The Gophers left Washington with more than a 27-24 upset win Saturday night. They also walked away with a moment that spread fast: P.J.
Fleck and linebacker Maverick Baranowski sharing a bloody on-field celebration after Minnesota opened Big Ten play with a road victory over No. 23 Washington.
Minnesota is now 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the league, and the postgame scene matched the chaos of the result. Fleck was moving around the field congratulating players after the win when he found Baranowski, who finished with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception. The two hugged, Baranowski’s face was covered in blood, and Fleck wiped some of it with his hand before smearing it across his own face.
“That's my blood brother,” Fleck said. “When NFL scouts ask me about Mav, I say if you could take Blake Cashman, Robert Spillane and have a baby, you’d produce Maverick.
The kid loves the game, plays the game the right way. He is the heartbeat of our defense.
Back in the day I’m sure that’s what they did, frontiersmen out west, just throw a little blood on there I guess.”
Baranowski said, “It's a great moment. Winning is hard in the Big Ten.
When you get to win at a place like this, it’s just so exciting. My head coach having my back for the last five years, I love that guy.
Such an awesome opportunity to share that moment, he’s a crazy man.”
The celebration came after a game Minnesota controlled with defense and special teams. The Gophers sacked Washington quarterback Demond Williams seven times, kept constant pressure on him and picked him off twice. Washington finished with 279 total yards and went 1-of-10 on third down.
Drake Lindsey helped Minnesota build the cushion early, throwing for 204 yards and three first-half touchdowns as the Gophers took a 21-10 lead into halftime.
Special teams also delivered in a big way. Tom Weston downed four punts inside the 10-yard line, and his final one pinned Washington at the 1 with three seconds left to help seal the win. Luke Drzewiecki stayed perfect, hitting three extra points and two field goals, including a 51-yarder with 7:28 remaining that pushed Minnesota ahead 27-17.
Next up is Michigan, and the stakes bring a familiar piece of hardware back into view. The Gophers host the Wolverines at 11 a.m.
Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium in the battle for the Little Brown Jug. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show will be on campus, and Michigan is coming off a walk-off loss to Iowa.
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