Recap: Minnesota 22, Iowa 21
Oct 28, 2011
Marqueis Gray scored on a 3-yard run with 2:42 left as Minnesota rallied from a 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun visiting Iowa 22-21 on Saturday.
Minnesota (2-6, 1-3 Big Ten) snapped a four-game losing streak and gave coach Jerry Kill his first Big Ten victory.
The Hawkeyes (5-3, 2-2) wasted an outstanding individual performance by sophomore running back Marcus Coker, who rushed for a career-high 252 yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Iowa also missed a chance to go into a four-way tie for the Legends Division lead with Nebraska, Michigan State, and Michigan. The Hawkeyes host Michigan and Michigan State the next two weeks.
Trailing 21-10 early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota put together two scoring drives. Duane Bennett, who rushed for 101 yards on 20 carries, scored on a 1-yard run with 8:22 remaining to pull the Golden Gophers to within 21-16.
After a failed two-point conversion, Minnesota recovered an onside kick at its own 41 and drove 59 yards in 12 plays for Gray's winning touchdown.
Iowa, which fell to 0-3 on the road, went four and out on its next possession and the Gophers ran out the clock.
Gray paced a balanced Minnesota offense as he completed 11-of-17 passes for 193 yards and rushed for 62 yards on 11 carries.