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Bowling Green emerged from the Metrodome with a dramatic 32-31 overtime victory over Minnesota this evening. The Gophers scored 24 unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter but Bowling Green managed to hold off the Gophers in the first game of the Tim Brewster era in front of 49,253 fans at the Metrodome.
Trailing 21-0 at the half, Minnesota got on the board in the third quarter when Amir Pinnix scored on a four-yard touchdown run to cut the Falcon lead to 21-7 at the 3:32 mark to complete a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Eric Decker got the drive started with a 21-yard catch on third-and-10. Minnesota ran the ball on the final seven plays, as Pinnix and Webber combined to run for the final 54 yards of the drive.
The Golden Gophers cut Bowling Green’s lead down to 21-14 when Ernie Wheelwright caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Adam Weber at the 14:54 mark to cap off a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
The Gophers kept the foot on the gas with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a Weber four-yard touchdown pass to Pinnix. The key play of the drive came when Weber hit Nick Tow-Arnett over the middle. Tow-Arnett cut back toward the sideline and ripped off 56 yards to the Falcon 9-yard line.
Minnesota’s defense held again and forced the Falcons to punt with 6:03 remaining in the game. The Gophers slowly chipped away, reaching the Bowling Green 16 after a Pinnix 11-yard scamper. Giannini connected on a 33-yard field goal to put the Gophers ahead for the first time at 24-21. However, the Falcons weren’t done. Sheehan directed a 12-play 63-yard drive that culminated in a clutch 35-yard field goal by Sinisa Vrvilo with three seconds left.
Minnesota made a quick statement in overtime. After a two-yard run, Pinnix scampered 23 yards off left tackle for a score. Jason Giannini added the extra point to give the Gophers a 31-24 lead. However, Bowling Green came right back. On second down, Sheehan connected with Marques Parks for a nine-yard. Falcon head coach Gregg Brandon opted to attempt the two-point conversion. Sheehan connected with Fred Barnes in the right corner of the end zone to vault the Falcons to a 32-31 victory.
Pinnix had an outstanding day, rushing for 168 yards on 28 carries and two scores. It marked his fourth consecutive 100-yard game and the seventh of his career. In his first career start, Weber completed 15-of-31 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
Bowling Green struck quickly as Eric Ransom caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Sheehan on the fourth play of the opening drive of the game to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
Minnesota got to the Bowling Green 43-yard line, thanks in large part to an 11-yard reception by Ernie Wheelwright, but the drive stalled at the Falcon 48-yard line.
The Falcons started their second drive on their own 13-yard line and punched in their second touchdown of the night on the fourth play of an 87-yard drive to go up 14-0. Ransom started the drive with 14-yard rush, and Fred Barnes gained another large chunk of yardage with a 26-yard reception to move Bowling Green to the Minnesota 42-yard line.
After Sheehan completed an 18-yard pass to Corey Partridge to get it to the Golden Gopher 24-yard line, the two switched roles as Partridge completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Sheehan to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead.
Minnesota had a golden opportunity to cut into the Bowling Green late in the first quarter when Pinnix broke off a 58-yard run to get down to the Falcon 14-yard line. However, Bowling Green’s Erique Dozier recovered a fumble to halt the Golden Gophers’ scoring chance.
In the second quarter, Minnesota again got into Falcon territory as Wheelwright made a spectacular 23-yard grab to get to the Bowling Green 43-yard line. However, the Falcons’ Kenny Lewis stopped the drive when he came up with the interception to end Minnesota’s scoring opportunity.
Bowling Green moved ahead 21-0 on an Anthony Turner touchdown run with 2:26 remaining in the first half. The Falcons drove 66 yards on 10 players, with 39 of those yards coming on the ground.
Sheehan had a brilliant game, completing 34-of-51 for 388 yards and two touchdowns. Eric Ransom caught seven passes for 96 yards and linebacker John Haneline made a game-high 15 tackles.
Mike Sherels led Minnesota with 11 stops while Duran Cooley added nine.
Minnesota faces Miami (Ohio) next Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Metrodome. The game will be shown live on the Big Ten Network.
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Courtesy: Alicia Jerome/University of Minnesota
