We're underway from TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and the home team finds themselves trailing in the early going, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers trail the Western Michigan Broncos by a score of 3-0.
Minnesota got the ball first in this one, and looked fairly good on the opening drive. Donnell Kirkwood carried the ball three times for 26 yards, and MarQueis Gray found A.J. Barker and Isaac Fruechte to help get the Gophers down to the Western Michigan 21-yard line. However, a third down pass fell incomplete, and kicker Jordan Wettstein pushed his 38-yard field goal attempt wide to the left, leaving the Gophers with no points.
Western Michigan took over, and quarterback Alex Carder moved the Broncos down the field. He did most of his damage to freshman wide receiver Jamie Wilson, who caught three of Carder's four completions on the drive, and racked up 45 receiving yards. The Broncos shot themselves in the foot with a false start and a delay of game penalty, and wound up settling for a field goal. Western Michigan kicker Andrew Haldeman hit the kick from 35 yards out, and the Broncos took the first lead of the afternoon, 3-0.
The Gophers are getting ready to take over on their second drive, and they'll start from the 25-yard line after a touchback on the kickoff.
With about six minutes left in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium, the Western Michigan Broncos lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 3-0.