Indiana pulls another rabbit from its hat, defeats Minnesota 23-16 in overtime
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The Indiana Hoosiers closed as nearly three-touchdown favorites vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Week 9. Their margin of victory came nowhere close to that figure, but Curt Cignetti’s team came out on top nonetheless.
Grant Wilson, who replaced an injured Josh Hoover to start the second half, found Charlie Becker for a 25-yard touchdown that provided the final points in Indiana’s 23-16 overtime triumph against Minnesota. The Hoosiers sacked Golden Gopher quarterback Drake Lindsey on 4th-and-goal to seal their 29th straight win over an unranked team.
Minnesota, following a huge win vs. Iowa a week ago, thought it claimed victory in the final minute on Lucas Drzewiecki’s 60-yard field goal.
Despite falling behind with only 19 seconds left in regulation, Indiana overcame a clock management mistake (or two) from Cignetti and sent the game to an extra session on Paddy McAteer’s own 60-yard kick.
Wilson, the Hoosiers’ backup quarterback, started the third quarter after Hoover took a big hit on an interception late in the first half. The Old Dominion transfer led Indiana into field goal range on four of his five second-half drives before throwing for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. In all, he completed 52.9% of his passes (9/17) for 156 yards and the touchdown.
Becker, who scored the game-winning points, set up McAteer’s game-tying field goal with a 33-yard grab. He finished the game with eight catches, 149 yards and a touchdown.
The Golden Gophers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) would have battled the UCLA Bruins for first place in the conference next weekend had they beaten the Hoosiers. Instead, they’ll return to Minneapolis wondering what could have been.
Indiana (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) enters a much-needed bye following back-to-back overtime victories. The Hoosiers return to action vs. the USC Trojans on Nov. 14.
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