Gophers Start Off Strong
After Penn State’s first possession, the Gophers offense came out blazing. In a nine-play drive that would cover 70 yards, quarterback Max Brosmer and the Gophers’ offense deftly mixed their passing attack with their ground game. A 20-yard reception by Daniel Jackson got them to midfield, and the drive ultimately culminated with a Marcus Major dash off left guard, putting Minnesota up 7-0 early in the contest. The key to the touchdown was a crushing block by tight end Nick Kallerup, one of many he would have throughout the first half.
Gophers coach PJ. Fleck would praise Kallerup in his postgame comments. “Nick Kallerup’s blocking. Nick Kallerup, that type of player, I mean Nick’s going to play in the NFL one day. Because to find a Y tight end like that, as big as he is, and blocks as hard as he does, and doesn’t get any credit, and helps us in the passing in a sneaky way. He’s going to play a lot of football.”
On the Nittany Lions’ next possession, Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg stopped a third-and-two running play, forcing a Penn State punt. Minnesota would go three and out on their next possession, but the Nittany Lions would feel the heat from the Gopher’s defense on their next series. Facing a fourth down and five situation at the Minnesota 33-yard line, Gophers defensive lineman Anthony Snith would swoop in to sack Penn State’s quarterback Drew Allar for a 12-yard loss.
The Nittany Lions were forced to punt again, which meant the Gophers offense was back in business. Brosmer would quickly usher them down the field, buoyed by a Jackson 23-yard reception that placed the ball on the Penn State 32-yard line. However, the drive would stall, and Minnesota kicker Dragan Kesich would drill a 48-yard field goal to put the Gophers up by a score of 10-0.
Nittany Lions Creep Back
But the Nittany Lions are third in the country in offensive success rate for a reason. Allar would marshall Penn State down the field quickly. And on second down from the Minnesota 45-yard line, he would throw a bomb to wideout Omari Evans, who burned Gophers’ cornerbacks Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson for a 45-yard touchdown reception.
A Minnesota error set up the Nittany Lions’ next score. On the Gopher’s ensuing series, Brosner was intercepted by Dominic DeLuca as he tried to thread a pass to Le’Meke Brockington. DeLuca would return it 29 yards to the Minnesota 23-yard line, and four plays later, Nittany Lions kicker Ryan Barker would even the score with a 45-yard field goal.
Minnesota Tricks Penn State
After a partially blocked Penn State punt by Minnesota senior captain Derik LeCaptain, Minnesota would take possession of the ball with a little over a minute left in the first half. On the first play from scrimmage, the Gophers would exercise a double reverse with the ball coming back to Brosmer, who found a streaking Jameson Geers in the end zone for a 17-10 Gophers lead.
Good Start
The Gophers took possession first in the second half and seemed determined to wear down the Nittany Lion’s defense. The drive’s first play was a dart Brosmer threw to Elijah Spencer for 23 yards. After that, besides two incompletions, Minnesota stayed on the ground, methodically eating up time and yards. The drive stalled, and Kesich pushed the Gophers lead to 22-16.
After a slow start this season, Fleck had this to say about his senior kicker. “He’s a special, special person, special student athlete. He’s got a great personality and his mental toughness I think he’s shown throughout this entire year. His all intent was to go down and go kick the game winner if we don’t score a touchdown.”
Lions on the Comeback
But Allar went back to the basics. With five and a half minutes left in the third quarter, he hit Warren three times for 30 yards. From there, running back Nicholas Singleton would rush for 15 and 12 yards, the last being a touchdown scamper that put Penn State in the lead 23-22. And then it went from bad to worse for the Gophers as Brosmer made an uncharacteristic error.
At the top of the fourth quarter, he ran an option play that turned into a fumble that Zakee Wheatley of the Nittany Lions recovered at the Minnesota 41-yard line. But the Gopher’s defense stiffened, and Penn State had to settle for a Barker field goal and a 26-22 Penn State lead with 11:51 left on the game clock.
One Final Drive
Minnesota accepted the challenge, and spurred on by 23-yard receptions by Jackson and Spencer; the Gophers seemed destined to score the go-ahead touchdown. But a one-yard loss and two incompletions forced a field goal attempt. Kesich nailed A 26-yarder, and Fleck and Gophers had almost six minutes left to hit the winning field goal.
