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.
