sports
Phil Miller is returning to his Big Ten roots to follow Minnesota’s football fortunes for the Star Tribune after a decade of chronicling the NBA and Major League Baseball. The Illinois native began his writing career by covering Utah football for six seasons, and still insists that 12-1 Florida stole the 2009 BCS Championship from the unbeaten Utes.
Email Phil to talk about the Gophers.
Kill not on sidelines for 2nd half in Gophers' loss
Posted by: Phil Miller under College football, Gophers game day Updated: November 24, 2012 - 4:55 PM
UPDATE: Gophers coach Jerry Kill did not join his team on the sidelines for the second half. The university has not yet released any information about his whereabouts or condition.
The Gophers' offense has yet to penetrate more than three yards deep into Michigan State territory. Yet Minnesota has led most of the first half, and heads to halftime trailing by only six points, 13-7.
That's because the Gopher defense has intercepted Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell twice, including one for a defensive touchdown, and mostly bottled up the Spartans' offense.
Minnesota linbacker Aaron Hill grabbed one Maxwell pass at the Michigan State 33 and picked his way down the sideline for a touchdown, giving the Gophers a first-quarter lead that they held until the final 90 seconds of the half. Michigan State has nearly five times as much yardage as the Gophers -- it's 248-53 at the half -- yet was limited to a pair of Dan Conroy field goals until its final possession.
Maxwell finally connected with receiver Bennie Fowler for a 41-yard touchdown with 1:28 to play, but even that score was a fluke -- Maxwell's pass was tipped by intended receiver Tony LIppett, and bounced into the arms of Fowler, who ran the final 25 yards for the score. The play was originally rule out of bounds at the 2-yard line, but a video review overturned the call.
Minnesota has used two quarterbacks, giving senior MarQueis Gray a half-dozen snaps along with starter Philip Nelson, but neither quarterback has moved the ball. Nelson is 8-for-6 for 31 yards and two interceptions, while Gray's lone pass was knocked down. No Gopher has more than 13 yards on the ground, and Minnesota's rushing total is 22 yards at the half. Only once have the Gophers reached the Spartans' half of the field, on a drive that died at the 47.
ADVERTISEMENT
recent posts
- Gray says he's been invited to NFL Combine
- Postgame: Underdog Gophers nearly shed their reputation
- Texas Tech stuns Gophers in final 70 seconds
- Gophers move the ball but trailed at halftime
- Indoor stadium could make long FGs possible
- Miller: Interim coach has confidence of Texas Tech players
- Texas Tech pulls three from bowl game against U
- Gophers add junior-college linebacker
- Gophers turn up the heat to prepare for Houston
- Miller: Gophers turn attention to Red Raiders
- Shortell confident he'll find better fit for his skills after amicable departure
- QB Max Shortell to transfer, Gophers announce
- Wilhite is first All-Big Ten Gopher since Decker
- Gray is Gophers MVP again; Kill misses banquet
- Gophers fall to Michigan St.; Kill has seizure at halftime
- Kill not on sidelines for 2nd half in Gophers' loss
- Watkins joins Gopher seniors in saying goodbye
- Nelson learning, even from his worst day at QB
- Miller: Contract with New Mexico St. done; injury updates
Post By Category
- VikesCentric: How to beat the Packers in Lambeau
- NHL update: Parise says it'll be 'pretty stupid' if talks blow up
- Reilly, Lucia, Potulny go for gold with the U.S. at the world junior championships
- TFD: New vow, everyone -- no more talk of Percy Harvin until after the season
- Postgame: Say what? Wolves rally, win without Love
- New St. John's coach hosts chat in St. Cloud. Will there be mayhem?
- RandBall: The Vikings' four-game path to franchise purification
- Don Lucia on Haula, Notre Dame; Bjugstad, Wilcox honored; NHL update
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2013 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters