In a fourth straight one-possession game, No. 4 Indiana football defeated Minnesota 23-16 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
On the game’s opening possession, the Golden Gophers netted negative-1 yards. The Hoosiers followed it up with a negative-4-yard possession.
After Indiana’s three-and-out, sophomore punter Billy Gowers shanked the punt, allowing Minnesota to begin its second drive on the Hoosiers’ 27-yard line.
With only 7 yards of offense, the Golden Gophers kicked a 37-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
Against Michigan last week, redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover didn’t complete a pass for the entire second half. This week, the 6-foot-2 signal caller didn’t attempt a pass until the Hoosiers’ second possession. After completing his first throw for 4 yards to junior wide receiver Charlie Becker, Hoover overthrew redshirt senior wideout Shazz Preston on third down to set up another punt.
One play later, sophomore safety Byron Baldwin Jr. flew off the edge to force a fumble, and redshirt senior defensive lineman Josh Burnham snatched the ball to secure an early turnover in the red zone.
Hoover then found junior wide receiver Nick Marsh in the end zone for a 9-yard score to take Indiana’s first lead of the game midway through the first quarter.
By the end of the opening frame, Indiana and Minnesota had combined for 63 yards of offense. Golden Gophers junior quarterback Drake Lindsey was 8-for-9 passing but had just 9 yards through the air.
Indiana began the second quarter on Minnesota’s 38-yard line. After Hoover missed Becker on the right side, senior kicker Nico Radicic’s 52-yard field goal attempt was blocked, setting up the Golden Gophers at midfield.
Following empty possessions for both teams, Gowers shanked another punt. The 27-yard boot went out of bounds at the Hoosiers’ 39-yard line. Minnesota immediately took advantage with a trick play. After three laterals behind the line of scrimmage, Lindsey had freshman tight end Roman Voss wide open up the sideline for a 39-yard score to put the Golden Gophers ahead 10-7 late in the second quarter.
Indiana responded with an eight-play, 62-yard drive to potentially even the score before halftime, but Radicic’s 31-yard field goal attempt went wide left. On Indiana’s next possession, Hoover’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Minnesota senior defensive lineman Jaxon Howard.
Through 30 minutes of action, Minnesota led by three points, and Indiana left the field to a chorus of boos from the home crowd.
Hoover, who was slow to get up on the Hoosiers’ final offensive play of the first half, was replaced by seventh-year senior quarterback Grant Wilson to begin the third quarter. The result was no better on the first possession of the second half, which ended in an Indiana punt.
Wilson’s second possession covered 65 yards in seven minutes of game time and ended with a 46-yard field goal from Radicic to tie the game late in the third quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Minnesota picked up a crucial fourth down conversion to keep its drive alive, but a sack from Indiana junior defensive lineman Mario Landino halted its progress. The Golden Gophers settled for a 51-yard field goal from fifth-year senior kicker Luke Drzewiecki to retake the lead.
Indiana began its next drive with its longest pass of the day. Wilson found Becker over the top of the defense for a 47-yard gain. Redshirt senior running back Lee Beebe Jr. bounced off defenders to get the Hoosiers into the red zone, but Preston couldn’t secure the ball in the end zone before running out of bounds. Teed up for a chip shot field goal to tie the game, junior place holder Quinn Warren fumbled the snap and Radicic couldn’t get a kick off.
Six minutes later, Indiana faced a fourth-and-1 on Minnesota’s 16-yard line. This time, Radicic’s 34-yard attempt went through the uprights, and the Hoosiers tied the game at 13 with 3:05 remaining in the game.
With one minute left to play, redshirt senior linebacker Isaiah Jones wrapped up Minnesota senior wide receiver Noah Jennings at the Hoosiers’ 42-yard line. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti didn’t take a timeout, and the Golden Gophers let the clock run down to 24 seconds. Then Drzewiecki drilled a 60-yard field goal to retake the lead.
Wilson hit Becker on the sideline for 33 yards before throwing an incomplete pass intended for Marsh on the next play. Redshirt senior kicker Paddy McAteer answered with a 60-yard field goal as time expired to send the Hoosiers to overtime for the second straight week.
Just like last week, Indiana got the ball first and struck quickly in overtime. Wilson connected with Becker for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play after regulation. Radicic’s extra point made it a seven-point game.
Minnesota’s first two plays netted no yards, but Lindsey found Jennings for 17 yards on third down to get down to Indiana’s 8-yard line. Four plays later, the Golden Gophers faced fourth down with 4 yards to go. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Tobi Osunsanmi wrapped up Lindsey before he could get a throw off to secure a game-winning sack.
Wilson ended the game 9 for 17 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown in the win. Becker notched eight catches for 149 yards and the overtime touchdown while Beebe added 84 yards on the ground.
The Hoosiers have a bye next week but will return to action against USC on Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
Source: www.idsnews.com
