Jalen Smith made two touchdown catches, including a diving grab in overtime to win the game, to lead Minnesota to a 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl on Friday in Phoenix.
Smith finished with six catches for 64 yards and the two scores for Minnesota (8-5). Drake Lindsey completed 18 of 28 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, and Darius Taylor had 24 carries for 116 yards and a score.
Minnesota won its ninth consecutive bowl game and improved to 7-0 in bowl games under coach P.J. Fleck.
Jack Layne completed 14 of 25 passes for 88 yards and an interception for New Mexico (9-4). Damon Bankston had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
New Mexico notched a field goal on the first drive of overtime to pull ahead 17-14.
That set the stage for a potential winning touchdown for the Golden Gophers, and they took advantage of the opportunity. Lindsey tossed a 12-yard pass into tight coverage in the end zone, and Smith made the grab before tumbling to the turf.
Officials ruled the play a touchdown and confirmed it after video review.
New Mexico opened the scoring with back-to-back field goals by Luke Drzewiecki. He made a 31-yarder with 1:41 left in the first quarter, and he made a 29-yarder with 6:14 remaining in the second quarter.
Minnesota seized a 7-6 lead with 1:53 remaining in the second quarter. Lindsey had time in the pocket and lobbed a 10-yard pass to Smith, who caught the ball in stride in the back right corner of the end zone.
Minnesota made it 14-6 with 13:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. Taylor took a handoff, bounced to his left and shed a would-be tackler on his way to the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.
New Mexico tied the score at 14-all moments later. Bankston fielded the Golden Gophers’ kickoff at the front of the end zone, sprinted forward and veered toward the right sideline for a 100-yard touchdown.
Teammates celebrated in the end zone with Bankston, who was not touched by any Minnesota defenders on the long run thanks to some key blocks by his teammates.
–Field Level Media
