Minnesota tops New Mexico in overtime of Rate Bowl to extend bowl streak

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The Minnesota Golden Gophers just win bowl games.

Drake Lindsey connected on a 12-yard pass to Jalen Smith in overtime to give Minnesota a thrilling 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl at Chase Field on Dec. 26.

It is Minnesota's ninth straight bowl victory. It is 7-0 in bowl games under coach P.J. Fleck.

New Mexico took a 17-14 lead in overtime after Luke Drzewiecki hit a 36-yard field goal, but Minnesota was able to top that with a 4-play, 25-yard drive, culminating with the Smith touchdown reception, his second of the game.

"It was a concept we ran all year," Jalen Smith, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game, said. "The offensive line held up. It was just me doing the easy part."

It was the third overtime game in Rate Bowl history.

The game didn't feature a lot of scoring through the first three quarters, with Minnesota taking a 7-6 lead into halftime, getting its first-half touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Lindsey to Smith late in the second quarter.

It remained that way until the fourth quarter, when Minnesota extended its lead to 14-6 on a 5-yard run from Darius Taylor with 13:30 left in the fourth.

But New Mexico got back into the game just 12 seconds later on a 100-yard kickoff return from Damon Bankston, the longest in Rate Bowl history. Jack Layne tied the game with a pass to Keagan Johnson on the two-point conversion.

Minnesota DL Anthony Smith was the defensive player of the game after recording six tackles, four of which were for a loss, and two sacks.

"I wouldn't want to be on any other team," Smith said. "And that is why I am coming back for my fifth year. I love these guys."

Lindsey went 18-for-28 for 147 yards, with two touchdown passes.

Jalen Smith had six catches for 64 yards, with two touchdown receptions.

Darius Taylor rushed the ball 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Fleck lauded the Rate Bowl after his team's win.

"What an elite experience," the Minnesota head coach said after the game. "There are a lot of bowls out there, but they know how to do it first class."

Jack Layne finished the game 14-for 25 passing for New Mexico, with 88 yards passing and one pass intercepted.

Bankston rushed 10 times for 57 yards for the Lobos.

Minnesota had 252 total yards, while New Mexico had 204.

It was New Mexico's first bowl appearance since 2016. The Lobos finished the year 9-4 under first-year coach Jason Eck.

"I thought we fought our tail off today," Eck said. "We just came up a little bit short. I thought we particularly played well on defense … We were struggling to move the ball, it really didn't end up hurting up because our defense did a great job."

The Golden Gophers ended the year with an 8-5 record.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Minnesota football wins Rate Bowl in overtime vs New Mexico

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