The University of Minnesota Gopher football team fell overtime 29-26 in a back-and-forth battle with Penn State on Saturday.
The Gophers got off to a strong start in the first half with two field goals from Emmit Carpenter and a Mitch Leidner touchdown pass to Drew Wolitarsky en route to 13-3 lead at the half.
Things unraveled in the third quarter when Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley connected for an 80-yard touchdown pass thanks to a missed tackle by Minnesota safety Kunle Ayinde.
And sometimes it can happen just that fast. An 80-yard TD for @PennStateFball. More video >> https://t.co/VL2uta7eqn https://t.co/TFmJ3ZyWN0
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) October 1, 2016
Eventually, Penn State took the lead with a 27-yard field goal and a rushing touchdown from McSorley.
Shortly after Penn State took the lead Minnesota linebacker Jalen Waters was ejected after a dirty hit on the opposing kicker Joey Julius.
https://twitter.com/CauldronICYMI/status/782346211088924672
Julius had gotten into it with Waters on a previous kick… pic.twitter.com/g85lbu1ZET
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) October 1, 2016
After 17 unanswered points, the Gophers offense finally found some rhythm in the fourth quarter when Shannon Brooks rushed for a 37-yard touchdown.
Both teams struggled to sustain offensive drives thereafter until Minnesota put themselves in field-goal range and Carpenter hit another field goal to give the Gophers a 23-20 lead with 53 seconds remaining.
But the Nittany Lions marched down the field and sent the game to overtime with a field goal of their own.
The U of M opened up overtime play with the football and hit another field goal to give them a temporary lead.
But Penn State quickly scored on a 25-yard touchdown run on their first offensive play of overtime. With the loss the Gophers are 3-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play. They host Iowa next weekend at TCF Bank Stadium.
