Gophers avert disaster

GOPHERS 31

MIAMI OF OHIO 26

Is a "moral loss" a thing? If so this was it. 

With their opening week loss to Ohio State out of the way, the Gophers seemed all set up to now run off a series of wins over far weaker competition. First up the mighty Miami (of Ohio), over whom they were 18 point favorites.

It didn't take long to see where this was going. Miami fumbled on their opening series. Gophers turned that into a touchdown. A couple drives later they drove about 90 yards to a touchdown. Another touchdown was added later. They kind of screwed up a 2 minute drill before halftime, but hit the half up 21-3, were getting the ball to start the 3rd, and seemed fully in control. Nothing to worry about.

Except soon everything was to.worry about.

The offense had an ugly 3 and out to start the 3rd. Miami drove rather easily to a touchdown. And just like that a runaway is a ballgame. 

The Gophers offense was now a stalled mess of stuffed runs and poorly designed pass plays. Miami inched closer with a field goal late in the 3rd. The Gophers had another ugly 3 and out. Then Blaine Gabbert's younger brother (really) led Miami on another touchdown drive through a thoroughly on its heels defense. The only thing that saved the Gophers in this moment was a penalty on the Miami sideline that pushed the ball back on the PAT, which caused them to curiously kick the PAT instead of go for 2 and try to tie the game. 

The lifeless Gophers finally got a.spark of energy on the subsequent kick return up near midfield. Then Trey Potts ran 5 straight times for 53 yards and a touchdown to push the lead back up to 8. 

When Gabbert got picked on the next series it seemed like, okay, the upset bid was dead. The Gopher offense again couldn't move the ball but they were close enough for Matthew Trickett to nail a 50 yard field goal.

Miami didn't give up. Gabbert led them into Gopher territory, but it got to 4th and 10, and then Gabbert was just running desperately, heaving a ball that fell incomplete. But a.flag also fell...for roughing the passer. How do you let that happen?

Worse, on the very next play Gabbert hit on a 33 yard touchdown.

The two was no good, but the Gophers offense that spent a whole half immobilized was somehow going to have to get a couple first downs to Ice the game..

And they did. Potts picked them up. Victory formation. Win #1 on the year.

Didn't feel much like a win though. Certainly doesn't bode well for the season to come. This defense got picked apart. The offense was completely ineffective for most of the 2nd half. Tanner Morgan went 8 for 17, and the gameplan seemed designed to keep the ball out of his hands as much ass possible. I thought this guy was supposed to be an NFL prospect.

They'll have to hope it's just like 2019, when they looked often terrible in the non conference games before blossoming.