It’s a memory that Cody Lindenberg would rather forget but one from which the Gophers can learn. He’s not dwelling on what happened last Nov. 4, but can’t help it from occupying some space in his mind.
This was the scenario that played out at Huntington Bank Stadium:
The Gophers, coming off back-to-back victories over No. 24 Iowa and Michigan State, led Illinois 26-21 with 1:24 left in the fourth quarter. Facing fourth-and-11 from the Illini 15-yard line, Illinois backup quarterback John Paddock entered the game for an injured Luke Altmyer and promptly found Isaiah Williams for a 22-yard gain.
Paddock then hit Pat Bryant for 17 yards. Minnesota called timeout with 57 seconds left, but that didn’t stop the bleeding. Paddock found a wide-open Williams, who wasn’t picked up by two Gophers defenders, for a 46-yard TD pass and 27-26 Illinois lead with 50 seconds to play.
“I mean, that was in the past. All we can do from that is learn,” said Lindenberg, the Gophers defensive leader from his linebacker position. “There’s obviously a lot of things that we can take from that game, even now, being a year later. … There are certainly some things that stick with you.”
A year later on the first Saturday in November, the Gophers are playing Illinois again, this time in Champaign, with the Illini ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press poll. Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) enters on a three-game win streak and will try to end a three-game skid against Illinois (6-2, 3-2).
The Gophers appear to be much more equipped this year to keep their win streak going and end the Illini’s run against them.
