The University of Minnesota football team (2-3, 0-2) dropped its second straight Big Ten game, falling to No. 6 Michigan (5-0, 2-0) 28-14 Saturday night in front of 50,805 fans at the Metrodome. Minnesota’s typically prolific ground game was held in check by the nation’s top-rated rush defense and the Gophers late offensive flurry was not enough to retain the Little Brown Jug.
Bryan Cupito finished 17-of-34 for 215 yards and connected with Logan Payne for a pair of touchdown passes. Amir Pinnix led the Gophers rushing attack with 91 yards on 20 carries. Chad Henne paced the Wolverines, finishing 17-of-24 for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Mike Hart added 195 yards on 31 carries as Michigan outgained Minnesota 518 to 323.
Michigan jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after taking the opening kick and marching 80 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Henne to Adrian Arrington.
The Wolverines extended the lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter when Henne again connected with Arrington, this time from 37 yards out. After converting a fourth-and-1 play from the Minnesota 46, the Wolverines scored on the next play, finishing the 7 play, 77-yard drive with Henne’s second TD pass.
The Gophers responded with a 12 play, 75-yard touchdown march to cut the deficit to 14-7 midway through the second quarter. Minnesota advanced to the Michigan 37 in eight plays. Then facing a fourth-and-2, Pinnix ripped off a 10-yard run to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Cupito found Logan Payne in the corner of the endzone from 21-yards out. Officials on the field ruled Payne out-of-bounds, but video replay confirmed the touchdown catch and they reversed the call.
The Wolverines came right back, scoring on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Henne to Mario Manningham. Henne’s third TD pass capped an eight play, 82-yard scoring drive and propelled Michigan to a 21-7 halftime lead.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, although Minnesota had a touchdown negated by penalty. The Gophers advanced the second half kickoff into Michigan territory in five plays. Then at the Michigan 38, Minneosta faked a double reverse and Cupito connected with Ernie Wheelwright for an apparent touchdown. But a holding penalty wiped out the score, and Minnesota was forced to punt three plays later.
Michigan padded its lead with a five play, 40-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter. Kevin Grady’s TD run from a yard out put the Wolverines up 28-7.
Minnesota rallied late in the finals minutes, scoring on the second Cuptio to Payne TD strike. The 21-yard pass play, capped a five play, 84-yard march.
The Gophers recovered the ensuing onside kick and advanced inside the Michigan 10-yard line. But four straight pass plays fell incomplete and Minnesota turned the ball over on downs with 2:58 remaining in the game. Michigan ran out the clock to preserve a 28-14 win.
GAME NOTES
Michigan 28 (5-0,2-0), Minnesota 14 (2-3, 0-2)
Sept. 30, 2006
Attendance: 50,805
Minnesota Series/Specialty Notes
• Michigan now holds a 68-24-3 margin in the all-time series against the Gophers.
• Tonight’s game was the 89th time Minnesota and Michigan have played for the Little Brown Jug.
• Glen Mason is 60-53 all time at Minnesota and 119-117-1 in his career.
Minnesota Team Notes
• The Golden Gophers’ streak of five consecutive games in which they scored a touchdown on their first possession of the game was snapped. Minnesota had scored a touchdown on its first possession in each of the last five games dating back to the Music City Bowl against Virginia last season.
• The Gophers have now amassed at least 300 yards of total offense in 43 of the past 44 games dating back to the 2002 season.
• Minnesota’s 284 passing yards were its most since posting 315 yards in the 52-28 loss at Iowa on Nov. 19, 2005.
• Michigan’s defense entered the game allowing just 18.5 rushing yards per game. The Gophers surpassed that total in one play on Amir Pinnix’s 20-yard run on the first play of Minnesota’s second possession of the game.
• The Gophers finished the game with 108 net yards rushing, 66 more than any other team had gained on Michigan all season (Vanderbilt had 42 yards in the season opener)
• Michigan’s defense had not allowed a single player to rush for more than 54 yards in a game all season. Pinnix surpassed that total with 68 yards in the first half alone and finished the game with 91 yards rushing.
• Minnesota’s defense did not allow Michigan to score in the third quarter. It was only the second scoreless quarter the Wolverines have had all season.
Minnesota Individual Notes
• With his 20-yard run on the first play of Minnesota’s second possession, Amir Pinnix surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career to become the 38th player in school history to accomplish that feat. He is the 11th player in Head Coach Glen Mason’s tenure to rush for 1,000 yards in a career.
• With his touchdown pass to Logan Payne in the second quarter, Bryan Cupito moved into sole possession of second-place all-time in career touchdown passes, passing Cory Sauter (1994-97). He now has 42 touchdown passes in his career.
• Cupito recorded the 13th multi-touchdown game of his career.
• Ernie Wheelwright moved into the top 10 in school history in career receiving yards with his catch on the first play of the second half. He now has 1,031 yards for his career.
• Logan Payne recorded his fourth consecutive six-reception game with his six-catch, 104-yard performance against Michigan. It was also his third career 100-yard receiving game.
• Payne had a touchdown catch for the third consecutive game, the only time in his career he has had consecutive games with a touchdown reception.
• Payne’s two receiving touchdowns give him seven for the season, tying him for sixth in the season record book.
• Payne had his second multi-touchdown game of the season and his career against the Wolverines.
• Payne had the second and third rushing attempts of his career.
• With four catches on the night, Matt Spaeth moved within two of the all-time lead for career receptions by a tight end.
• Spaeth had a catch in his 15th consecutive game.
• Spaeth had the 16th multi-catch game of his career.
• Spaeth has started 34 consecutive games, the longest current starting streak on the team.
• Deon Hightower recorded the first forced fumble of his career in the third quarter.
• Dom Barber recovered the first fumble of his career in the fourth quarter.
• Willie VanDeSteeg recorded his second sack of the season and the second of his career in the first quarter.
• Amir Pinnix posted his second straight three-reception game.
• Mike Chambers’ 23-yard reception in the fourth quarter was a career long.
• Justin Kucek set a career-high with seven punts in the game.
Courtesy: University of Minnesota
