Minnesota Ends 20-Year Skid at Indiana

Posted 4:15PM on Saturday 5th November 2005 ( 19 years ago )

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- Gary Russell ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns, and Laurence Maroney moved into second place on Minnesota's career rushing list as the Golden Gophers overpowered Indiana 42-21 Saturday. Minnesota (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) snapped a two-game losing streak and ended a 20-year drought in Bloomington. The Gophers had lost seven straight here since 1985. But Indiana's fourth straight loss may prove the most costly. The Hoosiers (4-5, 1-5) needed two wins in their last three games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 1994 and now must visit No. 22 Michigan, where they haven't won since 1967, and host Purdue, which they've beaten once since 1996. Indiana appeared in control after a goal-line stop as time expired in the first half, taking 14-7 lead into the break. The game changed quickly in the second half. Russell and Maroney gashed the Hoosiers for big chunks of yardage, combining for three touchdown runs in the third quarter. Maroney scored on a 6-yard run early, then Russell scored from 1 yard out and Bryan Cupito threw a 17-yard TD pass to Matt Spaeth before Russell's 6-yard TD run made it 34-14 late in the third quarter. The Hoosiers never recovered. Blake Powers was 26-of-43 for 253 yards with one interception. He also ran for a touchdown. Chris Taylor finished with 19 carries for 75 yards and two TDs. Maroney, who was slowed in the first half as trainers twice re-taped his right ankle, had 15 carries for 85 yards and passed Thomas Hamner on the Gophers' career rushing list. Maroney has 3,814 career yards rushing and trails Darrell Thompson (4,654). Cupito was 16-of-26 for 225 yards with one TD pass. © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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