Adam Weber was, as always, only being honest.

The Gophers quarterback was trying like heck to say all the right things after an offensively challenged 16-13 victory over Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) opponent South Dakota State.

You know, like a victory being a victory. Or how the Gophers, now 6-5, were now bowl-eligible for a second consecutive season. But the truth hurt, at least to some extent.

"I guess, for the offense, it's a bittersweet victory," Weber said. "Because, going into this week, we felt we'd have an opportunity to go out there, move the ball, put up points, have a successful seniors day in the final game at TCF Bank Stadium."

The Gophers won Saturday despite taking only three field goals out of three trips into the red zone. Weber was sacked four times and flushed out of the pocket several times more. His ill-advised throw across the field in the first half was intercepted by Derek Domino and returned for a touchdown that gave the Jackrabbits a short-lived 10-6 lead. After the game even Gophers coach Tim Brewster, after lauding a strong defensive performance, talked about his offense's lack of rhythm.

No wonder the Jackrabbits (7-3) sounded like a team that had given a victory away.

"It's just a lack of execution on our part," Jackrabbits running back Kyle Minett said. "They're no better than Northern Iowa. They're no better than Southern Illinois. They're no better than other Division I-AA teams we've played this year. It was just a lack of execution on our part."

While the Jackrabbits offense -- particularly freshman quarterback Thomas O'Brien -- struggled much of the day thanks to a strong Gophers defensive performance, the Gophers offense was never the same after a 13-play, 78-yard first-quarter drive stalled at the South Dakota State 6.

The offensive line struggled to protect Weber, a situation that only got worse once the Jackrabbits started blitzing. When Weber did have time to throw, it appeared he couldn't find anybody open.

And when there were open receivers -- such as tight end Nick Tow-Arnett in the end zone on third-and-goal during a first-quarter drive -- Weber too often missed.

"I'm happy to have won our sixth game today," Brewster said. "For the second year in a row, we're going to a bowl game. ... I'm pleased for our football team. [But] I wasn't pleased about with some of the things I saw today, particularly from an offensive standpoint."

Pick a stat: Weber was 10-for-21 with an interception returned for a score. The Gophers averaged less than 3 yards per run against an SDSU defensive front that was clearly outsized. The Gophers were 3-for-16 on third down and had only one drive that lasted more than 10 plays. How would this game have played out had SDSU's Peter Reifenrath not hooked a 25-yard field-goal attempt in the third quarter that would have tied the score 13-13 entering the fourth?

"You have to look at a win as a win," Weber said. "Because, [having been] a part of a team that's 1-11 [in 2007], you realize that victories are something special, regardless of who you're playing and what the score is. ... But personally, and as a leader on the offense, [it's an] unacceptable game by us. But I guess we did enough, which doesn't feel very good now. But it's a W."

Good thing the defense came loaded for Jackrabbit. South Dakota State also was 3-for-16 on third down. A Michael Carter corner blitz dislodged the ball from O'Brien and into the hands of defensive end D.L. Wilhite, who returned the fumble 3 yards for a touchdown that gave the Gophers a 13-10 second-quarter lead.

Even when the Gophers offense was struggling in the second half, the defense was doing what it took to win. A combination of big kick returns and turnovers gave the ball to the Jackrabbits in Gophers territory three times in the first half, twice inside the 20, and yet the Gophers allowed three points on those three possessions.

The Gophers had two interceptions and recovered two fumbles. South Dakota State had just tied the score 13-13 with its best drive of the day -- 13 plays, 60 yards -- and had forced a Gophers punt. They took the ball at their own 18-yard line with 4:54 left. But two plays into the drive, O'Brien fumbled a low snap and Gophers defensive end Cedric McKinley recovered at the SDSU 11. Four plays later, Eric Ellestad kicked his third field goal of the game.

"We knew we had to step up," Gophers middle linebacker Lee Campbell said. "I think we have great leadership on defense, and we were able to make plays, able to get off the field. That's what you have to do. I don't care that it's a I-AA team. They came to play, this was their Super Bowl."

The Gophers have one more game at Iowa to help decide which bowl they will attend. Weber talked about winning Floyd of Rosedale, his favorite of the traveling trophies as a Gophers fan growing up. In order to hoist the pig, the Gophers offense will have to find its rhythm.

"We have a lot of work to do between now and next Saturday," Brewster said. "But never be displeased about a win."