Gophers hit game-winning field goal to capture Floyd of Rosedale trophy

The 15th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes were a buzzed-about, potential College Football Playoff team over the last fortnight.

The touchdown-underdog Gophers blew up those plans and lifted the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry trophy with a 13-10 victory at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday.

On the last play, kicker Luke Drzewiecki nailed a 46-yard field goal to win the 98-pound pig trophy.

“Watch ball, kick ball,” Drzewiecki told KFXN-FM amid another field storming.

Gophers fans rushed the field for the second time this month; they also did so after a 20-14 win over Michigan on Oct. 3. Now Minnesota possess its three most-valued rivalry trophies — Floyd of Rosedale (Iowa), the Little Brown Jug (Michigan) and Paul Bunyan’s Axe (Wisconsin) — at the same time for the first time since October 1978.

The Gophers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) snapped a five-game home losing streak in the rivalry, and head coach P.J. Fleck improved to 2-8 against Iowa and legendary coach Kirk Ferentz since 2017.

The Gophers led 10-3 in the fourth quarter and forced two straight Iowa turnovers, but produced nothing on a pair of three-and-outs and punts.

The Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-2) then stacked two enormous plays, with Hank Brown connecting with Tony Diaz and two missed tackles netted 57 yards. Then Brown found an open Reece Vander Zee for a 37-yard touchdown to make it 10-10 with less than four minutes left.

The Hawkeyes had four fumbles, but recovered the first three. In the fourth quarter, Aidan Gousby popped the ball loose from receiver Braeden Jackson and Maverick Baranowski. The four forced fumbles was the most in a Gopher game since at least 1997.

The Gophers had three interceptions — one from Jeremey Hecklinski and two from his replacement Hank Brown.

Minnesota wasn’t able to score any points off the Iowa giveaways and that nearly cost Minnesota.

On the final drive, Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey was forced out of the pocket, and found receiver Jalen Smith in a pocket in the Hawkeyes zone for a 39-yard gain to get into Iowa’s 25.

Minnesota went to set up the field goal, but a holding penalty set back Drzewiecki’s field goal. The transfer from New Mexico is now 12 for 12 on FG attempts this season, including 6 for 6 from 40 yards and beyond.

Minnesota managed 69 yards in the first half and stacked up 71 on the opening touchdown drive of the third quarter.

On a 10-play drive, Minnesota needed five plays from the Iowa 2, including a penalty, to score. After failed tush pushes and tush-push play actions, running back Darius Taylor took a direct snap and scored from inches to take a 10-3 lead.

The Gophers led 3-0 after the first quarter thanks to a blocked punt from Mason Carrier. Minnesota had outstanding field position at Iowa’s 13-yard line, but gained one yard on three plays and settled for a 31-yard field goal.

Minnesota’s defense bent but didn’t break on the second drive, with Joey Gerlach’s interception ending the Hawkeyes’ red-zone drive at the 2-yard line.

Drake Lindsey overthrew Javon Tracy; Iowa safety Deshaun Lee intercepted it and returned it 28 yards. With a personal foul penalty, Iowa’s drive started at Minnesota’s 11-yard line.

Minnesota’s defense allowed nothing, and Aidan Gousby nearly had an interception. Iowa kicked a 32-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3.

Hecklinski was replaced by Hank Brown for Iowa’s last two drives.