Run the North | Golden Gophers football

[djp73]

Good that Brand can go, maybe a bit of a test here but I think yall got it

[ShireNiner]

Good that Brand can go, maybe a bit of a test here but I think yall got it

Would have been a real bummer to hype it up all summer and then he's hurt game 1.

[ShireNiner]

Brand, Malik lead fourth quarter comeback for Gophers 29-28 win


With the game on the line, Minnesota turned to two freshmen to get the win (ShireNiner PS5 images)

By: Bill Connelly | September 11, 2027
Writer, CFB/NFL

College Station — When Connor Malik announced he was coming to Minnesota, the news was shocking. The number one receiving recruit in the country was coming to a school that was known for producing running backs and averaged less than 200 passing yards a game last year.

Mick Smith did not sell Malik on coming to put up huge numbers and shatter records. He sold him on coming to be The Guy. When the game is on the line, he is the guy the Gophers will go to. When a big play is needed, Malik is the guy Smith is turning to.

It took two weeks for Malik to see that it was true. Trailing 28-16 on the road at College Station, the fourth quarter turned into Malik’s breakout party.

Four catches. Two fourth-down conversions. Two touchdowns. Malik didn’t just make plays; he made the winning plays again and again.

On 4th and 7 from the Aggies' 32, AJ Brand hit Malik on a ten-yard crossing route for a first down. Two plays later, Malik took a jet sweep in for his first career touchdown.

On the next drive, Brand hit Malik on a short slant for his second touchdown and to give the Aggies the lead.

But his best catch was his last catch. Facing a 4th and 4 from their own 42-yard line and two minutes left, Minnesota rolled the dice to go for it.

Brand again found Malik, this time on a quick five-yard out. The freshman showed his strength, making the catch as he was being tackled for the first down that ended the game.

“He told me he’s a big moment player. So we went to him, and he kept coming up big for us.” Smith said after the game. “I told him to come to Minnesota, and we will make him a star. He’s well on his way already.”

The comeback win for Minnesota was the biggest in Smith’s tenure. It was the first comeback when trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter.

The Gophers will go back home to face Ball State before welcoming Ohio State to The Bank in week 4.

---

Scoring Summary
1st quarter
Manuel Valles, 29 Yd FG, 5:55
Girard Pringle, Jr, 36 Yd run, 3:50
Girard Pringle, Jr, 32 yd pass from Michael Hawkins Jr,, 1:07

2nd quarter
Kenric Lanier II 37 yd pass from AJ Brand, 10:51
Manuel Valles, 29 Yd FG, 2:46
Michael Hawkins 70 yd run, 0:51

3rd quarter Manuel Valles, 36 Yd FG, 9:11
Michael Hawkins 1 yd run, 1:16

4th quarter
Connor Malik, 3 Yd pass from AJ Brand, 12:14
Connor Malik, 7 Yd pass from AJ Brand, 6:20 (2-pt failed)

---

Soapys' Box Score

Passing
AJ Brand, SO, QB - 27/47, 57%, 218 yds, 3 TDs
Michael Hawkins Jr, JR, QB - 27/41, 65%, 288 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 76 rush yds, 2 rush TDs

Rushing
Fame Ijeboi, JR, RB - 14 atts, 111 yds, 7.9 avg
Girard Pringle Jr, SO, RB - 20 atts, 113 yds, 5.7 avg, 1 TD

Receiving
Connor Malik, FR, WR - 9 rec, 68 yds, 2 TDs
Terry Bussey, SR, WR - 7 rec, 78 yds

Defense
Mitch Horan, SO, MIKE - 12 tlks, 2 TFL
Mike Gerald, JR, SS - 5 tlks, 1 INT, 51 int yards
Derion Gullette, SR, MIKE - 18 tkls, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 DEFL
Rashad Jones Jr, JR. SS - 10 tlks, 1 DEFL

---

---

Bill Connelly is a writer for ShireNiner Nation covering post-game news for College Football and Premier League Soccer. He previously worked at ESPN covering College Football, Tennis, and Soccer.

---

---

Comments

[ShireNiner]

[The JZA]

Love it when it's close, love it more when it's a W. Good job snatching the win out of limbo

[redsox907]

big time players make big time plays

[Caesar]

Ijeboi has stepped right in for Turner without missing a beat.

[Captain Canada]

Goddamn, that one was won by a hair. What a stunner to star the year

[ShireNiner]

Love it when it's close, love it more when it's a W. Good job snatching the win out of limbo

i do love a close game. This one felt like a loss to start but then the defense came alive.

big time players make big time plays

Malik is going to be a star.

Ijeboi has stepped right in for Turner without missing a beat.

I’m trying to only use him sparingly. The first two games, we had 5 different people in each run the ball. Ijeboi keeps hitting a few big runs each game.

Goddamn, that one was won by a hair. What a stunner to star the year

one of the best wins I’ve had. It was a fun one.

[ShireNiner]

bump