Stop me if you have heard this one over the past six years. The Gophers played strong defense, forced mistakes, capitilaized on said mistakes, ran the ball hard, while wearing an opponent down to pull away late. For the first time this season, the Gophers played the type of game we have to come to expect from them the past six years. We have seen flashes of this old form this season but they have admitedtly not put a complete game together until the Illinois game.
Even though it felt as if the Gophers were in control, the two teams exchanged punches throughout the first half.