Michigan survives Minnesota final drive that ends at the goal-line
Minnesota had the ball at the Michigan 1-yard-line with 19 seconds left Saturday night. Trailing 29-26, Minnesota needed just a field goal to tie or a touchdown to take the lead. The Gophers got neither as Michigan held on for the win.
Minnesota appeared to have gotten a touchdown on the play that got the Gophers down to the 1 when Mitch Leidner hit Drew Wolitarsky for a completion that was ruled a touchdown on the field. But a review showed that Wolitarsky’s knee was down at the 1 and the score was taken off the board.
Then Minnesota started having some issues. Since the catch was a first down and Wolitarsky was in-bounds, the clock started on the referee’s whistle. The Gophers were apparently unaware of that and changed formations after lining up. The shifting and subsequent pass meant Minnesota lost 17 seconds off the clock. Two seconds remained after Leidner’s pass fell incomplete.
Interim coach Tracy Claeys used his final timeout to decide to either tie the game or go for the win. He chose the latter and sent the offense back on the field. Minnesota then tried a sneak with Leidner and the Gophers were stuffed. Game over.
It was Claeys’ first game as interim coach (in 2015) since the retirement of coach Jerry Kill on Wednesday. Kill, 54, retired from his post because of health reasons. Claeys was the interim coach in 2013 when Kill took a leave of absence after suffering a seizure during a game.
Claeys’ team hung with the Wolverines the entire game. It wasn’t surprising given the emotional events of the past week. A win would have been a fitting way to pay tribute to Kill’s career.
Michigan took a 29-26 lead when Wilton Speight hit Jehu Chesson for a 12-yard score with 4:57 left. But Minnesota responded brilliantly – until the final two plays – as Leidner converted passes on third-and-17 and hit K.J. Mays for a great conversion on fourth-and-5 to keep the drive alive.
Michigan now moves to 6-2 and 3-1 in the Big 12 with games against Rutgers, Indiana and Penn State before Ohio State to end the season. For Minnesota, well, the schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Gophers visit the Buckeyes next week before playing undefeated Iowa. A win against either team could go a long way toward securing Claeys’ future as Minnesota’s head coach. And if he’s in a similar situation against one of them, we’re betting Minnesota goes for the tie.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
