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Gophers football: P.J. Fleck didn’t like risk of fourth downs vs. Ohio State

andy greder, pioneer press
·3 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Gophers were a four-touchdown underdog against second-ranked Ohio State on Saturday, and the Buckeyes defense has been one of the best in the nation this season, allowing less than 10 points per game.

So, scoring chances appeared likely to be few and far between for P.J. Fleck’s team at Ohio Stadium. On two of the best opportunities in the first half, Fleck decided to punt instead of go for it on fourth-and-5 inside the Buckeyes 45-yard line.

“Here’s what goes through your mind: Fourth-and-2, fourth-and-1, I’m all-in on that,” Fleck said. “Fourth-and-5, why not pin them down? Defense was playing, after the first drive, I thought our defense settled down and kept them out of the end zone. The game is way shorter, make them go 90-some yards and there is an ability that they could screw up.”

“We’re not just banking on them screwing up,” he continued. “But there could be a safety. There could be a bad snap. We could pick the ball off. It could change the game like that. You don’t get (the conversions on fourth down) and they go down and score (a touchdown), the game is over.”

The Buckeyes did go down the field and score field goals on both of those drives to take a 13-0 lead at the half.

Fleck referenced how the Buckeyes scored two touchdowns within a minute and seven seconds to start the second half. “Why did I want to do that to my team in the first (half)?” Fleck asked. “My job is to always manage the game to always keep my team in the game.”

Fleck referenced how the Gophers went for it on fourth-and-1 against Ohio State in 2021 from their own 29-yard line when the U trailed 10-0 midway through the second quarter.

“That was worth it to me,” Fleck said. “… If we didn’t get that, either way the game was probably going to be out of reach. That was the calculated risk. This (Saturday) was different.”

Minnesota didn’t get that deep in Buckeyes territory again until the fourth quarter. Down 37-0 in the fourth quarter and facing a fourth-and-12, Fleck opted to kick a field goal.

Dragan Kesich tied a career long with a 54-yarder and the Gophers avoided their first shoutout since Wisconsin blanked Minnesota 31-0 at the end of the 2017 season.

More injuries

The Gophers defense played without linebackers Cody Lindenberg and Maverick Baranowski on Saturday, while safety Aidan Gousby was ruled out for the season before the game.

During the loss to Ohio State, safety Darius Green was sidelined with an apparent shoulder injury, and running back Zach Evans exited with his own apparent shoulder injury.

Without two of its best linebackers, the U was forced to turn to walk-on redshirt freshman Tyler Stolsky. He had eight tackles.

Without two of its best strong safeties, Minnesota went down the depth chart to redshirt freshman Coleman Bryson. He had five tackles.

With leading rusher Darius Taylor and reserve tailback Bryce Williams also sidelined, Jordan Nubin was the best remaining option. The former walk-on and converted safety had 19 carries for 49 yards.

Briefly

Minnesota has now lost 13 straight games to Ohio State since a 29-17 win at The Horseshoe in 2000. … Punter Mark Crawford had a strong game, with five of his seven punts downed inside the 20-yard line, including two at the 3-yard line. He had two 50-plus-yard punts.

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