by THE BASICS
The Score: Minnesota 27, Ohio 24
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. — TCF Bank Stadium
The Short Story: Ohio scored more points on Minnesota than any team this season while redshirt senior Derrius Vick threw for two touchdowns, but Ohio came up just short of an upset of Big Ten foe Minnesota, falling 27-24 to the Gophers on Saturday(September 26) at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
HOW WE GOT HERE:
– After a three-and out on the first drive, a pair of 30-plus yard receptions, with the ladder a 39-yard touchdown reception by redshirt freshman running back Papi White (Seminole/Creek/Chickasaw) to open the scoring. It was his third touchdown of the season and second by way of a reception.
– Minnesota equalized the score on a 40-yard touchdown run by running back Shannon Brooks on the second play of the second quarter.
– After converting on a fourth down earlier in the drive, Vick threw his second touchdown of the day with a 10-yard completion to redshirt junior receiver Sebastian Smith to give Ohio a 14-7 lead at the 7:46 mark of the second quarter.
– The Gophers marched right back down the field to tie the game, with the drive culminated by a 1-yard sneak by Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner with 3:20 left in the second quarter.
– Vick went 11-of-15 for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
– Smith led all receivers with 56 yards on three receptions.
– Redshirt senior safety Devin Jones led the Bobcats with five first-half tackles.
– Ohio outgained Minnesota 153-113 in the opening half.
– The Gophers opened the scoring in the second half with a 49-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Santoso at the 11:25 mark of the third quarter. It was the first deficit Ohio faced all season.
– After a fumble on a punt return forced by redshirt sophomore Cody Grilliot and scooped up by Heitzman.
– Sophomore running back AJ Ouellette then took a handoff and rushed in from 11 yards out to give Ohio a 21-17 lead with 14:39 left in the fourth quarter.
– Senior running back Daz Patterson returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to give Ohio the ball at Minnesota’s 43 with 30 seconds left in the game.
– A Hail-Mary attempt by Vick as time expired was deflected by Minnesota defenders.
BIG PLAYS:
– Vick found a wide-open Heitzman over the middle for a 38-yard gain to the Minnesota 49-yard line on the first play of the second drive.
– Two plays later, Vick completed a 39-yard pass to White, who was wide open along the home sideline, for a touchdown.
– Vick hit Smith with a back-shoulder throw for a 15-yard catch and then two plays later, on a third and five from the Ohio 45, Vick again connected with Smith for a 31-yard gain to put the ball at the Minnesota 24.
– On a fourth and three from the Minnesota 17, the Bobcats went for it and converted as Vick found sophomore Jordan Reid for a five-yard gain.
– Vick connected with Smith for a 10-yard touchdown pass on what was a third-and-eight chance.
– Leidner, after nearly scoring on a 6-yard scamper the play before, took a sneak up the middle and into the endzone to tie the game at 14.
– Trailing 17-14 in the fourth quarter, punt returner Craig James was stripped by Grilliot and it was recovered by Heitzman. Paired with a personal foul on Minnesota, Ohio received the ball on the Minnesota 6.
– On the next play, Ouellette punched the ball in from 11-yards out.
– Minnesota would score the game-winning touchdown on a three-yard rush by Brooks.
SCORING DRIVES
First Quarter:
10:33 OHIO — White, 39-yard pass from Vick (Yazdani kick), 4-87, 1:28 — 7-0
Second Quarter:
14:19 MINNESOTA — Brooks, 40-yard run (Santoso kick), 6-87, 2:49 — 7-7
07:46 OHIO — Smith, 10-yard pass from Vick (Yazdani kick), 13-75, 6:33 — 14-7
03:20 MINNESOTA — Leidner, 1-yard run (Santoso kick), 9-87, 4:26 — 14-14
Third quarter
04:15 MINNESOTA — Santoso, 49-yard field goal, 8-31, 3:35 — 17-14
Fourth Quarter
14:38 OHIO — Ouellette, 11-yard run, 1-6, 0:05 — 21-17
08:44 MINNESOTA — Santoso, 24-yard field goal, 13-88, 5:55 — 21-20
10:44 OHIO — Yazdani, 41-yard field goal, 1-58, 1:53 — 24-20
06:21 MINNESOTA — Brooks, 3-yard run (Santoso kick), 11-78, 2:06 — 27-24
FINAL STATS:
Vick: 17-for-27, 194 yards, two touchdowns.
Smith: Four receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown.
White: 47 yards on two receptions, one touchdowns.
Ouellette: 59 yards on 12 carries.
Reid: 36 yards on five receptions.
Jones: 10 total tackles, eight solo tackles, one tackle for loss.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats remain on the road next week, traveling to northeast Ohio to take on Akron in the Bobcats’ MAC opener on Saturday (October 3). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN3.
