Gophers lose in OT 28-27

In the Gophers’ three Big Ten games so far this year they have battled from behind with a shot to win late. This time it looked like the Gophers had the win in overtime. Instead the Gophers end up 0-3 in conference play.

The overtime play that was the killer was a fourth down pass by Penn State that went incomplete. Presumably, this gave Minnesota a 27-21 win. However, a pass interference penalty was called and the game was down the tubes for the Gophers.

This loss was particularly hard on the defense, which played its best game of the season. They stopped a number of good scoring chances and they weren’t helped by a fumbled punt return that gave the ball to the Nittany Lions on the 9-yard line. The most positive development was the pressure put on the quarterback. Willie VanDeSteeg got the only Minnesota sack but there were enough forced passes to keep the receptions down.

The Gopher offense was sluggish for much of the game but they came out of their slumber when the game was on the line. Minnesota scored the game-tying touchdown with about a minute left. Logan Payne had the big catch on fourth down that went for 40 yards. Bryan Cupito was poised, making very few mistakes throwing. The TD pass to Eric Decker in overtime had no margin for error. In fact, it was the passing game that carried the Gopher offense throughout the game.

Yes, you can complain about the interference call at the end of the game. It did technically look like interference but you could argue that such a close call shouldn’t be make at the end of a game. However, a much bigger impact on the outcome of this game was special teams. Penn State missed a field goal. Minnesota turned it over on a punt and missed an extra point. Those special teams mistakes cost the Gophers eight points and that missed extra point was huge in OT when there was little chance to make up for it. Special teams were the true killer in this game.

So the Gophers must pick themselves up from another hard fought would-have-could-have game. This one will be the toughest to overcome. Unless, the Gophers pull off a huge upset at either Wisconsin or a miracle at Ohio State the season is pretty much a losing cause. As pathetic as it sounds we may be fighting Indiana for a last place tie in that late season contest.

It’s too bad because the Gophers are not a terrible team. They are just a team that makes a few too many mistakes than they can afford. In the Big Ten that can be lethal, as we are finding out this season.