a bit of a running commentary and hopefully a look inside some of the things you might not get watching the game on television or listening on the radio. As always, feel free to send a note with a question or comment on the blog, send them to aseeley@umn.edu.
2:33 p.m.
Minnesota defeats Montana State by a score of 35-23 to move to 3-0 on the season. It is the first 3-0 start for the Golden Gophers since the 2005 season. Minnesota had three interceptions in the game (Kyle Theret, Traye Simmons, Marcus Sherels). Freshman DeLeon Eskridge rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns. It was the Golden Gophers first three touchdown game by a freshman since Justin Valentine did so against Northwestern on Sept. 25, 2004. Eskridge also had the first 100-yard rushing performance by a freshman since Duane Bennett had one against Michigan on Oct. 27, 2007. Next week the Golden Gophers face Florida Atlantic at 11 a.m. at the Metrodome on Saturday, Sept. 20. That game will be on the Big Ten Network. Florida Atlantic lost to Michigan State 17-0 this afternoon.
2:24 p.m.
With 1:08 left in the game, Kyle Theret picks off a pass by Cody Kempt and returns it to the Bobcat 30-yard line to finish the game. Minnesota kneels it down twice to win the game 35-23.
2:22 p.m.
With 1:48 remaining in the game, Justin Kucek pins Montana State back on its own 5-yard line with anothe quality punt. It is the fifth time this game that Kucek has pinned the Bobcast inside their own 20-yard line to start a drive.
2:15 p.m.
Under four minutes to go, the score remains Minnesota 35, Montana State 23. Mark wants to know the status of Rex Sharpe and Shady Salamon. Sharpe saw some action on special teams today. He asked if Shady was hurt, since he only has a couple carries. Shady just carried the ball a few minutes ago. His absence from the field probably has more to do with the effectiveness of DeLeon Eskridge today. Minnesota has the ball back with just more than three minutes remaining.
1:55 p.m.
Good timing from Matthew, who asks what the attendance for today's game is. As I was reading Matthew's e-mail, the public address announcer just made the announcement. Our attendance at the Dome today is 43,929.
As we're writing this, MSU has gotten inside the Minnesota 1-yard line, but failed to score on first and second down. They are now facing third-and-goal from the 1 and they convert as C.J. Palmer bulls his way in over the right side of the line. With 11:10 remaining in the game, Minnesota's lead is now 35-23.
1:41 p.m.
Two plays after the VanDeSteeg sack, Marcus Sherels got the ball back for Minnesota. Sherels, a converted wide receiver, recorded his first career interception from his cornerback position, giving the Gophers possession deep in Montana State territory. As I'm writing this, DeLeon Eskridge just scored his third touchdown on a two-yard TD plunge. Monroe's PAT is good and Minnesota leads it 35-16 with 1:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Now we're working on finding the last Gopher freshman to score three rushing TDs in a game. My guess would be Laurence Maroney, but we'll see. We do know the last time a Gopher scored three TDs rushing, Alex Daniels did so against Kent State in 2006. Once again, stay tuned ...
Here's an interesting note to pass along ... Minnesota scored 41 points off turnovers all of last season. The Gophers have now scored 45 in less than three games during the 2008 campaign.
1:35 p.m.
Willie VanDeSteeg just took over seventh place by himself on the Minnesota all-time sack chart. VanDeSteeg and Lee Campbell just combined to sack MSU QB Cody Kempt, giving Willie 12.5 sacks for his career.
1:20 p.m.
Eskridge's two touchdown runs mark the first time a Gopher freshman has found the end zone twice on the ground since Jay Thomas did so on Nov. 4, 2006. Thomas found paydirt twice against Indiana that day. As we were looking up that information, Willie VanDeSteeg recorded his first sack of the season. VanDeSteeg now has 12 career sacks, putting him in a tie for No. 7 all-time in Minnesota history. He is currently tied with Greg White (1999-2001) and Sean Hoffman (1997-2000).
1:15 p.m.
Nice drive by the Gophers to answer the Montana State field goal. Minnesota got a solid kickoff return from freshman Troy Stoudermire, who took it to midfield. The scoring drive took six plays and was capped by a three-yard TD run for DeLeon Eskridge. It was Eskridge's second touchdown run of the game and of his young career. We're checking to see the last time a Gopher freshman scored twice on the ground ... stay tuned and we'll have that info. for you soon.
1:08 p.m.
The Gopher defense stiffened after Montana state reached the Gophers' 30-yard line. But the Bobcats turned that fake punt into a 48-yard, line-drive field goal by Jason Cunningham. Minnesota 21, Montana State 16 with 11:13 remaining in the first half.
1:05 p.m.
Minnesota's defense got a three-and-out (sorta) to start the second half. Montana State lined up to punt, but ran a nice fake for a first down. Bobby Daly, the up man in the protection took the snap and lofted it over the line for a completion to an end, who leaked into the secondary. The Bobcats are now driving, inside the Minnesota 30-yard line.
12:59 p.m.
Adam Weber and Eric Decker are climbing the charts in the Minnesota history books. As of halftime, Weber has moved into the No. 7 spot for all-time completions, after going 12-of-18 in the first half today. He now has 315 career pass completions. Weber is also now in the top 10 in passing yardage, while Decker has moved into the top 10 in receiving yardage.
Second half kickoff is seconds away ... Minnesota will kick off to Montana State.
12:38 p.m.
Minnesota's defense holds in the final seconds of the second quarter to preserve a 21-13 lead for the Gophers at halftime. Montana State will get the ball to start the second half. A few halftime notes for you... With his 3-yard touchdown reception today, Eric Decker now has 15 career TD catches to rank tied for fourth all time in that category at Minnesota... Weber finishes the half 12 of 18 for 154 yards and has now tossed at least one touchdown pass in 14 of 15 games started.
12:33 p.m.
Phew! What a frantic finish to the half. After the two teams scored just 6 points in the first quarter, the two teams totaled 28 points in the last 4:22, with 21 of those being scored by the Gophers.
12:27 p.m.
Eric Decker just hauled in a beautiful over-the-shoulder grab from Adam Weber in the left corner of the endzone for his third receiving TD of the season. What a half for Decker he'll head into the break with 8 receptions for 134 yards, including the TD. By the way, it took the Gophers just 24 seconds to score.
12:25 p.m.
Nice hold by the Minnesota D. After the Bobcat put the Gophers get the ball back with 1:47 to go in the half at the MSU 47-yard line. Let's see if they can cash in before intermission.
12:21 p.m.
The Gophers just went 3-and-out for the fourth time today and just can't seem to find a rhythm on offense. Justin Kucek booted his fifth punt of the first half. Kucek punted just five times in the entire game against Northern Illinois and six times last week at Bowling Green.
12:17 p.m.
We the euphoria didn't last long. Montana State has just returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Demetrius Crawford started up the right sideline then cut back across the grain and into the open, outlegging the Gophers' cover unit 100-yards for a touchdown to pull the Bobcats within a point at 14-13. It is the first kickoff returned for a touchdown against the Maroon and Gold since Purdue's Desmond Tardy scooted 95 yards to paydirt with a kickoff return in last year's game between the Gophers and the Boilers at the Metrodome.
12:12 p.m.
Gophers quickly take advantage of the turnover. DeLeon Eskridge pounds it in from the 3-yard line for a 14-6 lead. It's is the freshman's first career touchdown. Minnesota has now scored 35 points off of turnovers in its past two games.
12:10 p.m.
Traye Simmons collectes his first career interception on a deflection at the line of scrimmage by Garrett Brown. Gophers set up with great field position at the MSU 23-yard line. That's the sixth turnover forced by the defense in the last two weeks and the seventh of the year for the Gophers.
12:05 p.m.
The Gophers are finally on the board. Adam Weber just capped an 88-yard, 11-play drive with a three-yard touchdown run at the 5:45 mark of the second quarter. Joel Monroe's PAT was good and the Gophers are on top 7-6. Weber was 3-for-3 pasing for 52 yards on the drive.
11:47 a.m.
That's the end of the first quarter and Montana State leads Minnesota 6-0. The Gophers finally put something together on offense, reaching Montana State territory. However, the Gophers were stopped short of a first down on a third-down play to end the quarter.
We received a question from Audrey in Texas, who was asking about listening to the game online. You can listen to many Minnesota live events, including this one, in the Gold Zone on GopherSports.com.
11:40 a.m.
Montana State is playing about as well as it can right now. MSU's defense has held Minnesota to three three-and-outs to open the game. The Bobcat offense, which had threatened to score in each of their first two possessions finally broke through with 2:41 left in the first quarter. A 32-yard touchdown pass put MSU on top 6-0. Nathan Triplett blocked the PAT for Minnesota, to keep the score at 6-0.
11:30 a.m.
The Gopher defense has bent, but hasn't broken so far in the early going. Minnesota's offense has struggled on its first two possessions. But the defense has now forced a field-goal attempt that was blocked and has just held on fourth down at their own 33-yard line to give the ball back to Minnesota.
11:15 a.m.
Willie VanDeSteeg blocked a Montana State field-goal attempt after the Bobcats drove inside the Gophers' 30-yard line on their opening possession. It was the first blocked field goal in nearly a year for Minnesota. Mike Sherels had the last one on Sept. 22, 2007 against Purdue. It was the third blocked kick of VanDeSteeg's career, as he blocked a field goal and a PAT earlier in his career.
11:10 a.m.
I jinxed it. The Gophers went three-and-out on their first possession of the game, stopping their streak of game-opening scoring drives.
11:03 a.m.
The Gophers have now won the toss for the third straight week. For the third straight week, Minnesot will get the ball to open the contest. The Gophers are 2-for-2 on scoring to open the game so far this season. We'll see if that continues in just a few minutes. Here comes the kickoff ...
10:57 a.m.
There goes the smoke and pyro ... and your Minnesota Golden Gophers have taken the field. I don't know what it is, maybe it is the little kid in me, but I still really get a thrill when a team takes the field to fireworks and explosions.
The Bobcats have joined us on the field, as well. The national anthem is up next ...
10:50 a.m.
The University of Minnesota Marching Band -- The Pride of Minnesota -- is on the field, doing some high-stepping and playing the Minnesota March. The crowd is really beginning to fill in now. With the poor weather outside, there were still some hardy tailgaters outside when I arrived at the dome a couple hours ago. The smell of bacon grilling outside the dome was enough to whet my appetite. It was a bit of a different smell from the normal barbecue aromas, but it was nice. I don't know about those of you reading the blog, but I'm a big fan of the 11 a.m. kickoff.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic is being played, with a tribute to the Armed Forces from the band this week. We're just a few minutes away from the Star Spangled Banner and about 10 minutes away from kickoff.
10:40 a.m.
The Gophers just left the field after warmups. Minnesota is sporting the maroon jerseys over the gold pants once again today. It's the same look they went with in the season-opening victory over Northern Illinois.
Today's opponent is Montana State, out of the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats are a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) team. MSU defeated Division II Adams State in its season-opener, then stepped up to the FBS level last week, falling 69-10 at Kansas State. Last week's loss to K-State could be a bit deceiving, however. Montana State had four turnovers that were converted into touchdowns, while also having two punts blocked for scores.
Minnesota is 50-2 all-time against teams that are current members of NCAA DIvision Football Championship Subdivision.
