Final
Weber leads Minnesota past Michigan State 42-34
Nov 1, 2009 - 3:00 AM By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports WriterMINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- Adam Weber passed for 416 yards and five touchdowns, helping Minnesota hurdle a school-record 17 penalties and hang on to beat Michigan State 42-34 on Saturday night.
Playing without injured star wide receiver Eric Decker for the first time, Weber stepped up for his struggling offense at the best possible time. Completing 19 of 31 passes for the career high in yardage, Weber had his first five-score game since his freshman year.
Running back Duane Bennett caught two of the touchdowns for Minnesota (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten), including an incredible recreation of the famous Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972 to stretch the lead to eight with 6:04 left.
Tight end Nick Tow-Arnett, who had a career-high eight catches for 81 yards and two scores, caught a third-and-17 pass from Weber near the Michigan State 35 and landed on his back after a jarring hit. The ball never touched the ground and popped right up into the hands of Bennett, who ran the rest of the way for the 59-yard touchdown.
The fans were fed up with the refs, who flagged the Gophers for 157 yards in penalties - also the most in their history. The calls evened out in the end, though.
Right before Bennett's score off the bobbled ball, Tow-Arnett lost a fumble that was recovered by the Spartans. It was overturned by replay review, which ruled an incomplete pass.
On the following possession, the Spartans were whistled for four of their nine penalties. They reached the 39, but Kirk Cousins overthrew his receiver on fourth down. They stopped the Gophers on third-and-1, but punter Blake Haudan drew a roughing call on Kendell Davis-Clark and Minnesota was able to run out the clock.
The Spartans (4-5, 3-3) were fortunate to be in the game in the second half, given all the self-inflicted problems by the Gophers. This was a familiar tough loss, though; all of Michigan State's defeats this year have come by eight points or less.
Cousins dropped a snap and threw an interception in the first half, but neither turnover led to points for Minnesota. He finished 21 for 35 for 236 yards and two touchdowns, both of them impressive throws. His 11-yard toss to tight end Dion Sims gave the Spartans their first lead, 31-28 heading into the final quarter.
The third quarter actually belonged to Keshawn Martin.
The sophomore wide receiver took the kickoff back 82 yards for a score and then raced 84 yards for a touchdown on an end around to put the Spartans in position for the wild finish.
The Gophers ditched their spread offense for a pro-style power running system this season, and Weber's struggles have been glaring at times during the transition. Without Decker, it was natural to assume the worst.
On the first play from scrimmage, though, Weber used a textbook play-action fake to find Bennett open along the sideline for a 62-yard catch and tiptoe streak along the sideline.
After the Spartans fumbled the kickoff, Weber found Brandon Green in tight coverage in the corner of the end zone from 37 yards out to make it 14-0 just 107 seconds into the game.
Decker badly sprained his foot the week before and will have season-ending surgery on Wednesday. Leaning on crutches, he smiled at Weber as his close friend and roommate hugged him following the second score.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MICHIGANST 3 7 21 3 34
MINNESOTA 14 7 7 14 42 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: MINNESOTA - TD, DUANE BENNETT 62 YD PASS FROM
ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD
KICK), 0:20. MINNESOTA 7-0
MINNESOTA - TD, BRANDON GREEN 37 YD PASS FROM
ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD
KICK), 1:47. MIN
Oct 31 10:34 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGANST 34
MINNESOTA 42 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 31 10:34 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 59 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 34, Minnesota 42 4th - 6:04Oct 31 10:14 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 59 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 34, Minnesota 42 4th - 6:04Oct 31 10:14 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 59 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 34, Minnesota 42 4th - 6:04Oct 31 10:14 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 34
MINNESOTA 42 6:04 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Michigan State 34, Minnesota 42 4th - 6:04Oct 31 10:14 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGANST 34
MINNESOTA 35 8:10 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Michigan State 34, Minnesota 35 4th - 8:10Oct 31 10:01 PM - 79
roots - NCAAF
MICHIGANST 17
MINNESOTA 21 14:47 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Michigan State 17, Minnesota 21 3rd - 14:47Oct 31 9:56 PM
TD MINNESOTA NICK TOW-ARNETT 2 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 35 4th - 12:40Oct 31 9:46 PM
TD MINNESOTA NICK TOW-ARNETT 2 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 35 4th - 12:40Oct 31 9:46 PM
TD MINNESOTA NICK TOW-ARNETT 2 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 35 4th - 12:40Oct 31 9:46 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 31
MINNESOTA 35 12:40 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 35 4th - 12:40Oct 31 9:46 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST DION SIMS 11 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 28 End of 3rdOct 31 9:37 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST DION SIMS 11 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 28 End of 3rdOct 31 9:37 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST DION SIMS 11 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 28 End of 3rdOct 31 9:37 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 31
MINNESOTA 28 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Michigan State 31, Minnesota 28 End of 3rdOct 31 9:37 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGANST 10
MINNESOTA 21 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 31 9:34 PM
TD MINNESOTA NICK TOW-ARNETT 7 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 21 2nd - 2:32Oct 31 9:26 PM
TD MINNESOTA NICK TOW-ARNETT 7 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 21 2nd - 2:32Oct 31 9:26 PM
TD MINNESOTA NICK TOW-ARNETT 7 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 21 2nd - 2:32Oct 31 9:26 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 10
MINNESOTA 21 2:32 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 21 2nd - 2:32Oct 31 9:26 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST KESHAWN MARTIN 84 YD RUN (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 24, Minnesota 28 3rd - 5:03Oct 31 9:24 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST KESHAWN MARTIN 84 YD RUN (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 24, Minnesota 28 3rd - 5:03Oct 31 9:24 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST KESHAWN MARTIN 84 YD RUN (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 24, Minnesota 28 3rd - 5:03Oct 31 9:22 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST KESHAWN MARTIN 84 YD RUN (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 24, Minnesota 28 3rd - 5:03Oct 31 9:22 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 24
MINNESOTA 28 5:03 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Michigan State 24, Minnesota 28 3rd - 5:03Oct 31 9:22 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 1 YD RUN (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 17, Minnesota 28 3rd - 12:00Oct 31 9:08 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 1 YD RUN (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 17, Minnesota 28 3rd - 12:00Oct 31 9:08 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 17
MINNESOTA 28 12:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Michigan State 17, Minnesota 28 3rd - 12:00Oct 31 9:08 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST BRIAN LINTHICUM 26 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 14 2nd - 10:35Oct 31 8:58 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST BRIAN LINTHICUM 26 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 14 2nd - 10:35Oct 31 8:58 PM
TD MICHIGAN ST BRIAN LINTHICUM 26 YD PASS FROM KIRK COUSINS (BRETT SWENSON KICK)
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 14 2nd - 10:35Oct 31 8:58 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 10
MINNESOTA 14 10:35 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Michigan State 10, Minnesota 14 2nd - 10:35Oct 31 8:58 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGANST 3
MINNESOTA 14 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 31 8:49 PM - NCAAF
MICHIGANST 3
MINNESOTA 14 2:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Michigan State 3, Minnesota 14 1st - 2:00Oct 31 8:45 PM
TD MINNESOTA BRANDON GREEN 37 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 14 1st - 13:13Oct 31 8:13 PM
TD MINNESOTA BRANDON GREEN 37 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 14 1st - 13:13Oct 31 8:13 PM
TD MINNESOTA BRANDON GREEN 37 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 14 1st - 13:13Oct 31 8:13 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 0
MINNESOTA 14 13:13 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 14 1st - 13:13Oct 31 8:13 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 62 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 7 1st - 14:40Oct 31 8:06 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 62 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 7 1st - 14:40Oct 31 8:06 PM
TD MINNESOTA DUANE BENNETT 62 YD PASS FROM ADAM WEBER (ERIC ELLESTAD KICK)
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 7 1st - 14:40Oct 31 8:06 PM- NCAAF
MICHIGANST 0
MINNESOTA 7 14:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Michigan State 0, Minnesota 7 1st - 14:40Oct 31 8:06 PM
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