Gophers Capitalize on Miscues, Win Axe from Wisconsin

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

A win. Finally a win.

For the first time since 1994, the Minnesota Gophers defeated the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison. It’s also the first time the Gophers have beaten the Badgers since 2003.

With a strong defensive effort and some special teams help, the Gophers won the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe 37-15 over Wisconsin in Madison.

Nov 24, 2018; Madison, WI, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks on during the third quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

It started with turnovers. Turnovers have bitten the Gophers quite often this season. Last week, Gophers head coach PJ Fleck said turnovers are what makes or breaks any team. He continued to say if a team turns the ball over zero times, it has a 78 percent chance to win the game.

Well, the Gophers turned the ball over zero times.

The Gophers played a safe but effective game on offense. The defense allowed for the offense to do so, however. Minnesota got 24 points off Wisconsin turnovers.

Nov 24, 2018; Madison, WI, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Tyler Johnson (6) celebrates a first down during the fourth quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Hornibrook threw three interceptions and fumbled once. The Gophers capitalized with a 10-yard touchdown on a Mohamed Ibrahim, finishing a drive that took 5:46 of time. That gave the Gophers a 10-0 lead.

The Gophers added an Emmit Carpenter field goal after Julian Huff intercepted Honribrook in the third quarter at the 45-yard line. Carpenter’s 42-yard field goal capped a drive that took 4:52 and extended Minnesota’s lead to 23-7.

Nov 24, 2018; Madison, WI, USA; The Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrate with the Paul Bunyan Axe following the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Late in the game, the Gophers added on with back-to-back touchdown drives. The first TD was set up by a Thomas Barber fumble recovery while the second was set up by Chris Williamson’s interception.

Again, playing a safe game, the Gophers didn’t turn over the ball. Quite the turn-around for the Gophers from last week when turnovers did them in.

Even Wisconsin drives that ended in a missed field goal — the Badgers first drive of the game with the game scoreless — and a turnover on downs, like the Badgers’ first drive of the third quarter, Minnesota was able to net points off them with two field goals.

The Drive That Sealed It

Looking back at all the turnovers and sloppy play of Wisconsin, it’s the Minnesota drive in the fourth quarter, resulting in a missed field goal, that sealed the game. Yes, it would seem that a drive that could have but didn’t result in points wouldn’t be the drive of the game. In the Gophers’ case, it is.

Nov 24, 2018; Madison, WI, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) rushes with the football during the fourth quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Credit the running game for the Gophers or the inability to stop it on the Badgers side; either way, the Gophers methodically marched down the field. At the start of their drive, the score was 23-7 in favor of the Gophers with 14:53 left. By the end, it was still 23-7 because Carpenter missed a 28-yard try. However, the drive took a whopping 9:16 of time off the clock — leaving the Badgers 5:37 to come back in a three-possession game.

The drive featured three third-down conversions, and a lot of Ibrahim. Ibrahim, who rushed for 121 yards, gained 31 of the Gophers’ 55 yards in the drive.

Had the Gophers taken less time, turned the ball over or not converted on third down, who knows if the game’s end result would have changed. It didn’t matter that Carpenter missed because the damage was already done.

The Gophers took over nine minutes to run 14 plays and go 55 yards. That drive was the dagger in the hearts of the Badgers.

Notes/Other Observations

  • Since 2000, the Gophers have averaged 22 points while winning just two games in their last 18 tries against Wisconsin.
  • Coming into the game the Gophers led the Big Ten and were ranked No. 17 in the nation in yards per completion (14.3).
  • Payton Jordahl “started” in his 50th game of his Gophers career. He joins former quarterback Adam Weber as the only other Gopher to start 50 games. Technically starts aren’t given to long snappers, but Jordahl has been long-snapping in 50 games.

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