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Minnesota Golden Gophers eke out a victory over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits
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Michael Carter (back) sacks Thomas O'Brien (4).
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers struggled its way 16-13 win over the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) South Dakota State Jackrabbits at TCF Bank Stadium.
The win gets the Gophers (6-5 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) to bowl eligibiliy, but it may need to upset the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road next week to earn a bowl bid.
The Gopher defense was its strength forcing four turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Cedric McKinley at the 11-yard line of the Jackrabbits with 4:02 remaining in a tied game that set up the eventual game-winning 25-yard field goal by Eric Ellestad. Ellestad missed a 41-yard field earlier in the fourth quarter.
The Gophers only touchdown came in the second quarter when D.L. Wilhite recovered a fumble by Jackrabbits quarterback Thomas O’Brien with 9:04 remaining in the first half to take a 13-10 lead. Michael Carter blitzed from his cornerback position and hit O’Brien for the sack to force the fumble. Wilhite caught the backward pass in the air and ran it in the final three yards for the score.
Traye Simmons and Simoni Lawrence intercepted O’Brien on the Jackrabbits second and third possessions of the game. Lawrence’s pick came inside the Gopher 10-yard line after Tyrell Kool returned a kickoff 79 yards deep into Gopher territory.
Ellestad got the Gophers first six points with two field goals in the first goal. On both drives the Gophers got to first-and-goal, but really struggled moving the ball close to the end zone.
The Jackrabbits scored 10 consecutive points in the second quarter to take its only lead with a 20-yard field goal by Peter Reifenrath and an interception by Derek Domino of 22-yards to the end zone. It is the second straight game that Adam Weber made a high school mistake with a throw off his back foot across the field, this time it was also across his body. These are mistakes that quarterbacks cannot make, especially against inferior opponents.
Reifenrath made a 34-yard field goal to tie the game with 8:27 remaining in the game to tie it at 13-13 after missing a 26-yarder earlier in the second half.
Offensive MVP: MarQueis Gray. The freshman from Indianapolis, Ind. earns this distinction by default. He 47 yards rushing on six carries and one catch for six yards.
Defensive MVP: Michael Carter. The freshman from Pompano Beach, Fla. recorded a sack and forced fumble that turned into the Gophers only touchdown. He also broke up several passes in the second half.
Special Teams MVP: Blake Haudan. The senior from Toledo, Ohio had a strong day punting the ball including a 42-yarder to the Jackrabbits 10-yard line with 40 seconds remaining.
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