Minnesota 41, Michigan St. 18

wow i'm shocked and amazed the golden gophers put two back to back and beat a michigan team. still maybe a holiday bowl or soup bowl for you mason.

Gophers' top-ranked ground crew leads way to win

Nov. 12, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - With Laurence Maroney, the Big Ten's leading rusher, stuck on the sideline Saturday, backup running backs Amir Pinnix and Gary Russell led Minnesota to a 41-18 victory over fading Michigan State.

Maroney, whose 1,345 yards were best in the conference coming into this game, went through warmups for the Gophers (7-3, 4-3) - but stood and watched all afternoon without his shoulder pads on while Pinnix and Russell wore down the Spartans (5-5, 2-5).

Russell started at tailback and gained 85 yards on 19 carries and ran for two touchdowns, playing only in the first half. Pinnix rushed 32 times for 206 yards - both career highs - and had a fourth-quarter score. Bryan Cupito was 8-of-13 for 123 yards with no interceptions and touchdown passes to Matt Spaeth and Ernie Wheelwright.

Drew Stanton went 29-for-46 for 312 yards and fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Dwayne Holmes and Terry Love for Michigan State, which was once ranked as high as 11th in the AP poll but lost for the fifth time in six games.