JUG ENFORCEMENT - Pioneer Press

NO. 12 MICHIGAN 27, GOPHERS 24

JUG ENFORCEMENT

Controversial call derails Gophers’ late comeback bid

Michigan’s Kalel Mullings (20) crosses into the end zone while being wrapped up by Minnesota’s Maverick Baranowski during the first half Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich. GREGORY SHAMUS — GETTY IMAGES

Minnesota defensive back Ethan Robinson (2) intercepts a pass intended for Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (18) during the second half Saturday in Ann Arbor. CARLOS OSORIO — ASSOCIATED PRESS

Image

By Andy Greder

agreder@pioneerpress.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich. >> The Gophers lost a fumble and had a punt block converted into 14 Michigan points and a 21-3 hole at halftime at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.

In the second half, the Wolverines threw an interception and conceded a 60-yard punt return that turned into 14 Minnesota points to jolt the U back into the game at 24-17 with 11 minutes remaining.

Michigan tacked on a field goal and Minnesota got even closer with a touchdown — before the biggest special teams play of the day shrouded the outcome.

An onside kick attempt was recovered by Minnesota, and the U sideline went wild at the chance to pull off an upset against the 12th-ranked team in the nation with a minute remaining in the Big House.

But amid the unreal turn of events, a flag was spotted on the field. The Gophers’ Matt Kingsbury was ruled offsides.

Michigan recovered the re-kick and was able to ice a 27-24 win in the Little Brown Jug game.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said an official told him Kingsbury “broke the plane” of the 35-yard line. If true, replay angles from the other side of the field showed it had to have been the smallest of distances.

“I have not seen the last play, nor does one play win or lose you the game,” Fleck said in his postgame news conference. “Everyone is going to focus on that. I’m not going to sit here and get fined and all those other things. I have more respect for my boss and the University of Minnesota and the Big Ten to say that is one play.”

The Gophers can dwell on the first-half gifts given, other miscues and their inability to put together a full game against Power Four competition for why they fell to 2-3, 0-2 in Big Ten play.

In the first half, receiver Daniel Jackson lost a fumble, and Michigan soon scored from 16 yards out. Then the Gophers’ punt team allowed multiple Wolverines to break through and block Mark Crawford’s punt. From the 11-yard line, Alex Orji immediately threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Colins.

The Wolverines (4-1, 2-0) were up 21-3 while needing only 107 yards of offense.

Roles reversed in the second half.

Cornerback Ethan Robinson’s interception was turned into Minnesota’s first touchdown of the game — a 3-yard run from Darius Taylor with 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

“It was a crucial moment,” Robinson said of his pick. “We knew most of the game they were going to try to keep it on the ground. So we knew every opportunity we had to go make a play on the ball in the air would be game-changing.”

After Minnesota’s defense forced Michigan’s fifth punt of the game, true freshman Koi Perich produced a 60-yard punt return to Michigan’s 17. Taylor scored again, this time from four yards out to make it 24-17.

Taylor, a Detroit native, was playing in front of more than 50 family and friends in Ann Arbor. He had 13 rushes for 36 yards as the U continued to struggle to run the ball. But he handled a game-high 10 receptions for 52 yards.

After struggling against Iowa and North Carolina in the season’s opening month, the Gophers’ run defense was easily undone as Kalel Mullings ran through an enormous hole and was untouched on a 27-yard TD run on the opening drive.

Minnesota’s defense did a better job against the run for most of the game, allowing 3.6 yards per carry. But Michigan ran the ball nine times, mostly successfully, on a 14-play, 58-yard drive to zap six minutes off the clock. And Dominic Zvada’s 36-yard field goal made it a 10-point lead, 27-17, with four minutes remaining.