What it Means Four weeks ago, the Gophers were 2-3 after a 27-24 loss at Michigan, a controversial result because a successful onside kick recovery by Minnesota was ruled offsides. Since then, the Gophers beat then-No. 11 USC 24-17, pulled out a 21-17 win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl and now dispatched a high-scoring Maryland team with relative ease. One more victory gains them bowl eligibility, but they’re certainly striving for more than just that.
Play of the Game There were several candidates, including linebacker Maverick Baranowski’s fourth-down stop of Terps running back Roman Hemby on Maryland’s opening possession. But this one goes to Walley’s pick-six. It put the Gophers up 21-0 with 4:25 left in the first quarter and ignited a crowd that already was enjoying the afternoon.
Turning Point After Maryland had cut the Gophers’ lead to 31-10 with 28 seconds left in the first half, Minnesota got the ball at the 35 after the Terps kickoff went out of bounds. Brosmer quickly found tight end Jameson Geers, who made a leaping catch for a 23-yard gain to the Maryland 35 with 16 seconds left. After a spike and an incompletion, Brosmer hit Jackson on the sideline for a 19-yard gain to the 16 with seven seconds left, setting up Dragan Kesich’s 34-yard field goal for a 34-10 lead. Coupled with the Gophers’ TD to start the third quarter, the Terrapins were cooked.
34 Points in the first half for the Gophers, the most they’ve scored in the first half of a Big Ten game since they had 35 in a 55-14 win over Iowa on Nov. 8, 2014.
