The Minnesota Golden Gophers finally ended their season opener in Las Vegas, to positive results. In the third overtime, the Gophers defeated the UNLV Rebels by a score of 30-27.
The teams exchanged touchdowns in each of the first two overtimes after finishing regulation tied at 13. The Rebels got the ball first to start the third overtime, and it looked like they would put up a third consecutive score, but on a Nick Sherry pass into the end zone, safety Derrick Wells nabbed his second interception of the evening (and the third for the Gophers on the evening overall) to put the Gophers in the driver's seat.
The Gophers then got the ball at the UNLV 25-yard line and, after three consecutive Donnell Kirkwood runs, brought Jordan Wettstein in to attempt a 32-yard field goal for the win. Wettstein's kick was good, and the Gophers moved their record to 1-0 in the first game of the season for the Big Ten Conference.
The Gophers will host New Hampshire at TCF Bank Stadium a week from Saturday for their 2012 home opener.
We'll have a longer recap for your reading pleasure up shortly.