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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Upended at Iowa
11/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Iowa City, Iowa - Minnesota wasn't able to capitalize on a stout defensive effort by its defense as the Gophers dropped a 12-0 decision to Iowa in the annual battle for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy.
Defense indeed was the story of the game, as the Gophers 201 yards on offense led the day compared to just 171 for the Hawkeyes. First downs were at a premium as well, with Minnesota's 13 bettering Iowa's 12.
Of Minnesota's 201 yards, 153 came through the air as Adam Weber (Shoreview, Minn.) completed 14-of-40 passes for 153 yards. Kevin Whaley (Virginia Beach, Va.) led the Gopher ground game with 38 yards on 11 carries, while MarQueis Gray (Indianapolis, Ind.) also chipped in 23 yards on seven carries.
On the defensive end, Gary Tinsley (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the way with a team and career high 10 tackles, including a seven-yard sack. Ryan Collado (Cincinnati) was equally impressive with seven solo stops on his way to nine total tackles. Collado, became the first Gopher this season with two sacks in a game, on his way to three tackles for a loss of 18 yards.
The Gophers last chance to get back in the game came early in the fourth quarter, with Iowa holding a 12-0 lead. The Gopher defense recovered a fumbled Hawkeye snap at the Iowa 29 yard line to start the drive. Five plays later, courtesy of an Iowa pass interference penalty, Minnesota was looking at first and goal from the two yard line. As they had all game, the stifling Hawkeye defense held firm and kept Minnesota from the endzone, protecting the 12-0 lead.
The Gophers would get the ball just twice more in the game, and could not get in the redzone again.
The Hawkeyes took the opening kickoff and went 68 yards on 11 plays, capping the drive with a 30-yard field goal from Daniel Murray for the early 3-0 lead, just five minutes into the game.
The Gophers looked as if they were driving for their first score early in the second quarter, as Minnesota's offense worked all the way down to the Iowa 12-yard line. After starting on their own 42 yard line, the Gophers covered 41 yards on nine plays. The play of the drive was a Weber make-something-out-of-nothing scramble up the middle for ten yards on third-and-seven to keep the drive alive.
After the Weber scramble got them to the Iowa 24, the Gophers continued the momentum with a 12-yard rush by Whaley to the 12-yard line. However, on the next play fortunes turned, as the Gophers fumbled the quarterback-center exchange to lose the ball.
The score would stay at 3-0 for most of the first half, until Iowa utilized a late Gray interception. After the pick, Iowa went 39 yards on six plays with the exclamation point being a one-yard touchdown run from Brandon Wegher. After calling a timeout before the extra point try, the Gophers' Lee Campbell (Naples, Fla.) blocked the kick and Minnesota went into the break trailing just 9-0.
The Gopher defense was stout for much of the first half, limiting Iowa to 129 yards on 35 plays. The Hawkeyes had two drives in the second quarter that resulted in negative yardage.
In the second half the Gopher defense was even better, limiting Iowa to just 41 yards. The only Hawkeye score in the second came early in the third quarter, on a 45-yard field goal from Murray. Iowa took over at their own 40 and went just 32 yards before the Minnesota defense forced to kick, and Iowa made it 12-0.
Minnesota finishes the regular season 6-6 with a 3-5 record in the Big Ten. The Gophers will now wait for their bowl selection and opponent in the coming weeks. Iowa finishes 10-2 overall and 8-2 in the Big Ten and also will await their upcoming Bowl match-up.
