BleedGopher
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Per Randy:
The Gophers and Penn State spent Oct. 12 in the greater Los Angeles area, with the Nittany Lions facing USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that afternoon and Minnesota taking on UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in the evening.
A week earlier, the Gophers had defeated No. 11 Southern California 24-17 in a thrilling game that ended with fans storming the field at Huntington Bank Stadium, an emotional release after the team started the season with three losses in its first five games. When the Nittany Lions faced USC, they trailed 20-6 at halftime and needed a touchdown in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime, in which they prevailed 33-30.
After the Gophers rallied to beat UCLA 21-17, a Minnesota observer pondered the results and thought, “Maybe they’ll have a chance against Penn State in November.”
That scenario played out Saturday in Minneapolis where the Gophers did have a chance to beat No. 4 Penn State — until they didn’t.
The Nittany Lions left Huntington Bank Stadium around 7 p.m. with the Governor’s Victory Bell, thanks to a 26-25 triumph built on their ownership of key moments, particularly in the fourth quarter. Penn State overcame a 10-0 second-quarter deficit and a 22-16 disadvantage late in the third in improving to 10-1 and staying in contention for a College Football Playoff berth.
The statistics show that the Gophers checked several boxes needed to upset a team as good as Penn State. Minnesota limited the Nittany Lions’ possessions, holding the ball for 34 minutes, 11 seconds to the visitors’ 25:49. The Gophers defense was tough on third down, holding Penn State to 1-for-11 in those situations. Minnesota’s special teams contributed three field goals, a blocked punt and a blocked extra-point attempt that was returned for two points and a 19-16 halftime lead.
“I thought we had really good game plan,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “I thought we executed it really well on the offense, defense and special team sides.”
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
The Gophers and Penn State spent Oct. 12 in the greater Los Angeles area, with the Nittany Lions facing USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that afternoon and Minnesota taking on UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in the evening.
A week earlier, the Gophers had defeated No. 11 Southern California 24-17 in a thrilling game that ended with fans storming the field at Huntington Bank Stadium, an emotional release after the team started the season with three losses in its first five games. When the Nittany Lions faced USC, they trailed 20-6 at halftime and needed a touchdown in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime, in which they prevailed 33-30.
After the Gophers rallied to beat UCLA 21-17, a Minnesota observer pondered the results and thought, “Maybe they’ll have a chance against Penn State in November.”
That scenario played out Saturday in Minneapolis where the Gophers did have a chance to beat No. 4 Penn State — until they didn’t.
The Nittany Lions left Huntington Bank Stadium around 7 p.m. with the Governor’s Victory Bell, thanks to a 26-25 triumph built on their ownership of key moments, particularly in the fourth quarter. Penn State overcame a 10-0 second-quarter deficit and a 22-16 disadvantage late in the third in improving to 10-1 and staying in contention for a College Football Playoff berth.
The statistics show that the Gophers checked several boxes needed to upset a team as good as Penn State. Minnesota limited the Nittany Lions’ possessions, holding the ball for 34 minutes, 11 seconds to the visitors’ 25:49. The Gophers defense was tough on third down, holding Penn State to 1-for-11 in those situations. Minnesota’s special teams contributed three field goals, a blocked punt and a blocked extra-point attempt that was returned for two points and a 19-16 halftime lead.
“I thought we had really good game plan,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “I thought we executed it really well on the offense, defense and special team sides.”
Analysis: Gophers indeed had their chance vs. Penn State, but they just couldn’t deliver
Though the Gophers checked key boxes in their upset bid, the Nittany Lions countered with a late third-quarter go-ahead touchdown and three fourth-down conversions on their final drive, including a fake punt, to claim the win.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
