Indiana's offense continues to putter and Minnesota continues to pipe in sounds. Though I must give credit where it is due, there are plenty of fans in here in the Metrodome, making it plenty loud without the extra effects.
I'll let you know when/if something happens.
10:11 left in third -- The talk before the game was all about Minnesota's Eric Decker and whether or not IU could contain him.
In the first half, Decker had 66 yards on six catches, but didn't have a touchdown. He still doesn't have a touchdown but he, and Adam Weber's mobility, burnt up the Hoosiers for a 53-yard gain.
But again, the Hoosier 'D' didn't break, forcing the Gophers to walk away with a 29-yard field goal.
ALLL tied (at 7) up here in Gopherland at the half. I don't really know what to say about the game, other than Minnesota should be well ahead of IU.
IU's defense, though not looking at its best, has a takeaway and has seemingly come up with just enough force to deflect any Gopher momentum.
Offensively, the Hoosiers have just 101 yards, the majority of which came on Thigpen's 77-yard reception. IU has a turnover with two first downs and is 0-for-4 on third down conversions.
IU 7, Gophers 7 (2:29 in second) -- I was in the act of posting about how the Hoosiers looked bad, having not completed a first down in the first half yet. But as I was typing my eyes were taken away from my screen by a curious brown object hurling through the air.
As you probably guessed, it was a football. Ben Chappell had hurled it and Marcus Thigpen made a wide open catch and then, as you all know, he wasn't caught and completed the 77-yard score.
The play raised the Hoosiers' passing yards to 80 -- do the math and you'll yield how they were playing up to this point.
Gophers 7, IU 0 (12:23 in second) -- A long strike to from Gopher QB Adam Weber tight end Nick Tow-Arnett set-up a one yard rushing score by Shady Salamon. Indiana's ensuing drive starts on their own 25, and we see Ben Chappell and Kellen Lewis on the field together for the first time.
Gophers 0, IU 0 (end of first) -- Still nil-nil at the end of the first. Both sides' defenses have bent a little but never broken.
Just sitting in the press box, let me tell you this place is loud on third downs.
Stay tuned for second quarter updates.
Gophers 0, IU 0 (5:50 left in first) -- The Gophers were in the midst of a 16-plus play drive approaching 10 minutes long and, of course, the endzone when Jamie Kirlew flattened Gopher signal caller Adam Weber.
As Weber limped off the field, Minnesota's special team's unit came out to attempt a chip-shot of the field goal. The kick was stuffed by the goal posts and the Hoosiers came away unharmed
Brandon Mosley, Joe Kleinsmith, Nick Polk, Chris Adkins and Richard Counsil man the secendary which will have it's hands full with a talented Gopher air attack led by receiver Eric Decker.
Decker caught four passes on the Gophers' opening march.
