Banged up Wildcats visit surging Golden Gophers
Sports Network | October 29, 2008
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The 20th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers are set to begin a stretch where they will play three of their final four opponents at home, starting with Big Ten foe Northwestern this weekend.
The Gophers have already played four games in their final run at the Metrodome, winning each of them thus far. Last weekend however, Minnesota took to the road and came away from West Lafayette with a 17-6 victory over Purdue. It was the program's first win at Purdue since 1990 and head coach Tim Brewster was certainly pleased with the result.
"Coming in here was a real challenge, but what a gutsy, hard fought victory today. The chemistry and the leadership was great. I couldn't be more pleased heading back to Minneapolis a 7-1 football team."
The 7-1 record marks the team's best start since 2002 and assures the program its eighth bowl berth in the last 10 seasons. It has certainly been a remarkable turnaround for Minnesota, which went just 1-11 a season ago. After finishing 0-8 in the Big Ten in 2007, the Gophers have posted wins in three of their first four league outings this season. The fast start in league play and the fact that Minnesota doesn't play Penn State this season, gives the Gophers a shot at earning a spot in the Rose Bowl, something nobody thought possible at the beginning of the year.
Standing in the Gophers way this weekend, however, is a solid team in Northwestern, which brings a 6-2 record into the contest. The Wildcats though, have dropped two of their past three outings, including a tough 21-19 setback at Indiana last weekend. With the loss, the team dipped to 2-1 on the road and a level 2-2 in league play.
As far as the all-time series goes, Minnesota holds a 49-29-5 advantage over Northwestern and it hasn't lost to the Wildcats at the Metrodome since 2000.
The Wildcats set themselves back last weekend, as their five turnovers proved costly in a 21-19 loss at Indiana. The team has now turned the ball over 19 times on the season and that is simply too many. Quarterback C.J. Bacher threw a pair of interceptions in the game and he finished with just 155 yards on 21- of-34 tosses. He did, however, make an impact on the ground, rushing for 64 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Bacher has struggled with interceptions (11) this season, but he has still been effective in throwing for 1,700 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for 224 yards and three more scores. He however, was hurt last game and is listed as questionable for this weekend. Bacher wasn't the only player hurt last weekend, as tailback Tyrell Sutton sustained an injury to his left wrist. Sutton, who has rushed for 776 this season, will have surgery on his wrist and there is a chance he could miss the remainder of the season. That is a big blow to the team, considering Sutton has scored eight total touchdowns and ranks fourth on the squad with 30 catches. Omar Conteh rushed for 33 yards on 10 carries in replacement of Sutton last weekend and he will most likely earn the start at tailback.
Northwestern had nothing to be ashamed about on defense last weekend, as it limited Indiana to just 319 total yards, including only 72 on the ground. It was a solid effort from the Wildcats, who are holding foes to 335.1 total ypg and only 114.5 rushing ypg on the year. The defense, though, didn't force any turnovers last weekend and that was surprising considering they had generated 16 through the first seven games. The unit however, did notch three sacks, bringing the team's season total to 24. John Gill had two of the sacks, while Brad Phillips led the defense with eight stops in the loss. For the season, Phillips leads the club with 67 stops and two interceptions and Corey Wootton paces the unit with 5.5 sacks and 11 TFLs. Wootton had a sack and three TFLs in last weekend's setback.
The Gophers have an efficient offense this season and they are averaging a decent 356.1 ppg. That number though, looks a lot better when considering the team has turned the ball over just nine times in eight games. Last weekend, Minnesota totaled 321 yards, with only one miscue in a 17-6 win over Purdue.
Quarterback Adam Weber led the charge, as he threw for 212 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a team-high 60 yards and another score. It was another sound performance by Weber, who has completed 67.1 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and only three picks on the year. Eric Decker has clearly been his first option, as his 66 catches are more than triple that of the next closest player on the roster. He also leads the team with 833 yards and five touchdowns despite being limited to seven catches for 51 yards last weekend.
In the backfield, DeLeon Eskridge has carried the load for Minnesota this season and he has gained 520 yards and seven scores on the ground. He can also be a factor in the passing game, catching 20 balls on the year.
Defensively, Minnesota caused havoc all game long last weekend, as it forced Purdue into four turnovers. The unit also registered five sacks, while holding Purdue to only 226 total yards.
"I have tremendous confidence in our defense," said coach Brewster. "It was an outstanding performance today. We did things good defenses have to do to be successful."
It was another great effort by Minnesota, which is giving up a much higher 362.8 total ypg on the year. The defense, though, has been able to keep opponents to just 17.1 ppg despite allowing a few too many yards, as it has forced an impressive 24 turnovers to go with 22 sacks. Lee Campbell leads the defense with 48 stops and he also has three sacks to his credit. Last weekend, Campbell put forth an eight-tackle, one-sack performance versus Purdue. Another player opposing quarterbacks will want to keep an eye on is Willie VanDeSteeg, who leads Minnesota with 6.5 sacks and 12 TFLs.
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