The Michigan-Minnesota rivalry has been thoroughly dominated by the Wolverines over the last five decades. It has been a series of missed opportunities for Minnesota and Michigan taking home the Little Brown Jug year after year. But not today! Saturday’s 100th meeting for the Jug saw the Gophers overcome costly mistakes in the first half, and the defense dominated Michigan in the second.
The first half had everyone extremely nervous as Drake Lindsey threw two costly interceptions. One set up Michigan
for their first touchdown and another was returned for a touchdown. And the score was 14-17 at the half. The mistakes in the first half were costly, but the story of this game is how the Gopher defense completely shut down the Michigan offense.
In the entirety of the third quarter, the Michigan offense ran exactly two plays. They had a five-yard run and that was followed by an Ayden West interception. The only other time Michigan touched the ball in that third quarter, it was a muffed punt, recovered by the Gophers, which lead to a field goal. Two plays and two turnovers over 15 minutes.
The fourth quarter wasn’t much better. After the Gophers kicked a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter, Michigan took the ball, still up 14-13. But on first down, Jaxon Howard hit Bryce Underwood as he was throwing and Zach Harden nabbed the interception. Three plays, three turnovers over 15 minutes and nine seconds.
This time the Gopher offense found the end zone. Noah Jennings took a receiver handoff 31 yards, setting up first and goal from the four. And two plays later, Drake Lindsey found Darius Taylor for a 3-yard touchdown pass and the lead.
Up 20-14 with 14 minutes lefft is no time for Gopher fans to feel confident or comfortable.
But the Gopher defense continued its domination. Michigan had three more possessions while the Gopher offense became extremely conservative. But they managed to contain Underwood, had two sacks and held on, giving the ball back to the offense with 32 seconds left.
They assumed the victory formation, ran out the clock and the team sprinted to grab the Little Brown Jug.
This was the first time the Jug has been on in Minnesota since 1977 and only the fifth win in the last 49 tries. A truly remarkable experience for the team and fans.
Minnesota is 4-1, and they head to Purdue next Saturday for a 7:00 kickoff in West Lafayette.
But we will worry about next week tomorrow. Today we celebrate The Little Brown Jug, and it will sit next to Paul Bunyan’s Axe in the trophy case.
