Minnesota

Hidden Gems: Penn State-Minnesota Football 2016

Published

1 year ago

June 14, 2024

Hidden Gems: Penn State-Minnesota Football 2016

We’re bringing back Hidden Gems! Some of you longtime BSD readers may remember this series where we reflect on the games that we’ve enjoyed over the years that haven’t quite lived on in Penn State lore. We’ll be giving these games their due, as we reflect on a variety of memorable (but not too memorable) games from different Nittany Lions teams over the years.

Next up…Penn State rebounds from a devastating (and controversial) defeat at Michigan by taking care of Illinois on the road.

The 2016 season does not want for notable games. The 24-21 upset of Ohio State. The 38-31 come-from-behind Big Ten Championship over Wisconsin. The 52-49 shootout in the Rose Bowl against USC.

But does any of that season happen without the overtime victory over Minnesota?

The 2016 season was the first with Trace McSorley at the helm, and a new offensive coordinator in Joe Moorhead. With rising star Saquon Barkley, could the Lions find a new gear offensively? How about the defense, which was normally stout, but had key roster turnover. Could the team, still recovering from sanctions, start to make some noise for themselves?

Well, to start the season, no.

The Lions opened with a 33-13 win over Kent State, then went on the field and laid a dud against Pitt, losing 42-39. That game ended with an interception in the Pitt endzone with the Lions trying to come back from an early 28-7 deficit.

A 34-27 nailbiter over Temple a week later did nothing to quell concerns, especially when it was followed by a 49-10 thrashing at the hands of Michigan in week 4.

Sitting at 2-2, 0-1 in Big Ten play, it was a wounded team when Minnesota came to town.

Unlike the Lions, the Golden Gophers were undefeated to start the season, with wins over Oregon State, Indiana State, and Colorado State.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in rainy, blustery conditions, with Minnesota striking first, going up 3-0 near the end of the first quarter.

The Lions tied it at 3 early in the second, but the Gophers executed their ground-and-pound game with startling efficiency. Heading into the half, Penn State trailed 13-3.

Then in the second half, we got to see Penn State’s offensive penchant under Joe Moorhead: explosive offense.

Following a run for no gain by Barkley, and an incomplete pass by McSorley, Irvin Charles broke off an 80-yard catch-and-run, making it 13-10. The Lions would add 10 more points on the next two possessions, capped by a Trace McSorley touchdown run to take a 20-13 lead.

Then on the ensuing kickoff, Joey Julius got leveled by linebacker Jaylen Waters, resulting in the latter’s ejection from the game. Julius had a penchant for big hits on kick returners, and Minnesota was having none of it.

Unfortunately, despite the penalty, the Gophers were able to go 85 yards in just 8 plays, including 6 running plays, to tie the game at 20 early in the fourth quarter.

Things looked most bleak when the offense stalled out (again, as it was wont to do in 2016) for most of the fourth quarter, and with 54 seconds left, Minnesota kicker Emmit Carpenter nailed a 37-yard field goal to take a 23-20 lead.

Not so fast, my friends.

Trace McSorley took the field, and led the team from the 25 yard line to the Minnesota 22 yard line in just 19 seconds of game play, and with 2 seconds to go in the game, Tyler Davis punched a 40-yard field goal through the uprights.

The teams headed to overtime, knotted at 23 apiece.

The defense came alive in overtime as Minnesota first took possession of the ball. A rushing gain of 1 yard followed by an Evan Schwan sack, and then an incomplete pass by Mitch Leidner left the Gophers with a 4th and 13.

Naturally, Emmit Carpenter nailed the 46-yard field goal attempt, putting the Gophers up 26-23.

Then the season turned on a single play.

Saquon Barkley, who had been utterly shut down by Minnesota (just 38 yards on 19 carries, with no touchdowns and -3 receiving yards on a single catch), took the handoff from Trace McSorley. In his signature style, Saquon accelerated quickly through the left side of the line, evading a tackle from defensive lineman Gaelin Elmore, then juking DB Adekunle Ayinde out of his shoes. However the juke let Elmore catch up to Barkley, who sped up quickly once again and used his powerful lower body to escape a diving tackle attempt, and leapt into the endzone to secure the 29-26 win.

The rest, as they say, is history. The Lions would go on to topple Ohio State, upend Iowa, defeat Wisconsin, and claim their first Big Ten Championship in the post-sanction era.

But were it not for the gritty win over Minnesota, the kicking heroics of Tyler Davis, and the explosive overtime run by Saquon Barkley, all may have been for naught.

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Minnesota

Two Minnesota state Senate seats up for election today could determine balance of power

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2025

Press Room

Two Minnesota state Senate seats up for election today could determine balance of power

Two special elections in the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday could shift the balance of power in the chamber.

Democrats hold a 33-32 advantage in the state Senate, but the resignation of DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell and the death of Republican Sen. Bruce Anderson have left two spots open. Tuesday’s outcomes could solidify the DFL’s one-seat majority or hand the chamber over to the GOP.

Which Minnesota state senate seats are up for election?

Seats in districts 29 and 47 are on the ballot on Tuesday.

District 29 encompasses Wright County and three communities in neighboring Hennepin and Meeker counties.

District 47 envelops Woodbury and parts of Maplewood.

Why are the two Minnesota state senate seats up for election?

Anderson’s unexpected death at the age of 75 left his seat in District 29 open. Anderson spent more than 30 years in the Minnesota Legislature, serving in the state House before moving to the Senate. He was first elected to District 29 in 2012.

Mitchell resigned in July after being convicted of burglary for breaking into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, home. She flipped the district in 2022, defeating Republican Dwight Dorau in the general election. Before that, it had seen Republican representation since redistricting in 2012.

Who is running for the Minnesota state senate seats?

Republican Michael Holmstrom Jr. won a special primary in August and will face off against Democrat Louis McNutt in District 29. McNutt is a mechanic for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Holmstrom is a small business owner. Both candidates live in Buffalo, Minnesota, and both are married with children.

Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger won the DFL primary in August and will compete with Dorau on the ballot in District 47. Hemmingsen-Jaeger is currently a state representative in District 47A. Dorau is a high school teacher and veteran.

Should Hemmingsen-Jaeger win, a special election would be required to fill her House seat.

WCCO’s election coverage

After polls close at 8 p.m., WCCO will provide live results online from every race in the state, including dozens of school referendums.

Results will also appear as soon as they come in on CBS News Minnesota, and key races will be shown at the bottom of the screen on WCCO-TV later in the evening.

Need help registering to vote, finding your polling place or knowing what’s on your ballot? Check out WCCO’s guide here.

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Minnesota

Everything you need to know about Sounders-Minnesota

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2025

Press Room

Everything you need to know about Sounders-Minnesota

The Seattle Sounders have been here before. In fact, they’ve been here quite often. This will the 17th time the Sounders have played a literal must-win playoff game since Brian Schmetzer took over in 2016. They have gone 11-5 in their previous 16 such games.

Minnesota United has a little more room for error after winning Game 1 in a penalty shootout, so it’s not a must-win for them. Historically, though, they’ve gone just 2-5 in must-win playoff games and are on a four-game losing streak. They will likely just as well avoid a must-win game if they can help it.

Here’s what you need to know:

Injury news

Sounders

OUT: Paul Arriola – Knee; Pedro de la Vega – Knee

Minnesota

None

Opposition players to watch

Kelvin Yeboah: The striker wasn’t healthy enough to start in Game 1, but he did come off the bench. It’s not entirely clear if he’s yet been cleared to start, but either way he gives the Loons a look they otherwise don’t have. Yeboah allows the Loons to play a more coherent style, acting as a hold-up player that allows them to build (to the degree they are interested).

Dayne St. Clair: No one cast a bigger shadow of Game 1 then the newly crowed Goalkeeper of the Year. Although he was really only tested a couple of times in regulation, he came up with a massive save in the shootout. His general presence can’t be overstated either as he just makes the goal seem smaller.

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Stats to look smart

2.4 — The Sounders generated 2.4 xG in Game 1, easily the most they had created in a game without scoring this year. If they are able to do that again, scoring at least one goal seems extremely likely.

4 – The Sounders have twice generated four big chances in a game in which they failed to score at least once. Both were against Minnesota United.

Tactics to impress

The Sounders’ two best chances were generated with Jordan Morris sending in crosses from the right side to Danny Musovski. Don’t be at all surprised if we see that tactic attempted again.
Minnesota United likely feels like for all the chances they gave up in Game 1, they were ultimately OK with the tradeoff. Their main focus will almost certainly be keeping numbers behind the ball and forcing the Sounders to break them down.

Opposition research

Kit matchup

Playoff bracket

More listening

Listen to the episode: Click here

This player is still in beta, there may be some bugs.

Niko and Jeremiah talk through the possible sale of the Sounders

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Minnesota

“Altercations” during final night of “ValleyScare” lead to early closure of Valleyfair

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2025

Press Room

“Altercations” during final night of “ValleyScare” lead to early closure of Valleyfair

WCCO Staff

Updated on: November 2, 2025 / 8:34 PM CST
/ CBS Minnesota

The final night of a Halloween-themed event at Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota, ended early due to “two altercations between parties,” according to a park spokesperson.

The park’s website noted Saturday was the last evening of “Valleyscare,” dubbed as the “Twin Cities’ largest Halloween event.” It was scheduled from 7 a.m. to midnight.

But videos on social media show a large police presence in the parking lot sometime around 10 p.m., with guests streaming out and saying they were told to go home.

A Valleyfair spokesperson gave this statement to WCCO on Sunday: “Valleyfair is a family-friendly environment, and we do not tolerate disruptive or inappropriate behavior. Guests who violate our Code of Conduct are required to leave the park. Last evening, park security personnel responded to two altercations between parties. As a result, several guests were escorted off park property. We are fully cooperating with local law enforcement on their investigation into the altercations. Last evening marked the final scheduled operating day of Valleyfair’s 2025 season.”

WCCO also reached out to the Shakopee Police Department and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office for more information.

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