Minnesota beat Washington State 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl Tuesday night, and as the score suggests, it wasn't exactly an offensive highlight reel. Still, there was one play that proved to not only be the biggest score in the contest, but a play that also encapsulated the essence of the entire game.
Minnesota's Mitch Leidner threw this 13-yard touchdown pass to Shannon Brooks, or at least that's the way it will look in the box score. Here's what it looked like in reality.
Hey, whether they're pretty, ugly, or just plain lucky, they all count in the end.
Now, while it was that touchdown pass that gave Minnesota the lead for good, it was the Gophers' defense that deserved all the accolades on Tuesday night. The unit came into the game with a few key players missing due to suspensions, and was tasked with stopping one of the most potent offenses in the country.
Washington State entered the Holiday Bowl scoring 40.3 points per game, and 6.27 yards per play. The Gophers held the Cougars to 12 points and 4.1 yards per play, well below its seasonal averages.