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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Football Game Day Blog
9/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Gopher Gameday Blog vs. Florida Atlantic
It's game day for Minnesota Golden Gopher Football. Follow along with us here on GopherSports.com as Minnesota hosts Florida Atlantic 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.
2:00 p.m.
Final score - Gophers win 37-3! Minnesota tasted sweet revenge after their 42-39 loss to the Owls last season. In 2007, FAU racked up 580 yards of offense against the Maroon and Gold, but managed only 276 in today's game. Minnesota now leads the series 2-1 over FAU. The Golden Gophers allowed the fewest points since a 52-0 drubbing of Temple at the Metrodome in the 2006 season.
Minnesota has now gone undefeated through the non-conference season nine times since the Big Ten adopted its current schedule of playing eight Big Ten opponents per season (1985). Minnesota has won four non-conference games in 2002, 2003, and and 2008.
The Golden Gophers will open Big Ten play next weekend when they head to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Big Ten opener will kick off at 11 a.m. (central) and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
1:50 p.m.
Numerous Gopher reserves are getting playing time here late in the game. With 5:56 remaining in the contest, the No. 2 defense just picked up a stop. The No. 2 offense is now in the contest, with Tony Mortensen at quarterback and Jay Thomas as the running back.
1:36 p.m.
Simoni Lawrence just made another huge play as I was finishing writing about his sack. Lawrence dropped back into coverage this time and picked off Smth's pass along the far sideline. Lawrence then out-ran the Florida Atlantic receiver chasing him for a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was the first time Minnesota has tallied a "Pick Six" since Dom Barber did it against Indiana on Nov. 4, 2006. The interception was Lawrence's first as a Gopher. It gives Minnesota's defense four turnovers in the contest (all on interceptions). The Gophers are bidding to be the nation's leader in turnover margin by the time the national statistics come out tomorrow. With 9:47 remaining in the contest, Minnesota 37, Florida Atlantic 3.
1:35 p.m.
Simoni Lawrence just sacked Florida Atlantic quarterback Rusty Smith. What's the big deal you ask? It was the first time Florida Atlantic has allowed a sack all season, including losses to Texas and Michigan State and a win over UAB. It was Lawrence's second sack of the season.
1:30 p.m.
DeLeon Eskridge just hit paydirt from one yard out, capping off Minnesota's possession to follow the Theret interception. With the Monroe PAT, Minnesota now leads 30-3 with 12:37 remaining in the contest. Another note to pass along on Eric Decker's day. This is the fifth time Decker has eclipsed the century mark in his career and the second time this season.
1:17 p.m.
One of the top teams in the nation in turnover margin is at it again! Kyle Theret just picked up the third turnover of the game for the Minnesota defense. Theret picked off FAU quarterback Rusty Smith on a fourth-and-2 from the Minnesota 37-yard line. It was the third intercpetion of the game for the Gophers and the second of the season for Theret. Minnesota now has six interceptions in its last three games. First-and-10 Gophers at the FAU 42-yard line after Theret returned the pick 41 yards.
1:05 p.m.
Eric Decker just went over the century mark in receiving. As of this post, he has seven receptions for 122 yards. His season high was 157 yards last week against Montana State. Decker's career best was last season at Florida Atlantic, with 165 yards. But there are still more than 20 minutes remaining in this contest. As I'm writing this, freshman receiver Brandon Green just hauled in his first career reception. Also, as I'm writing the Green note, DeLeon Eskridge just plunged into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run. The Joel Monroe PAT makes it Minnesota 23, Florida Atlantic 3 with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter. One other note of interest to pass along regarding the Gophers' scoring drive. It was set up by a 34-yard Marcus Sherels punt return. The return, which Sherels began by escaping what looked like a sure tackle, was the longest for the Gophers in the last two years. Minnesota's longest punt return all of last season was 16 yards. Sherels had a 22-yarder last week against Montana State.
12:58 p.m.
Minnesota put together a good looking drive to open the second half. But a penalty derailed the possession. The Gophers had completed a screen pass for a big gain inside the 20-yard line. A clipping penalty moved Minnesota back near midfield. After getting within field-goal range, Minnesota kicker Joel Monroe hit a knuckleball that didn't have the distance. The score remains Minnesota 16, Florida Atlantic 3. The good news on the drive is that the Gopher offense held the ball for more than five minutes, taking 5:31 off the third-quarter clock.
12:45 p.m.
The second half is under way. The Gophers will have the ball first, after Florida Atlantic chose to receive to open the game. DeLeon Eskridge looks like he's making a case to become the Gophers' featured back. The true freshman just lowered his shoulder and ran over a Florida Atlantic defender en route to a first down. Eskridge has 66 yards on 12 carries as of this post.
12:24 p.m.
That's the first half. Minnesota takes a 13-point lead and a 16-3 advantage into the locker room after holding FAU to just three points in the opening stanza. The Gophers will open the second half with the ball. What a difference a year makes. Last season at Dolphins Stadium, the Owls sprinted to a 35-14 halftime lead before holding on for a 41-34 victory over the Gophers.
12:22 p.m.
Lee Campbell comes up with an interception at the Gophers 13-yard line with 1:00 to go before intermission to thwart an FAU drive late in the half. It is the first career pick for Campbell.
12:15 p.m.
The Gophers are back on the board. Adam Weber connects with Eric Decker on a post route from 31 yards out to make it 16-3. Monroe misses the extra point. The TD strike marks the sixth consecutive game that Decker has hauled in a touchdown pass from Weber, including all four games this season. The missed PAT from Monroe was the first of his collegiate career. He had converted 56 straight prior to the miss.
12:07 p.m.
Florida Atlantic drove the posession after the interception inside the Minnesota 30-yard line. But on fourth-and-1 from the 29-yard line, Minnesota's defense held. Lienbackers Deon Hightower and Simoni Lawrence bottled up the running play, turning the ball back over to the Gopher offense with 7:09 remaining in the first half.
12:01 p.m.
Minnesota just failed to score from the red zone this season. The Gophers drove to the FAU 5-yard line. But on third-and-goal from the 7, Adam Weber's pass was intercepted in the end zone by cornerback Tavious Polo. It was the first INT of the season for Minnesota and just their second turnover. Weber had thrown 96 passes without an interception prior to the turnover. If this game is close late, the Gophers are going to remember that series. We'll see how things transpire.
11:53 a.m.
Florida Atlantic is on the scoreboard two plays into the second quarter. But it isn't as bad for the Gophers as it could have (or maybe should have) been. On the first play of the second quarter, FAU QB Rusty Smith found wide receiver Chris Bonner open near the goal line for what looked like a sure touchdown. Smith's pass hit Bonner in the hands, but he couldn't hang on. On fourth down, Warley Leroy converted a 35-yard field goal. With 14:51 remaining in the first half, Minnesota leads 10-3.
11:47 a.m.
That's the end of the first quarter. Another Gopher penalty (12 men on the field) has allowed Florida Atlantic to penetrate relatively deeply into Minnesota territory, as the quarter ends. It is currently third-and-3 for Florida Atlantic with the ball at the Gophers' 19-yard line. At the end of one quarter, Minnesota 10, Florida Atlantic 0.
11:38 a.m.
The Gopher defense picked up another three-and-out (sorta) on FAU's third possession. Minnesota held on third-and-2, but on the ensuing punt Minnesota was offside. That extended Florida Atlantic's possession. The Owls pushed inside Minnesota's 30-yard line. But the drive eventually stalled out and Minnesota's offense is back on the field.
11:25 a.m.
It looks like we jinxed the Gophers with our talk about red zone efficiency. Minnesota's second possession reached the red zone, but stalled just inside the 20-yard line. Joel Monroe came on and booted a 34-yard field goal to give Minnesota a 10-0 lead with 8:27 remaining in the first quarter. The Gophers are still perfect on scoring in the red zone (13-of-13), but that was the first time they've had to settle for a field goal. For Monroe, it was just his second field goal of the season and his first since the season-opener.
11:17 a.m.
It's been a good start for the Gopher defense so far. On FAU's second possession, the Owls started in a hole, picking up two false start penalties for a first-and-20. The Gopher defense held for a three-and-out. The Gophers will take over at their own 45-yard line after the punt. 11:22 remaining in the first quarter, Minnesota 7, Florida Atlantic 0.
11:10 a.m.
One of the best red zone teams in the nation is at it again. The Gophers just scored from the red zone on a three-yard Shady Salamon run. Minnesota is now 12-of-12 when inside the red zone this season, scoring 12 touchdowns. The Gophers are the only team in the country to have scored a TD every time they have been in the red zone.
11:08 a.m.
One of the best teams in the nation in turnover margin is at it again. Traye Simmons recorded his second interception of the season on the third play of the game, giving Minnesota possession at the FAU 27-yard line.
11:03 a.m.
For the first time this season, Minnesota did not win the toss. Florida Atlantic has elected to receive. So for the first time this season, the Minnesota defense will be on the field first. Gopher kicker Joel Monroe is on the field ... and we're set for football at the Metrodome!
10:45 a.m.
We're just about 15-20 minutes away from kickoff, so let's get this party started. The Gophers have just retreated to their locker room for last-minute instructions and motivation from head coach Tim Brewster.
Minnesota is sticking with what's been working in regard to uniform color combinations. The Gophers are staying with the gold pants and maroon jerseys. To stay with the uniform theme, Florida Atlantic is in white pants and white jerseys, trimmed in red and blue. The Owls are members of the Sun Belt Conference and have been playing football since 2001. Legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger has been in charge of the program from the beginning. He led the Owls to a Sun Belt Conference title and a victory in the New Orleans Bowl last season.
FAU is one of two NCAA Division I schools in the nation to have the Owl as a mascot. Temple is the other.
A couple notes on Minnesota's lineup: Starting left tackle Dom Alford will be out with the ankle injury he suffered in last week's game. Jason Meinke will start in Alford's stead. Starting right guard Ned Tavale, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury, is dressed. But Chris Bunders, who started last week's game, will get the nod at that position once again this week.
The band is playing the Battle Hymn of the Republic ... back with more later.
