When the Minnesota Gophers Football team plays their annual spring game, you can count on one thing. It will be a high-scoring affair. With defenses being limited on how much they could blitz in their pass coverages and the ball being placed in favorable field conditions for the offenses, the teams liberally ran up and down the field all day.
Minnesota Gophers Highlight Their Offense
Minnesota Gophers Safety Jordan Nubin (30) – Brad Rempel/University of Minnesota
The Gold squad outlasted the Maroon squad, 36-34. It was settled in overtime when running back Zack Evans rumbled in from 2 yards. The score was tied 34-34 with time running out in the fourth quarter when coach P.J. Fleck decided the game would be decided by the winner of a two-point conversion challenge. The Maroon team went first, and they failed in their attempt. This led to the deciding score by the Gold team’s Evans.
The Gold team struck first in a very unusual way. With senior safety Tyler Nubin lining up on offense, backup quarterback Cole Kramer hit him perfectly, streaking down the sidelines for a 53-yard touchdown.
Minnesota WR Le’Meke Brockington (0) – Brad Rempel/University of Minnesota
The lead grew to 14-0 when Evans ran it in for his first score of the game. The touchdown was set up by a 75-yard pass from Kramer to wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington. In the second quarter, the Maroon team cut their deficient in half when Jordan Nubin, Tyler’s brother, ambled in for a two-yard run.
See-Saw Battle
And the first-half scoring onslaught was not over yet. Later in the quarter, the speedy Evans deked a couple of defenders and was off to the races for a 75-yard touchdown run. The Maroon team once again sliced their deficit to one touchdown when starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis scored on a keeper right before halftime.
In the second half, placekicker Dragan Kesich performed double duty for both teams. He converted a 31-yard field goal for the Maroon squad to cut the Gold team’s lead to four. Later in the quarter, he extended the Gold squad’s lead back up to seven with a 39-yard field goal.
Minnesota WR Elijah Spencer (11) – Brad Rempel / University of Minnesota
Early in the fourth quarter, the Maroon team used their ariel attack to knot up the game. Kaliakmanis found a wide-open Elijah Spencer in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown. Team Maroon then took the lead with five minutes remaining in regulation when Darius Taylor muscled in the end zone from a yard out.
Big Finish
But the fun had just begun. On the very next play, Kramer hit Brockington for a 69-yard score to tie it up. Kesich was brought in by each team to kick a late fourth-quarter pressure-filled field goal. He first connected on a 48-yard field goal for Team Gold with 40 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Then with ten clicks left on the clock, he nailed a 46-yarder for the Gold Squad to set up the dramatic overtime. The only thing missing from this see-saw game was Minnesota Gophers fans in the stands. Due to inclement weather, the team was forced to move the game from Huntington Bank Stadium to their practice facility. The facility, unfortunately, does not have adequate space for spectators.
MVPs for the game were Tyler Nubin, Brockington, and Evans. Brockington had almost 200 receiving yards to go along with his eight receptions and his thrilling touchdown catch. Evans ran 13 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. And Elijah Spencer caught 11 passes for 133 yards and one score.
For the 2023-24 season, Fleck will be without running back Mo Ibrahim and center John Michael Schmitz leaving him big shoes to fill on that side of the ball. On defense, the losses of middle linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin and safety Jordan Howden will create opportunities for some younger players to step up.
Minnesota Gophers Look Ahead to Fall
P.J. Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers staff like what they saw on Saturday, but they are well aware much work needs to be done before the season opener against Nebraska. Fleck is excited about some of the new receivers in camp who are capable of making big plays. With a tougher schedule this year, he hopes those players will be the difference makers when they get into the heart of the Big Ten season.
