P.J. Fleck, Gophers looking for a breakthrough against Iowa

Maxx Williams prolonged his 6-4 body, grabbed the soccer and saved his left toe dragging as he dived out of bounds. The tight finish’s spectacular catch was the signature second of the Gophers’ 51-14 drubbing of Iowa in 2014, a recreation wherein Minnesota gamers frolicked to the tip, then celebrated with Floyd of Rosedale.

Since Williams’ catch, the Gophers have watched Iowa hoist that bronze hog statue seven straight instances, together with after a 35-7 pounding in 2020, when Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz known as three timeouts in a row after Gophers coach P.J. Fleck used one with 19 seconds in hopes of avoiding a shutout. “We figured we would take Floyd with us and depart the timeouts right here,” Ferentz stated afterward.

Payback, because the saying goes, is usually a … tough expertise.

On Saturday at Huntington Financial institution Stadium, the Gophers will attempt to finish Iowa’s seven-year headlock on Floyd in a recreation with Huge Ten West title implications. Seven instances since 2014, the Gophers have tried to seize the pig, and 7 instances they’ve failed, generally in excruciating trend, different instances in blowouts.

The Gophers (7-3) and Hawkeyes (6-4) are two of 4 groups tied for first within the West with 4-3 Huge Ten data, together with Purdue and Illinois. For Minnesota, there is a path to Indianapolis for the Huge Ten Championship Recreation: Beat Iowa and Wisconsin, and have Purdue and Illinois every lose a recreation.

For the Hawkeyes, the path to Indy has fewer potholes: Beat the Gophers and Nebraska, and have Illinois, which performs No. 3 Michigan on Saturday, lose a recreation.

“Our gamers understand how necessary this recreation is, what this recreation means to our program, what this implies to our state,” stated Fleck, who’s 0-5 in opposition to Iowa.

The sport’s significance hasn’t translated into current success for the Gophers, who twice in Fleck’s tenure have been denied the West’s spot within the convention title recreation as a result of they misplaced to the Hawkeyes: 23-19 in 2019 and 27-22 final yr. They’re going to attempt to flip that script Saturday.

“This can be a actually particular recreation; it is a historic rivalry,” Gophers linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin stated. “If you have a look at Huge Ten soccer, that is what it is all about.”

To interrupt Iowa’s maintain on Floyd, this is what the Gophers can do:

Take an early lead

Putting first has served the Hawkeyes properly of their seven-game win streak in opposition to the Gophers. In each recreation, Iowa has scored first, and 5 instances they’ve scored touchdowns on their first possession of the sport. Within the streak, they’ve outscored Minnesota 51-13 within the first quarter and 106-46 within the first half.

“We have talked about that, nevertheless it’s not something particular that it’s important to do,” Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi stated. “You’ve got simply gotta come out able to play, however extra importantly, come out able to execute.”

The Gophers this season have allowed first-possession touchdowns to Purdue, Illinois and Nebraska. They misplaced to the Boilermakers and Preventing Illini and wanted a comeback to beat the Cornhuskers. Enjoying from behind shouldn’t be the Gophers’ forte.

Keep away from giving up huge performs

Final yr, Rossi’s protection tied for the nationwide lead in giving up the fewest performs of 20 yards or longer, with 35. Two of these, although, have been particularly expensive within the loss at Iowa. Charlie Jones obtained free for a 72-yard TD reception, and Keagan Johnson spun out of a few tackles for a 27-yard TD catch that made it 24-16. These huge performs overcame a Gophers offense that outgained Iowa 409-277 and held the ball for 40:02.

4 different Iowa wins within the streak featured scoring performs of 45 yards or longer.

“We have got to do every little thing in our energy to get rid of explosive performs,” Rossi stated. “We have got to do every little thing in our energy to create takeaways.”

Do not feed the Iowa protection

Iowa’s offense ranks a hundred and thirtieth out of 131 FBS groups with a median of 251.1 yards per recreation. So, how do the Hawkeyes maintain profitable? Their protection and particular groups are excellent.

In final week’s 24-10 win over Wisconsin, Iowa mustered solely 146 yards of offense however obtained an interception return for a TD and a 41-yard punt return to arrange one other rating from Cooper DeJean.

“I do not know if I’ve seen that in school soccer, the place the protection creates nearly all of the factors all year long,” Fleck stated. “… Their protection scores an terrible lot like an offense.”

The Hawkeyes have 18 takeaways this season and 48 factors off turnovers. Drew Stevens is 13-for-15 on subject objectives. Tory Taylor has 21 punts of fifty yards or longer.

Be affected person however aggressive

Gophers operating again Mohamed Ibrahim has rushed 104 instances for 465 yards and eight TDs over the previous three video games. Nevertheless, the Gophers will want some stability. Presumptive beginning quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis should be sharper than he was in going 7-for-13 for 64 yards in opposition to Northwestern.

“How do you reply when it is an incompletion on one which you understand that you simply’re gonna hit it 19 out of 20 instances?” Gophers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca requested. “Does that put you in slightly little bit of a shell? Or do you sit down and smile and say, ‘Wow, I am gonna hit the following 19.’ That is how I need the quarterback to reply when he misses a throw.”