BIG TEN ROUNDUP : Gophers Lose to Utes on Last Play

With the score tied, eight seconds to play, and 1989 Big Ten kick-scoring leader Brent Berglund lining up for a 28-yard field goal, it looked as if Utah had no chance of upsetting Minnesota Saturday night at Minneapolis.

But Greg Reynolds believed. And Lavon Edwards believed. In fact, all the Utes believed they could block Berglund’s kick.

And they did it.

Reynolds, a defensive tackle, got his right hand on Berglund’s kick. Edwards picked up the bouncing ball and ran 91 yards down the left sideline as time ran out to lift the Utes to a 35-29 victory.

Said Reynolds: “We’ve practiced a lot on blocking field goals, and we’ve blocked a lot in practice. I got my hand up, got a good push on the center and it hit me right in the hand. I’ve never been in a game that ended like this.”

Utah Coach Ron McBride said: “I’ve been in a lot of crazy games but never one like this. At the end, everyone on the sidelines said that we were going to win it. The special teams said they’d block it. I told (special teams coach) Sean McNabb to have them put on our best block (play) and we got it.”

The Gophers were in position to win the game after Brinon Mays got a hand on Wayne Lammle’s punt and his kick went only six yards, giving Minnesota the ball at Utah’s 35 with 1:08 to play. Marcus Evans then ran 21 yards to Utah’s 14, and Minnesota worked the clock to set up for Berglund’s field-goal attempt.

The Gophers trailed 19-0 and 29-14 at points, but came back to tie it 29-29 behind second-string quarterback Marquel Fleetwood, who replaced ineffective starter Scott Schaffner.

The game was attended by 32,229 people, the smallest crowd to watch a Minnesota game at the Metrodome since they moved their in 1982.

No. 18 Ohio State 17, Texas Tech 10--Jeff Graham returned a punt 50 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, and freshman tailback Robert Smith led a comeback that carried the Buckeyes over the Red Raiders at Columbus, Ohio. Smith came off the bench to star.