Drake Lindsey wasted no time putting Minnesota in control Saturday night in Seattle, and the Gophers had just enough left to finish off Washington 27-24.
Lindsey was sharp from the opening snap, hitting his first eight passes and spreading the ball around to seven different receivers. By the end of the night, he was 21 for 29 for 204 yards with three first-half touchdowns, all to different targets. Javon Tracy led the way with seven catches for 41 yards and a score.
“Everyone was executing at a high level,” Lindsey said. “Just got to carry that to the second half and execute better.”
The first half belonged to Lindsey. He connected with Quayd Hendryx in the back corner of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown to open the scoring, then dropped another throw just beyond the reach of a Washington defender for a 9-yard score to Jalen Smith. It was the first time in his career he threw three first-half touchdown passes.
Minnesota (3-1) and Washington were meeting in a Big Ten game for the first time this season, and for the first time in 49 years.
Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. kept the Huskies close enough to make the finish interesting. He went 17-for-27 for 207 yards, threw two touchdowns and two interceptions - both in Huskies territory - and added a 13-yard rushing touchdown that closed the scoring with 1:53 left.
Williams found another gear in the fourth quarter after Minnesota’s defense picked him off. He completed two 26-yard passes, then escaped a blitz on fourth down and flipped a back-foot throw to Baron Naone for a 15-yard touchdown that trimmed the margin to 24-17 with 11:03 remaining.
Minnesota answered right back with Luke Drzewiecki’s 51-yard field goal to restore a 10-point cushion.
“Offense, defense and special teams were completely together,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said.
Dezmen Roebuck finished with seven receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown for Washington (3-1). TJ Thomas ran for 78 yards on 11 carries for Minnesota.
The Gophers’ defense set the tone early and never really let go. Anthony Smith’s hit forced Williams into a bad throw that landed in the hands of Maverick Baranowski, and Minnesota scored on the next play. The Gophers finished with seven sacks and held Washington to 1-for-10 on third down.
“The D-line got after it,” Baranowski said. “We’ve been challenging those guys - we’ve been on them in practice, encouraging those guy a lot. And they showed up today and made such a big impact on the game.”
For Washington, the running game remains the biggest problem. With Jordan Washington (neck), Quaid Carr (hand) and Jayden Limar (elbow) out long-term, Brian Bronner and Trey Cooley have been carrying the load. Against Minnesota, they combined for 28 yards on 11 carries.
“The running back room is thin.”
“We’re gonna have to figure it out with the two or three guys we got right now,” Washington coach Jedd Fisch said.
In Other News...
Two Gophers Just Turned Breakout Games Into Major Recognition
Minnesotas win over Washington produced more than a good result on the scoreboard. It also gave the Gophers a pair of firsts, as linebacker Maverick Baranowski was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and kicker Luke Drzewiecki picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors after standout performances that helped swing the game.
Baranowski filled the stat sheet with seven tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and the first interception of his career, while Drzewiecki stayed perfect on his field goal tries and drilled a career-long 51-yarder. For both players, the conference recognition is their first weekly Big Ten award, a sign that one strong afternoon can still carry real weight well beyond the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Just Earned A Real Big Ten Chance To Climb
Week 4 gave the Big Ten the kind of shakeup that can change a race in a hurry, and Minnesota benefited from it in a major way. Iowa knocked off Michigan, Wisconsin rallied past Penn State, and the Gophers went on the road and beat Washington, a result that helped them gain real ground in the league picture while the conferences top tier kept jostling for position.
Minnesotas win now looks even better in the context of the updated rankings, because the Gophers are no longer just hanging around the discussion. With upsets piling up around them and Ohio State still showing its usual firepower behind Jeremiah Smiths four-touchdown day, Minnesota suddenly has a clearer path to climb if it keeps taking care of business from here. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Get A Rare Chance To Change This Michigan Rivalry
The Little Brown Jug is back on the line Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium, and this one comes with a little extra weight for Minnesota. Michigan has controlled the rivalry for years, with the Gophers last win over the Wolverines coming in 2014 and their last home victory in the series all the way back in 1977, which is why hosting this game feels like more than just another Big Ten date on the schedule.
FOXs Big Noon Kickoff will be in Minneapolis for the occasion, giving the matchup a national stage as P.J. Flecks team tries to make the most of a rare chance to shift the tone of an old rivalry. Fleck had praise this week for linebacker Maverick Baranowski after Minnesotas win over Washington, and the Gophers would love for that momentum to carry into a game that has been waiting a long time for a different kind of ending in Minneapolis. [Read more 🡒]