Risk produces perfect reward -- Gophers go to 2-0

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - Before the score became so lopsided, before Bowling Green finally got buried in a fourth-quarter avalanche, the Gophers football team was clinging to a four-point lead and was facing a fourth-and-4 situation at the Falcons 35.

This was the play, really, that changed things, and led the Gophers to a 42-17 victory -- the third of the Tim Brewster era, the first on the road and by miles the most impressive.

The Gophers spent a warm Saturday night hitting hard and taking the ball away from a Falcons team still resting on last week's laurels. But for all the taking, it was the Gophers' decision to take another chance that made the difference.

Quarterback Adam Weber responded, hitting tight end Jack Simmons for 7 yards. On the next play Weber hit Eric Decker on a crisp 28-yard post that gave the Gophers a 28-17 lead with less than 11 minutes left.

So start there.

Call Brewster a gambler. You also can call him 2-0. In last week's opener, he went for it on fourth down late and got a victory. Given how hard his guys played Saturday, it was an easy call. The result was a loud, raucous locker room.

"We made a decision before we left Minneapolis that we were coming here to win a football game,'' he said. "Our team did the things necessary -- the things that good football teams do -- to win the game. ... I said we've taken the steps necessary to be an improved football team. I think it's pretty evident that we are.''

Still, it's easy to lose that key scoring drive in the 21-point fourth-quarter barrage the Gophers laid on the Falcons, who had won at No. 25 Pittsburgh a week ago.

The Gophers forced five turnovers and turned four into touchdowns. Three consecutive fourth-quarter possessions ended with the Falcons coughing up the ball and the Gophers responding by stuffing it back down their throats.

There were three fumble recoveries and Tremaine Brock's interception on defense, plus Ryan Collado's recovery of a fumble Jay Thomas forced on the opening play of the second half.

The teams' offensive stats were nearly identical, except for one: The Gophers were a plus-five in turnovers.

"It was just different guys making turnovers,'' said linebacker Deon Hightower, one of five Gophers to get a turnover. "Everybody made plays when they were in position to make plays."

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof came up with a 3-4 scheme that enabled him to keep more base personnel on the field during the game. Offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar called a splendidly balanced game; the Gophers got 164 rushing yards.

Weber was 21-for-25 passing with three TDs. Running back Duane Bennett had a career night before leaving because of an injury, catching 100 yards worth of passes and rushing for 48.

But the game turned early in the fourth quarter, shortly after Brock leaped high to intercept Tyler Sheehan's pass intended for Chris Wright.

Two plays after that, an unsuccessful screen play ended with both Bennett and center Jeff Tow-Arnett limping off the field. On the next play, a third-and 9, Trey Davis' first snap nearly went over Weber's head. But Weber jumped, caught the ball, then found Ben Kuznia on the left side for 14 yards.

"Sometimes, when it's hitting the fan, you just play backyard football,'' Weber said.

Three plays after that, on fourth-and-4, the Gophers converted, again. One play later, Weber and Decker started putting the icing on the Gophers' victory cake.

Last year Bowling Green came to Minneapolis and beat the Gophers in overtime in Brewster's first game as head coach. Call this payback.

"I haven't had a road victory before. It's going to be a fun one," Weber said of the Gophers' flight home. "Hopefully we'll stay up pretty late and celebrate this one.''

But not for too long. Saturday's game was a step, not a destination.

"It's big for us,'' Decker said. "We're young, we're really hungry. This just keeps building our confidence. We're getting more togetherness as a team. I'm excited with what we can do."