Jalen Smith scored two touchdowns, including a game-winning overtime plunge, to lead Minnesota to a 20-17 victory over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday in Phoenix.
Smith finished with six catches for 64 yards and both scores for Minnesota (8-5). Drake Lindsey completed 18 of 28 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and Darius Taylor had 24 carries for 116 yards and a score.
Minnesota won its ninth straight bowl game and improved to 7–0 in bowl games under coach PJ Fleck.
“That’s what we’ve been doing all year: the ‘Cardiac Gophers,’” Fleck said. “We have a very young team, a lot of guys will be coming back next year. The determination, the grit and the response is just inspiring. I love these guys, I love coaching them. The offense, the defense, the special teams all had to respond, and they did.”
Jack Layne completed 14 of 25 passes for 88 yards and an interception for New Mexico (9-4). Damon Bankston had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
New Mexico scored a field goal on the first drive of overtime to take a 17-14 lead.
That set the stage for a potential game-winning touchdown for the Golden Gophers, and they took advantage of the opportunity. Lindsey threw a 12-yard pass into tight coverage in the end zone, and Smith made the catch before falling to the turf.
Officials ruled the play a touchdown and confirmed it after video review.
New Mexico opened the scoring with back-to-back goals from Luke Drzewiecki. He had a 31-yard run with 1:41 left in the first quarter, and he had a 29-yard run with 6:14 left in the second quarter.
Minnesota took a 7-6 lead with 1:53 left in the second quarter. Lindsey had time in the pocket and threw a 10-yard pass to Smith, who caught the ball in stride in the back right corner of the end zone.
Minnesota made it 14-6 with 13:30 left in the fourth quarter. Taylor took a handoff, bounced to his left and shook off a would-be tackler on his way to the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.
New Mexico tied the score at 14 moments later. Bankston fielded the Golden Gophers’ kickoff in the front of the end zone, sprinted forward and veered toward the right sideline for a 100-yard touchdown.
His teammates celebrated in the end zone along with Bankston, who went untouched by any Minnesota defenders down the stretch thanks to some key blocks from his teammates.
–Field level media
