Minnesota Gophers survive a scare against a much improved Nebraska Cornhusker team in Week 1. The final score was 13-10, but Nebraska held a 10-3 lead late in the 4th quarter. I must say one thing, HC Matt Rhule was absolutely the right hire for Nebraska. They looked way better coached than the teams Scott Frost used to put on the field. It was a boring first half that saw Minnesota up 3-0, with both defenses holding strong. The start of the second half saw the most ridiculous, lucky TD ever. Nebraska did a trick play handing the ball off to the runner going one direction, then throwing it back across the field to the QB. The QB had to knock the ball down, which then bounced onto the turf TWICE before QB Sims picked it up and threw to a wide open, former walk on, WR in the end zone to take a 7-3 lead. With 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter, the Gophers now down 10-3, Justin Walley forced Nebraska's RB to fumble and the Gophers recovered! This eventually set up the game tying, 4th down touchdown pass from Athan Kaliakmanis to Daniel Jackson (the picture below). Jackson was somehow able to keep one foot down in what might be one of the most impressive clutch catches I have ever seen, with 2:30 left in the game. Nebraska then tried to drive down for the game winning field goal, and with about 1:05 left and the Huskers at midfield, Senior Safety Tyler Nubin came up with his 2nd interception of the game! This led to the eventual game winning field goal as time expired for the Gophers. Just an incredible final 5 minutes of the game thanks to Daniel Jackson, Justin Walley, and Tyler Nubin! BIG TIME PLAYERS MAKING BIG TIME CLUTCH PLAYS! It feels great to start the season 1-0 (and 1-0 in Big Ten play)!
This Saturday, the Gophers will host Eastern Michigan. Minnesota comes into the game as 20.5 point favorites. I don't expect this one to be very close, but we have struggled in these types of games in the past. The Gophers have an incredible defense again, but the offense will need to improve their running and passing attack and gain some confidence before traveling to North Carolina the following week. I expect this game to be a 34-6 win for the Gophers. We will see a dominant defensive performance and a much better offensive performance. One game at a time, let's get to 2-0 on the season! Go Gophers!
They better dominate them!