Minnesota rallies late to beat Wisconsin 23-16, keep Axe

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Athan Kaliakmanis related with Le’Meke Brockington on a tiebreaking 45-yard landing with 3:40 remaining and Minnesota barely held on within the remaining minute to beat Wisconsin 23-16 on Saturday.

After an damage knocked Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz out of the sport on the Badgers’ remaining collection, backup Chase Wolf drove the Badgers into place for a tying landing. A cross interference penalty ultimately zone gave Wisconsin first-and-goal from the 5 with 26 seconds left.

However a holding penalty and a false begin pushed Wisconsin again to the 20. After Wolf threw an incompletion, two extra false begins created second-and-goal from the 30. The sport ended with Wolf throwing an incompletion right into a crowd of gamers ultimately zone on fourth-and-goal from the 25.

Minnesota (8-4, 5-4 Large Ten) retained possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe, which fits to the winner of this annual matchup. The Gophers additionally tied the most-played Soccer Bowl Subdivision rivalry — these two Large Ten foes have been dealing with one another since 1890 — at 62-62-8.

“Each groups performed extremely onerous,” Minnesota coach P.j. Fleck stated. “Each had an opportunity to win. We have been simply in a position to make another play than they did.”

Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5) fell to 4-3 below interim head coach Jim Leonhard, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after the firing of Paul Chryst. Minnesota, which defeated Wisconsin 23-13 final yr, has crushed the Badgers in consecutive seasons for the primary time since 1993-94.

“We’ve been by a number of adversity and we’ve realized loads about this workforce,” Leonhard stated. “There are particular issues I don’t like. We have to enhance. We have to win video games, flat-out. That’s our job. That’s our aim right here, to be aggressive within the Large Ten and win soccer video games. We’ve gotten inconsistent outcomes.”

Minnesota was dealing with second-and-11 when Brockington ran a slant route, caught Kaliakmanis’ cross in stride contained in the 35 and outran Wisconsin’s protection to the tip zone for his first profession landing.

Kalikamanis ended up 19 of 29 for 319 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his third sport filling in for Tanner Morgan, who’s out with an upper-body damage. Brevyn Spann-Ford, Dylan Wright and Daniel Jackson mixed to catch 17 passes for 267 yards.

Wisconsin, which had come again from a 13-6 deficit to take a 16-13 lead late within the third quarter, couldn’t rally a second time.

Minnesota’s Justin Walley picked off a Mertz cross and had a 28-yard interception return to place the Gophers in place for a game-clinching rating, however Matthew Trickett’s 48-yard field-goal try bounced off the suitable upright with 1:48 left.

That set the stage for Wolf’s comeback try.

This sport formed up as a duel between two of the nation’s high working backs in Minnesota’ Mohamed Ibrahim and Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen, but it surely didn’t fairly work out that method.

Allen missed Saturday’s sport after injuring his ankle every week earlier in a 15-14 victory at Nebraska. Ibrahim took a giant hit in cross safety on Minnesota’s opening collection and completed with 27 carries for 70 yards, the primary time this season he’s been held beneath 100 yards.

Minnesota discovered a option to win anyhow.

THE TAKEAWAY

Minnesota: The Gophers withstood the absence of Morgan and security Tyler Nubin to point out they’ve gained the higher hand on this rivalry. After dropping to Wisconsin 14 straight instances from 2004-17, the Gophers have received three of the final 5 matchups.

Wisconsin: This program prides itself on offensive line, however the repeated penalties by Wisconsin’s offensive linemen saved the Badgers from tying the rating on the sport’s remaining collection. Wisconsin’s 2023 coach — whether or not it’s Leonhard or another person — should determine learn how to to enhance this offense. After Chimere Dike’s 9-yard reverse put Wisconsin forward 16-13 within the third quarter, the Badgers went three-and-out thrice and threw an interception of their subsequent 4 collection.

UP NEXT

Each groups ought to study their bowl locations and opponents on Dec. 3.

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