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Almost.
While Minnesota has the lead, this was a half of "almost" moments. Minnesota should probably have had a touchdown on their first drive but stalled in the red zone and settled for a field goal. The Gophers almost had a LONG touchdown pass on a gorgeous Mitch Leidner throw (his best of the season IMO), but Drew Wolitarsky dropped it. Minnesota almost got off the field on multiple 3rd downs, but then they'd miss a tackle or take a bad angle.
Despite all that, the Gophers are ahead 10-7 at the half. Here are my favorite bright spots from the first 30 minutes:
1) Mitch Leidner: The interception was a poor choice to throw into traffic. Outside of that, I'm VERY happy with Mitch's performance thus far. He is 12/16 for 110 yards and a TD, and 3 of those incompletions were drops of completely catchable balls. Do that math.
2) KJ Maye: Dude came to play in his final game as a Gopher! 4 big catches, included the lone touchdown. His catches have been tough ones too.
3) The frosh running backs: Rodney Smith has 10 carries for 59 yards (5.9 ypc). Shannon Brooks has 4 carries for 34 yards (8.5 ypc). That'll do.
4) Murray, BBC, and the rest of the defensive secondary: Cooper Rush is 5/14 for 55 yards. The Minnesota secondary is locking everything down today.
5) Peter Mortell's wedge game
Someone sign @PMortell37 up for the PGA Tour. https://t.co/qZUSiZkgpJ
— Chris H. (@GoAUpher) December 28, 2015
TFW you put some sweet english on a punt. https://t.co/d74DFxPRV4
— Chris H. (@GoAUpher) December 28, 2015
I still look for the Gophers to break this open in the 2nd half.