Minnesota Edges No. 21 Michigan, 23-20

Posted 7:09PM on Saturday 8th October 2005 ( 19 years ago )

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Jason Giannini kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1 second left, lifting Minnesota to a 23-20 win over No. 21 Michigan on Saturday, snapping a 16-game losing streak to the Wolverines. On third-and-10 from the Minnesota 26, Gary Russell ran 61 yards to set up the game-winning kick for the Gophers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten). Michigan (3-3, 1-2) is off to its worst start since also having a 3-3 record in 1990. Garrett Rivas had two chances to break the 20-all tie for the Wolverines, but he missed a 42-yard field goal late in the third quarter and a 34-yard kick with 8:27 left. The Wolverines drove to Minnesota's 43 on their next possession, but had to punt. With backup quarterback Tony Mortensen playing for Bryan Cupito, who was shaken up by a hit, the Gophers seemed content with handing the ball off and playing for overtime. But Russell - who split time with star running back Laurence Maroney - ran around right end and sprinted down the sideline to give Minnesota the ball at Michigan's 13. After the Wolverines were unable to return the final kickoff for a score, the Gophers planted their flag in the middle of the field and stormed Michigan's sideline looking for the Little Brown Jug, the oldest trophy in Division I-A football. They lifted the bulky water jug, which dates back to 1903, over their heads and celebrated with it in front of a stunned crowd. Maroney ran for 129 yards on 36 carries and Russell had 128 on 18 attempts. Cupito was 11-of-23 for 139 yards and a touchdown before being knocked out of the game by LaMarr Woodley's hit just after throwing an incomplete pass midway through the fourth quarter. Michigan's Mike Hart had 109 yards rushing and a TD, and Chad Henne was 14-of-29 for 155 yards. The Wolverines led 13-10 at halftime. Jakari Wallace opened the second half with a 60-yard return, and the Gophers drove to Michigan's 5 before stalling and settling for Giannini's 26-yard field goal to tie the game. Steve Breaston returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to give the Wolverines a 20-13 lead. It was Michigan's first kickoff return for a TD since 1994. Minnesota responded with a 13-play drive - with four third-down conversions - and tied the game on Maroney's 1-yard run midway through the third quarter. Before both teams combined for 17 points in a 4:52 span late in the first half, neither team did much offensively. The Wolverines drove to Minnesota's 6 on the first possession of the game, but only had Rivas' 23-yard field goal to show for it. Giannini tied the game early in the second quarter with a 29-yard kick. Rivas' 47-yard field goal and Hart's 1-yard run on a fourth down gave Michigan a 13-3 lead. Cupito perfectly lofted a 20-yard pass to Ernie Wheelwright in the end zone to make it 13-10. © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/10/124243