ANN ARBOR, MICH. – They trailed by 21 points in the fourth quarter, committed seven penalties, gave up five sacks and rushed for only 38 yards. Yet there the Gophers stood, trailing No. 12 Michigan only 27-24 with 1:37 remaining Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich lined up for the onside kick and let it rip with his left foot. The ball took a few hops, bounced off a teammate’s foot and spun down the sideline. Minnesota linebacker Matt Kingsbury jumped on the ball, recovering it at the Michigan 38-yard line, seemingly setting up his team aa chance to tie the score or win the game.
The crowd of 110,304 gasped as the play sent the Gophers sideline into a celebratory frenzy.
Officials ruled Kingsbury was offside, judging that he passed the 35-yard line before Kesich had kicked the ball. Replays and photos seem to suggest otherwise.
Given a do-over, Michigan recovered the second onside kick, then ran out the clock in its 27-24 victory for the Little Brown Jug on a rainy day.
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck didn’t criticize officials regarding the play, adding that he hadn’t seen a replay.
“I haven’t seen the last play, nor does one play win or lose you the game,” Fleck said. “Everybody’s gonna focus on that. I’m not going to sit here and get fined [by the Big Ten office]. I have more respect for my boss [athletic director Mark Coyle] and the University of Minnesota and the Big Ten.
