Gophers Take Control in Second Half and Come Back for 35-24 Win Over Louisiana
September 30, 2023

Coming off a loss to a vastly inferior Northwestern team a week ago, the Minnesota Gophers had a slow start against Louisiana in its homecoming game, trailing the Ragin’ Cajuns 17-14 at halftime. However, Minnesota buckled down in the final quarters, winning 35-24, about the margin it had been favored by.

With leading rusher Darius Thomas out with a leg injury, the Gophers relied on Zach Evans, who ran for 85 yards and a touchdown. Bryce Williams also had a touchdown as part of his 15 carries for 54 yards, and Sean Tyler chipped in with another 47 yards on the ground.

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis passed for 82 of of his 146 yards in the second half, finishing the game with 12 completions in 14 attempts and two touchdowns. The Gophers defense also stiffened and contained Louisiana quarterback Zeon Chriss, who had passed for 101 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Chriss finished with 172 yards; he also was less of a threat with his legs after having scrambled for 67 yards in the first half. He added only seven more after the break.

Taking the opening kickoff of the second half, Kaliakmanis led an 11-play, 80-yard drive that Evans finished with an 18-yard run. Up 21-17, Minnesota never trailed after that. Late in the third quarter, Tyler Nubin intercepted a Chriss pass at the Louisiana 42. It took the Gophers eight plays to reach the end zone, Williams getting the final yards from the 2.

Later in the quarter, both teams converted fourth downs into big yards for touchdowns. The Gophers needed two yards from the Louisiana 37 with five-and-a-half minutes left, and Kaliakmanis hit Daniel Jackson over the middle to cap the Minnesota scoring. Jackson led all receivers in the game with 89 yards.

With just over three minutes left, the Cajuns need a yard on fourth down from their own 48, and Jacob Kibodi burst through the line and ran 52 yards for a touchdown, giving him 65 yards rushing. Louisiana tried an onside kick, which went through Nubin but was covered by Coleman Bryson, ending any comeback hopes for Louisiana. Minnesota ran out the clock for its third win of the season.

The Gophers remain at home, facing second-ranked Michigan next week.