The Minnesota Golden Gopher football team came up short in their effort to reclaim Paul Bunyan’s Axe, falling to the Wisconsin Badgers in a 20-17 overtime defeat on Saturday afternoon.
The Gophers got off to a strong start after Wisconsin missed a field goal on the opening drive. After both teams exchanged unproductive drives, the Gophers got on the scoreboard with a 16-yard pass from Tanner Morgan to Cam Wiley.
Cam Wiley is a RB.
You wouldn't know it by looking at this highlight TD grab. 😱@camwiley1 | @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/L4kP8sxlGD
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 19, 2020
That led held up until early in the second quarter when Garrett Groshek ripped off a 39-yard touchdown run that sent the Gophers and Badgers into halftime tied at 7-7.
The second half had a feel of a defensive struggle as both teams couldn’t break the tie. After Badgers starting quarterback Graham Mertz left with an injury, Chase Wolf came in and hit Jack Dunn on a four-yard pass that gave Wisconsin a 14-10 lead.
After adding a field goal, the Gophers went to work on a drive that took 6:50 off the clock in the fourth quarter. On the 12th play of the drive, Tanner Morgan found Mike Brown-Stephens on a nine-yard touchdown to tie the game at 17.
First career touchdown for @GopherFootball's @MikeBStephens7 🔥👏👏
cc: @johnlegend pic.twitter.com/ovlYjAN7Jd
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
Wisconsin drove down for what appeared to be the game-winning score, but Coney Durr intercepted Wolfe in the end zone late in the fourth quarter and eventually sent the game to overtime.
.@CD16ERA, HOW DO YOU DO?!?!#SkiUMah 〽️
Via @MinnesotaOnBTN pic.twitter.com/FBTOXZgmMl
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) December 20, 2020
Minnesota got the ball first in overtime, but Anders Gelecinskyj missed a 36-yard field goal. With a score needed to win the game, Wisconsin capitalized on a Collin Larsh field goal to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
The Gophers finish the regular season with a 3-4 record and will await a bowl game invitation.
