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Nov. 26, 2010
Iowa versus Minnesota, TCF Bank Field
Late in the fourth quarter, less than six minutes remaining
MarQueis Gray stands in the shotgun, a small cloud of fog appearing from his mouth as he barks signals to his offense. The late November temperature has kept the crowds in TCF Bank Stadium bundled in clothes typically suited for ice fishing or deer hunting. Gray's dreadlocks drop just below the bottom of his helmet and move slightly as he turns his head from left to right.
The offense has stalled deep in Iowa Hawkeyes territory, as the Gophers trail 24-20, with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Gray's 19-yard catch from Adam Weber kicked off the drive, but now, perched on Iowa's 12-yard-line, the Gophers need at least four yards from this third down to convert.
With Gray behind center, a run is almost certain to be called. His only pass of the day, an over-the-middle strike overthrown by a few finger-lengths, came in the first half. Earlier on this current drive, Gray came into the game at quarterback on third down. He ran the ball. The Iowa defense knows Gray is going to run. The fans pounding together their chopper-wrapped hands know Gray is going to run. The announcers know Gray is going to run. It's like watching Mariano Rivera stalk to the mound in the bottom of the ninth -- he isn't there to throw a change-up.
Gray kicks his leg and the ball is snapped. He catches the ball, tucks it and races up to the line of scrimmage. A mass of lineman collide like a rugby scrum; Gray is bottled up behind the line, sure to be taken down for a loss. Iowa's All-American defensive end Adrian Clayborn lines up to envelop the quarterback. Even the most faithful of Maroon and Gold backers start to groan. The bottled up run is sure to lose at least three yards.
Just then, Gray shuffles to his right, his dreadlocks and hips shifting like windshield wipers in high gear, leaving Clayborn's 285 pounds whiffing air. Moving forward, Gray trucks over 180-pound defensive back Greg Castillo and drags another defender for a six-yard gain. Those same fans who cursed at the field seconds earlier make bug-eyed faces to their friends on the left and right, Did you see that?!, coming from many of their mouths. The next play, Duane Bennett punches in a six-yard TD to give the Gophers the lead. A few minutes later, cornerback Troy Stoudemire creams Hawkeye running back Marcus Coker, causing a fumble and preserving the win.
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