The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe between the Gophers and Badgers was swayed by a former Hawkeye.
Cornerback John Nestor, who transferred from Iowa to Minnesota this year, had two interceptions and a fumble recovery to help the U win the rivalry game, 17-7, on a snowy and cold Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium.
The Gophers (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) have won four of five Axe games against Wisconsin for the first time since a strong stretch across 1984-90. The Badgers (4-8, 2-7) endured their second straight losing season in two decades.
Gophers players raced to the Axe in the north end zone as fans threw handfuls of snow in the air in triumph. Some fans stormed the field.
While Nestor led a stingy defense, running back Darius Taylor scored on a 49-yard touchdown run in the first half, and quarterback Drake Lindsey and tight end Jameson Geers combined for a 13-yard TD pass in the third quarter.
The difference between a 6-6 record and 7-5 — while possessing the Axe — felt enormous to Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle before the game.
“It feels like the Grand Canyon, doesn’t it?” Coyle said on the KFAN pregame show. “It just sets the tone for so many things. If you remember last year, we went (to Madison) and got a big win down there.”
The Gophers had a takeaway apiece in the first and third quarters, but nothing to show for it on ensuing offensive drives.
The third turnover was a charm. Nestor’s second interception of the game was returned 68 yards. Then, Lindsey found Geers for a 13-yard touchdown to make it a 17-7 lead with five minutes left in the third quarter.
Nestor’s first interception came at the start of the second half, but Minnesota went three-and-out and punted.
After a gift turnover from the Badgers in the first quarter — a shotgun snap hit in-motion receiver Vinny Anthony II and was recovered by Nestor — Minnesota kicker Brady Denaburg had a 38-yard, field-goal attempt partially blocked.
Two drives later, Denaburg made a 33-yarder to make it 3-0.
Minnesota’s biggest offensive play of the first half came on the next drive. Behind great blocks from right guard Tony Nelson, right tackle Dylan Ray and receiver Jalen Smith, Taylor busted free and had enough speed on a snowy turf to score.
The Gophers led 10-7 at the half, with the Badgers scoring a questionable touchdown with 27 seconds left.
To set the score, Badgers backup quarterback Hunter Simmons threw a 68-yard pass to Vinny Anthony II.
Then on fourth and goal from the 2, quarterback Carter Smith’s pass to Jackson Acker on the side of the end zone was ruled incomplete, but upon review it was determined Acker got at least one foot in bounds when he caught the pass.
However, the review also showed Acker stepping out of bounds before the catch, which would have been illegal touching.
A Big Ten spokesperson said illegal touching was part of the conference’s review process. “Yes, they did,” he wrote in a response to a pool-report question. “It was determined the receiver re-established after the force out.”
Gophers Maverick Baranowski was in coverage, but did not appear to apply forceable contact to Acker.
The contentious call didn’t matter much as the Gophers controlled the rivalry game in the second half.
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