A bold throw by Drake Lindsey turned into a game-winning touchdown catch by Jalen Smith as the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-5) survived overtime to beat the New Mexico Lobos (9-4) in the Rate Bowl and win their
ninth-straight bowl and seventh under head coach P.J. Fleck.
Trailing 17-14 in overtime, the Gophers were facing 3rd & 8 at the 12-yard line when their redshirt freshman quarterback threw a strike to the end zone, connecting with Smith on a diving touchdown catch.
Smith led the team with six receptions for 64 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The two teams were knotted at 14-14 in the fourth quarter after Minnesota allowed a 100-yard kickoff return to New Mexico running back Damon Bankston in the fourth quarter. The Gophers were fresh off a 12-play, 80-yard drive capped by a five-yard Darius Taylor touchdown run to extend their lead to 14-6 when they surrendered the special teams score. The Lobos’ two-point attempt was successful, allowing them to tie the score.
The Gophers had no business leading at halftime, yet took a 7-6 advantage into the locker room. Minnesota had totaled 37 yards of offense before their final drive of the first half, which began with running back Darius Taylor using a spin move to avoid a tackle in the backfield and sprinting to the edge for a 38-yard gain down the sideline. Eight plays later, quarterback Drake Lindsey threw a rainbow to Jalen Smith in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Gophers their first lead of the game.
While their offense spun its wheels, the Minnesota defense did its best to bend but not break, keeping the Gophers in the game by forcing New Mexico to settle for field goals in both of their red zone trips. Their most impressive stop came in the first quarter when the Lobos marched 79 yards in 12 plays to reach the goal line, only to be kept out of the end zone each of the next three plays, including an Anthony Smith sack on third down.
Smith, who announced after the game that he will return next year for his final season of eligibility, was the MVP of the defense, finishing with six total tackles, four tackles for loss, and one sack. One of his biggest plays came late in the fourth quarter when New Mexico attempted a punt fake with an end-around to running back Deshaun Buchanan. Smith singlehandedly blew it up, dropping Buchanan for a loss of 10 yards and a turnover on downs.
Taylor delivered another memorable bowl game performance, rushing for 116 yards on 24 carries. Koi Perich saw his most offensive snaps of the season, with two carries for seven yards and four receptions for 34 yards.
