Minnesota Gophers fall to the still undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes
It was an old fashioned Big Ten shootout in Iowa on Saturday night and the undefeated #5 Iowa Hawkeyes stayed that way with a victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a score of 40-35.
The teams were scoring back and forth and the only thing that really separated the Hawkeyes from the Gophers was a 13-point run that stretch from the second quarter into the third. Otherwise the teams literally alternated scoring plays.
Despite being a bird, the Hawkeyes were crushing it on the ground. LeShun Daniels Jr. ran for 195 yards on 26 carries for three touchdowns in the Iowa victory. QB C.J. Beathard had ten carries for 50 yards and two touchdowns out of the Iowa backfield. Beathard also passed for 213 yards in the game.
The Gophers were more of the air team on Saturday night. Mitch Leidner went 19/27 for 259 yards and a TD in the air. Heck, even running back Shannon Brooks threw a 42-yard pass for a TD. KJ Maye had the most receiving yards with 106 yards on seven grabs. Brandon Lingen had 105 yards on six catches and a touchdown. Drew Wolitarsky had three grabs for 71 yards and a touchdown.
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Nothing was too exceptional in the Gopher backfield other than the fact that all three Gophers with a rushing attempt scored a TD. Brooks led the team on the ground running for 86 yards on 14 carries and a TD. Leidner and Rodrick Williams Jr. also ran for one touchdown a piece.
The loss was the first game for the Gophers since Tracy Claeys was named the permanent head coach for the, but it was another close game under his watch for the third consecutive week. The Gophers now fall to 4-6 overall with a 1-5 record in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes improve to a remarkable 10-0 and 6-0 in conference.
The Hawkeyes will play host to Purdue on Saturday in efforts to keep perfection alive. The Gophers will play at home against Illinois.
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