Gophers football’s fourth-quarter rally falls short against No. 12 Michigan

Running back Kalel Mullings did it on offense, rushing 27 yards untouched for Michigan’s first touchdown. Zeke Berry did it on defense, stripping the ball from Jackson and recovering it, setting up the Wolverines’ second touchdown. And Kechaun Bennett did it on special teams, blocking a Mark Crawford punt that led to Michigan’s third touchdown and a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.

The Gophers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) ended the first half on a high note, with Brosmer throwing a Hail Mary pass that tight end Nick Kallerup caught at the Michigan 2 with 2 seconds left. Dragan Kesich rushed onto the field to make a 20-yard field goal as time expired, cutting Michigan’s lead to 21–3.

Michigan (4-1, 2-0) mainly exhausted the clock in the third quarter, getting a 55-yard field goal for a 24-3 lead after the first possession of the third quarter took 7:24 off the clock.

Minnesota cut it to 24-10 with 14:01 left in the fourth quarter on Taylor’s 3-yard TD run. Taylor added a four-yard scoring run with 11:05 remaining to make it 24-17.

Michigan’s bigger, stronger and faster athletes proved to be too much for the Gophers in the first half. From Mullings’ two TD runs to Orji keeping Minnesota off balance with his feet, and with a forced fumble and blocked punt, Michigan made the big plays.

The Wolverines also prevented the Gophers from mounting a major offensive challenge before the fourth quarter. Minnesota rushed for just 16 yards in the first half.