Hodgepodge defense gets it done

Marlin Levison, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Gophers defensive end D.L. Wilhite raised his arm triumphantly as he ran into the end zone after recovering a fumble that popped into the air in the second quarter, the Gophers’ lone touchdown in Saturday’s game. “It seems the ball hung up there forever,” Wilhite said. “I just grabbed it and ran it in.”

The Gophers missed a number of defensive starters, but the unit still proved to be the difference against South Dakota State.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: November 14, 2009 - 11:17 PM

It was a case of mix, and match ... and master.

The Gophers started Saturday's football game against South Dakota State without a number of key players on defense. The game ended with a few more on the sideline, banged up.

But the only ones feeling the pain were the Jackrabbits offensive players. On a day when the Gophers struggled, the defense strangled, forcing four turnovers. One resulted in the Gophers' only touchdown, the other set up the winning field goal.

"I'm proud of the defense," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said after the 16-13 victory. "I thought, on defense, we did some great things today."

South Dakota State averaged 1.7 yards per rush, was 3-for-16 on third- down conversions and didn't gain a first down until the second quarter. Freshman quarterback Thomas O'Brien was sacked twice and threw two interceptions. South Dakota State finished with 229 yards of offense along with the feeling that many key opportunities had slipped away.

For example:

• After the Gophers took a 3-0 lead, Tyrel Kool's 84-yard return of the ensuing kickoff, plus a facemask call on Jay Thomas, gave the Jackrabbits the ball at the Gophers 6-yard line. Two plays later, O'Brien's pass to Mike Steffen was intercepted by cornerback Traye Simmons.

• Blake Haudan's 50-yard punt was returned 49 yards by Saunders Montague to the Gophers 11. The Gophers held on third-and-2, forcing a field goal.

• After Derek Domino's interception and 22-yard TD return gave the Jackrabbits a 10-6 lead in the second quarter, the Gophers responded with a defensive TD of their own.

On third-and-13 from the SDSU 14, O'Brien dropped back to pass, but cornerback Michael Carter came on a blitz. He hit O'Brien, and the ball popped up in the air. It landed in D.L. Wilhite's hands, and the defensive end ran 3 yards for the score.

"Mike Carter made a great play," Wilhite said. "It seems the ball hung up there forever. I just grabbed it and ran it in."

Both Carter and Wilhite are freshmen, and both played more than usual because of injury.

Defensive linemen Anthony Jacobs (concussion) and Jewhan Edwards didn't suit up. Cornerback Marcus Sherels (ankle) didn't play and was replaced in the starting lineup by Carter. Simmons (right leg) and, later, linebacker Simoni Lawrence left the game because of injuries.

But there's more.

• Late in the first half, the Jackrabbits drove to the Gophers 23. On first down, linebacker Nate Triplett tackled Kyle Minett for a 6-yard loss after a short pass. Two plays later, defensive tackle Garrett Brown sacked O'Brien, pushing the ball back to the 32, where a 49-yard field goal was missed.

• Then there was the Gophers' winning field goal, set up when defensive end Cedric McKinley recovered the ball after O'Brien fumbled a low snap, giving the Gophers the ball at the South Dakota State 11 with 4:02 left.

In the end, it was a rather historic victory. Both touchdowns in the game were scored on defense, one by each team. Dating back to 1964 -- prior game-by-game records are unavailable -- this was the first Gophers game in which neither team had an offensive TD.

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