Indiana University Athletics
Minnesota Pulls Away for Win, 44-20
11/13/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Pulls Away for Win, 44-20
Minneapolis, Ind. -- For over three quarters it looked as if Indiana (4-6, 3-4) might pull off a key Big Ten road win at Minnesota today, training only 24-20 with the ball deep in Minnesota (7-3, 4-3) territory early in the fourth quarter. However, the Golden Gophers held the Hoosiers on the potential go-ahead drive and went on to score 20 fourth-quarter points to win 44-20 before 47,852 spectators at the HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis. Minnesota did most of its damage on the ground as the Gophers tallied 333 net rushing yards. The Gophers outgained Indiana, 456 total yards to 387 and had three more first downs (28-25).
Despite not playing this past Saturday, Indiana got off to a fast start today as sophomore RB Levron Williams (16-123-2TDs rushing) capped a nine-play, 76-yard, drive with a four-yard touchdown run only 3:21 into the first quarter.
After Minnesota and Indiana traded punts, wide receiver Ron Johnson (6-108-1TD receiving) scored on a 39-yard touchdown pass from QB Billy Cockerham with 7:35 remaining in the first quarter that tied the game at 7-7. Johnson secured the pass at about the 2-yard line just past the outstretched arms of CB Sharrod Wallace. Johnson was one of only two Minnesota players to catch a pass in today's contest.
Minnesota took a 10-7 lead with only :34 seconds remaining in the first quarter when kicker Dan Nystrom connected on the first of his four field goals on the day, this one a 51-yard kick that capped an 11-play, 53-yard drive.
Indiana would take the lead right back on its next possession as Williams scored his second rushing touchdown of the day. A 12-play, 75-yard, drive culminated in Williams' two-yard touchdown run.
On the Gophers' next possession, sophomore linebacker Devin Schaffer intercepted QB Billy Cockerham at the MN-34. Several plays later, kicker Andy Payne gave the Hoosiers a 17-10 advantage with 6:38 remaining in the half.
However, two one-yard touchdown runs by Cockerham (16-7-123-3INTs-1TD passing, 19-111-2TDs rushing) gave Minnesota a 24-17 halftime lead.
The Hoosiers played extremely well defensively in the third quarter as the Gophers failed to score. Minnesota's initial drive of the second half ended with a Wallace interception and Jason Czap recovered a Cockerham fumble on Minnesota's second offensive possession. Following the Czap fumble recovery, Payne drilled a 30-yard field goal to close Minnesota's lead to 24-20.
After an interception by Curtis Randle El on Minnesota's next possession, Indiana drove from its own 20-yard line to the MN-14 behind the strength of 51 rushing yards by quarterback Antwaan Randle El (18-64 rushing, 30-12-161-1INT passing). However, on a third-down play, the sophomore signal caller missed a wide open TE Craig Osika in the end zone which forced a 33-yard Payne field goal which was missed wide left.
Minnesota's Nystrom kicked a 25-yard field goal on its next possession to push the Gophers' lead to 27-20.
Indiana drove as far as the Minnesota 50-yard line on the subsequent possession but a Randle El pass on second-and-goal from the 50 was intercepted by Jimmy Wyrick and returned 61 yards for a score to push the Minnesota lead to 34-20. The Gophers tacked on 10 points late in the game to provide their winning margin.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Todd Starowitz, Football Media Relations Director
