A 35-yard field goal by Eric Ellestad (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) in the first overtime gave the University of Minnesota football team a 23-20 win over Syracuse University today (Sept. 5), in the season opener for both teams.
After going up 14-3 in the first quarter, the Golden Gophers watched as their lead was erased by 17 straight Orange points to close out the first half. Coming out of the break down 14-20, the Minnesota defense was stingy, shutting out Syracuse for the rest of the half, and the game.
As the first to go on offense in overtime, the Orange drove down inside the 10-yard line, but on their final play, a pass into the endzone by quarterback Greg Paulus was picked off by linebacker Nate Triplet (Maple Plain, Minn.) ending the threat. The Golden Gophers then took over and put together a short seven-yard drive to set up the game-winning field goal.
Ellestad, who made a 26-yarder with 57 seconds to go in regulation to tie game at 20-20, easily knocked through the game-winner from 35-yards out. The kick passed through just left of center, and was still moving up and it sailed through the uprights.
If you looked early on, you would have has a tough time predicting the final outcome. On the first play from scrimmage the snap sailed over the head of Orange quarterback Paulus, and was recovered by the Golden Gophers. Just 19 seconds in to the game, Minnesota was already ahead 7-0, and led 14-3 by the 11:48 mark of the first quarter.
The much anticipated debut of Paulus, had it's highlight later on in opening quarter when he hit receiver Mike Williams on 29-yard touchdown pass to get within four at 14-10. That is also when the tides began to turn and the Golden Gopher offense appeared out of synch for the remainder of the half, not able to put anymore points on the board. Meanwhile the Orange added 10 on a field goal, and Delone Carter one-yard run to take their 20-14 lead into halftime.
The Golden Gophers second quarter struggles continued into the second half, but midway through the third quarter, good starting field position and a short drive, set up Ellestad's first field goal of the day. A 26-yarder at the 8:03 mark to bring Minnesota to within three at 20-17.
Still trailing 20-17 and with time winding down, the Golden Gophers strung together their best drive of the day, a 14-play, 79-yard affair that ended with Ellestad knocking through the 26-yarder to tie it at 20-20, setting up the extra session.
Adam Weber (Shoreview, Minn.) finished the day 19-of-42 passing for 248 yards, including a touchdown to Troy Stoudermire (Dallas), and one interception. Eric Decker (Cold Spring, Minn.) was his main target, hauling in nine passes for 183 yards, his second best career day yardage wise. Duane Bennett (St. Louis, Mo.) was the Golden Gophers' leading rusher, finishing with 78 yards on 16 carries and one score.
Lee Campbell (Naples, Fla.) was the leader on defense all day, finishing with 13 total tackles, including 11 solo stops. Fellow linebackers Simoni Lawrence (Upper Darby, Pa.) and Triplet finished with 10 and nine total tackles respectively. The Golden Gopher defense held Syracuse to just 1-of-12 on third down for the day.Next for the Golden Gophers is the moment many fans have waited a long time for, the home opener in TCF Bank Stadium. On Saturday Sept. 12, the Golden Gophers host the United State Air Force Academy, and at last check, Air Force was up 58-0 on Nichols State in the fourth quarter. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
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