New Mexico
Minnesota tops New Mexico in overtime of Rate Bowl to extend bowl streak
Minnesota football coach excited to face New Mexico in Rate Bowl
Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleck said he and his players are looking forward to their Rate Bowl game vs. New Mexico, their first meeting in history.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers just win bowl games.
Drake Lindsey connected on a 12-yard pass to Jalen Smith in overtime to give Minnesota a thrilling 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl at Chase Field on Dec. 26.
It is Minnesota’s ninth straight bowl victory. It is 7-0 in bowl games under coach P.J. Fleck.
New Mexico took a 17-14 lead in overtime after Luke Drzewiecki hit a 36-yard field goal, but Minnesota was able to top that with a 4-play, 25-yard drive, culminating with the Smith touchdown reception, his second of the game.
“It was a concept we ran all year,” Jalen Smith, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game, said. “The offensive line held up. It was just me doing the easy part.”
It was the third overtime game in Rate Bowl history.
The game didn’t feature a lot of scoring through the first three quarters, with Minnesota taking a 7-6 lead into halftime, getting its first-half touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Lindsey to Smith late in the second quarter.
It remained that way until the fourth quarter, when Minnesota extended its lead to 14-6 on a 5-yard run from Darius Taylor with 13:30 left in the fourth.
But New Mexico got back into the game just 12 seconds later on a 100-yard kickoff return from Damon Bankston, the longest in Rate Bowl history. Jack Layne tied the game with a pass to Keagan Johnson on the two-point conversion.
Minnesota DL Anthony Smith was the defensive player of the game after recording six tackles, four of which were for a loss, and two sacks.
“I wouldn’t want to be on any other team,” Smith said. “And that is why I am coming back for my fifth year. I love these guys.”
Lindsey went 18-for-28 for 147 yards, with two touchdown passes.
Jalen Smith had six catches for 64 yards, with two touchdown receptions.
Darius Taylor rushed the ball 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Fleck lauded the Rate Bowl after his team’s win.
“What an elite experience,” the Minnesota head coach said after the game. “There are a lot of bowls out there, but they know how to do it first class.”
Jack Layne finished the game 14-for 25 passing for New Mexico, with 88 yards passing and one pass intercepted.
Bankston rushed 10 times for 57 yards for the Lobos.
Minnesota had 252 total yards, while New Mexico had 204.
It was New Mexico’s first bowl appearance since 2016. The Lobos finished the year 9-4 under first-year coach Jason Eck.
“I thought we fought our tail off today,” Eck said. “We just came up a little bit short. I thought we particularly played well on defense … We were struggling to move the ball, it really didn’t end up hurting up because our defense did a great job.”
The Golden Gophers ended the year with an 8-5 record.
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.
Enter your email and we’ll send a secure one-click link to sign in.
KRQE NEWS 13 is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
KRQE NEWS 13 is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — An ‘imposter nurse’ in Las Cruces is facing 34 charges after nearly causing the death of a patient and illegally giving medications to patients under 18 years old.
A Doña Ana County grand jury indicted Margarita Gonzalez. She is accused of assuming the identities of nurses in Texas to get hired at four nursing facilities in Las Cruces:
- Village at Northrise
- Las Cruces Wellness and Rehabilitation
- Peak Behavioral Health
- Matrix Home Care
The New Mexico Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau investigated and discovered instances where Gonzalez illegally gave injections and dispensed prescriptions, including narcotics to eight inpatient residents under 18 years old.
An investigation also found Gonzalez was also about to allegedly give “an incorrect insulin dose” to a patient that they claim could’ve killed the patient if another nurse hadn’t caught the error.
Several facilities fired Gonzalez over patient safety concerns and an observed lack of knowledge.
“Impersonating a healthcare provider is a reckless and selfish crime that subjects those most vulnerable to risk of serious injury or death,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said. “I will not tolerate those who risk the safety of patients or cause danger and unnecessary confusion within the healthcare system. These charges should keep anyone attempting to pose as a healthcare provider on notice: we will find you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law to protect New Mexicans.”
Gonzalez’s charges include identity theft, nursing without a license, abuse of a resident, distribution of controlled substances to a minor and fraud totaling over $25,000.
If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez could face up to 100 years in prison.
-
Cleveland, OH16 seconds agoThe Movie Nerd Report: Independent movie premieres in Cleveland this week – The Land
-
Austin, TX6 minutes agoJane Austin Improv celebrates third anniversary with Texas shows & a national NYC stage
-
Alabama12 minutes agoAlabama elections 2026: Who is running for U.S. Senate and House?
-
Alaska18 minutes agoWhy Juneau should be on every Alaska traveler’s bucket list
-
Arizona24 minutes agoArizona’s mountain rollercoasters are open for season. How to ride
-
Arkansas30 minutes agoArkansas Storm Team Forecast: Rain chances return; low to start but higher next week
-
California36 minutes agoOpinion | California will make less money from greenhouse gas emission auctions
-
Colorado42 minutes agoLive: Day 1 of Colorado high school state track and field meet