MINNEAPOLIS, MN (KELO.com) — Minnesota turned two South Dakota State second-half turnovers into 14 points, including the go-ahead touchdown, as the Golden Gophers posted a 28-21 victory Thursday night in the season opener for both teams at TCF Bank Stadium.SDSU carried a 21-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Jackrabbits responded by scoring touchdowns on consecutive drives in the third quarter after Minnesota’s Chris Williamson returned an interception 43 yards for a score on the opening possession of the second half.
The Jackrabbits’ first touchdown drive of the third stanza covered 92 yards on 10 plays and was capped by a 1-yard run by Mikey Daniel. SDSU redshirt freshman quarterback J’Bore Gibbs was 3-for-4 passing on the drive for 65 yards and ran for 14 more yards in pulling the Jackrabbits to within 20-14.
After forcing a three-and-out that included a sack by Ryan Earith, SDSU took its first – and only – lead of the night with a seven-play, 57-yard drive. Gibbs ran for four yards on fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 17 before finding tight end Zach Heins open across the middle for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
The SDSU defense came up with two more stops and was looking to add to its lead midway through the fourth quarter after C.J. Wilson ran for 11 yards and Gibbs connected with Cade Johnson for 13 more yards on the first two plays of a drive that began at the Jackrabbit 10. However, Gibbs fumbled the ball on an exchange two plays later and Minnesota’s Winston DeLattiboudere recovered at the Jackrabbit 34.
Minnesota used its ground attack to punch in the winning score as Rodney Smith picked up the first 29 yards on three carries and Mohamed Ibrahim plunged in from a yard out. The Golden Gophers executed a trick play on the two-point conversion for the final margin.
Pierre Strong, Jr. broke off a 47-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to put the ball near midfield. SDSU moved to the Minnesota 32 before Gibbs was sacked on fourth-and-10 to seal the Golden Gopher victory.
After the first period ended scoreless, Minnesota bridged an 18-play, 91-yard drive that chewed up more than 10 minutes between the end of the first period and start of the second. Wide receiver Seth Green took a direct snap and scored from a yard out.
The Jackrabbits answered later in the stanza on a 1-yard touchdown run by Gibbs, but Minnesota regained the lead with 49 seconds remaining in the half as Rashod Bateman corralled a one-handed catch near the left front corner of the end zone from Tanner Morgan that covered 42 yards for a touchdown. After a penalty on the initial point-after try, Minnesota’s extra-point attempt sailed wide left.
An SDSU return for a touchdown by Johnson on the ensuing kickoff was negated by a penalty. The Jackrabbits committed four penalties for 32 yards, while Minnesota was flagged three times for 40 yards.
Gibbs completed 13-of-26 passes for 193 yards in his collegiate debut. Johnson tallied six receptions for 90 yards, with Strong leading the ground game with 53 yards on 12 carries and adding two catches for 59 yards.SDSU finished with a 367-308 edge in total offense, including a 190-20 advantage in the third quarter.
For Minnesota, Smith gained 92 yards on 21 carries, while Morgan completed 13-of-18 passes for 176 yards. Bateman finished the night with five catches for 132 yards, all of which came in the first half
.Christian Rozeboom led the Jackrabbits with 11 tackles, followed by eight each by Logan Backhaus and Seven Wilson. Jordan Howden tallied a game-high 12 stops for Minnesota.
UP NEXT: The Jackrabbits are scheduled to open the home season Sept. 7 by hosting Long Island University. Kickoff for the Dairy Drive game is set for 6 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
(South Dakota State University)
