A not-so-great escape

Mired in a four-game losing streak and seeing their season slipping away, members of the Gophers football team said this week that they would take a victory any way it came. Wouldn't matter if it was by one point or 50 points, they said.

Well, on second thought ...

Getting thoroughly outplayed by a Division I-AA team at home, and needing a blocked field goal on the final play to avoid a big-time embarrassment, is probably not what they had in mind. But that's precisely what happened.

The Gophers ended their losing streak but had no reason to celebrate after escaping with a 10-9 victory over North Dakota State on Saturday before an announced bipartisan crowd of 62,845 at the Metrodome.

Shawn Bibeau's line-drive 42-yard field-goal attempt got blocked by several Gophers in the middle of the line as time expired.

"Well, I don't really know where to start," Gophers coach Glen Mason said. "It's one of those games where you've been outcoached and been outplayed but you win the football game. I've been on the other side."

The mood among the Gophers players was predictably low-key. They stopped their longest losing streak since 2002 and improved to 3-5, but they didn't exactly make a statement in doing so.

If anything, they should have even more concern and questions as they prepare to face top-ranked Ohio State at Columbus next Saturday.

"To come out here and get outplayed in a game that we felt we shouldn't have been outplayed in is disappointing," linebacker Mike Sherels said. "NDSU came out with something to prove and they took it to us."

Said center Tony Brinkhaus: "I don't know how I feel. Obviously I feel fortunate to get a win. But I feel we got outplayed."

The numbers tell the story. The Bison (6-1) dominated the Gophers in just about every category. They outgained them 380-249 in total yards, had 11 more first downs, 22 more offensive plays and had nearly a 10-minute advantage in time of possession.

North Dakota State coach Craig Bohl was asked afterward whether this was a moral victory for his program. Three years ago, after all, the Bison were playing in the Division II North Central Conference. Bohl's answer was both quick and direct.

"No, we don't believe in moral victories," he said. "North Dakota State is not about moral victories and there are a whole bunch of guys up in that locker room that aren't into moral victories."

The Bison were the aggressors from the start, but they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with critical mistakes. They had two turnovers (including one in scoring position), a touchdown called back because of a penalty and two missed field goals. The game probably never should have come down to a last-second field goal.

"I thought they took it to us in every way, shape and form," Mason said. "I'm just happy we won the football game."

The Gophers took their first lead, 10-6, on running back Amir Pinnix's 5-yard touchdown run with 10 minutes, 36 seconds left in the game. Bibeau closed the gap by making a 41-yard field goal for NDSU with 5:32 remaining.

The Bison held the Gophers and got the ball back at their own 16-yard line with 2:14 left. They drove into field-goal range and looked as if they might pull off the upset. But the snap on Bibeau's kick was low, and he never had a chance.

"They were a lot better than I expected them to be," Gophers quarterback Bryan Cupito said. "I knew they would play hard and be excited, but they had some talent."

The Gophers' offense continued to struggle. The Gophers failed to produce a 100-yard rusher for the fourth consecutive game and finished with only 99 rushing yards. Cupito completed 14 of 24 passes for only 150 yards.

Minnesota's defense didn't fare much better. NDSU quarterback Steve Walker completed 22 of 37 passes for 237 yards, and running back Kyle Steffes rushed for 138 yards on 29 carries.

"If anyone doesn't respect the way they played today, they don't know college football," Mason said.

Trailing 6-3 at halftime, Mason said he gave his team a severe tongue-lashing in the locker room.

"I don't usually do that," he said.

He didn't get the desired outcome as North Dakota State controlled the game for most of the second half, too. But the Gophers somehow managed to walk off the field victorious at the end.

"We learned that we need to play more like NDSU did today," Sherels said. "That's what we have to do the rest of the year. We have to play with heart and emotion like we have something to prove."

Chip Scoggins • ascoggins@startribune.com