Minnesota wills its way to victory

MINNEAPOLIS - Sometimes there's collateral damage in victory.

As Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill jogged to midfield for the uncomfortable post-game handshake with Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz, Minnesota offensive lineman Zach Mottla chased Kill with a Gatorade bucket. The messy liquid missed Kill, and Mottla tossed the bucket about five yards from the coach before sprinting away.

Thousands of students rushed the field to celebrate Minnesota's come-from-behind 22-21 win against Iowa at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gopher players paraded Floyd of Rosedale around the field, and Minnesota senior defensive lineman Brandon Kirksey earned a war wound during the party.

"I tried to stop everybody from coming forward because we were going too fast, and Floyd just came forward on me," Kirksey said. "I think it was the right ear.

"He's pretty heavy. Those ears are sharp."

That's 98.3 pounds of bronze pig that cut Kirksey's face just below his left eye. Kill, who's battled various health ailments this year, admitted afterward he was exhausted. But both were thrilled to wash away the distaste of a broken season with a big win against a key rival. The Gophers showed heart and guts, and both were crucial in during a fourth-quarter special teams play and its aftermath.

Trailing by 11 early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota smashed Iowa's defensive line on a 11-play, 80-yard drive that featured 10 of 11 runs to cut its deficit to 21-16. Minnesota's 2-point attempt failed, and the Gophers lined up for the kickoff with 8:22 left in the game.

Each week the Gophers practice a specific onside kick. If the players don't execute the kick in a Friday practice, Kill scraps it for the game plan. This week it worked, and the play entered Kill's mind.

Iowa running back Marcus Coker had gouged the defense for 252 rushing yards, and Kill believed his defense was exhausted. With the game at a lull during a television timeout, Kill polled his assistants for their thoughts about the onside kick.

"They said, 'We're with you, coach,'" Kill said. "That's all I needed to hear. I wanted somebody with me in case it didn't work out.

"Of course if it doesn't work, then a lot of people would be questioning what the heck we were doing. Sometimes you've got roll the dice to turn momentum, and we felt like it was a 50-50 shot. "

Backup kicker Jordan Wettstein kicked the ball, and it sailed 10 yards in the air. Six Gophers lined up on the right side and blistered Iowa's Jason White and Nick Nielsen. Minnesota safety Kim Royston recovered the ball at the Gophers' 41 and momentum clearly swung Minnesota's way.

"I knew there was going to be a moment where I had to make the play," said Royston, a six-year senior. "There were a couple of times throughout the year where we almost called it. Once the coaches told me, there was no doubt I was going to get the ball."

"Our two guys, we double-doubled," Kill said. "We doubled their end, we doubled their tackle and put the ball in behind it. It was a great kick, great execution.

"I've been doing that particular onside kick for about 13 years. I actually wrote a little paper on how we teach it."

The Gophers then marched on a 12-play, 59-yard drive that culminated in a 3-yard touchdown run on fourth down by quarterback MarQueis Gray to take a 22-21 lead.

Minnesota then stopped Iowa on four consecutive passes and the Gophers secured Floyd of Rosedale for the second straight year.

The win was Kill's first since signing a seven-year contract on Tuesday. It also was his first in the Big Ten. It's been a tough year for the 2-6 Gophers, but the win provides Kill with some validation moving forward.

"If we can get this thing going, like I believe we can, this is unlimited potential of what we can be," Kill said.