Wisconsin Falls Short at Minnesota : Big Ten: The 15th-ranked Badgers suffer first loss, 28-21, after falling behind, 21-0.

Minnesota’s defense gave up 605 yards, yet with the game in the balance stopped the nation’s No. 2 rusher for a loss on fourth and inches from the eight-yard line.

It was that type of game, as the Gophers beat 15th-ranked and previously unbeaten Wisconsin, 28-21, Saturday night.

“This is a huge game for our program,” Minnesota Coach Jim Wacker said. “This is a big, big, big one. The significance of this is astounding. It gives us a chance to turn our program around because success begets success.”

Scott Eckers passed for 267 yards and two touchdowns and Chris Darkins scored twice as Minnesota, which is 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten, gained its third victory in a row before a sellout homecoming crowd of 64,798. The loss kept Wisconsin (6-1, 3-1) from achieving the best start in its history.

Darrell Bevell, who had thrown only four interceptions all year, had five picked off by Minnesota, the last by Craig Sauer with 2:18 to play. He completed 31 of 48 passes for 423 yards.

The Badgers rallied from a 21-point halftime deficit, finally threatening to get even again after Minnesota took a 28-21 lead.

But two weeks after Minnesota gave up 56 points to Purdue, the Gophers’ much-aligned defense preserved the victory in the fourth quarter with an improbable goal-line stand and three interceptions.

“We just made too many mistakes, dug ourselves too deep in a hole,” Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez said. “I’m proud of the way our kids came back, but we just came up short.”

With the Badgers trailing, 21-14, midway through the fourth quarter, Brent Moss, averaging 137 yards a game, was stopped for a three-yard loss on fourth down by the Gophers’ Jerome Davis and Doug Hoefer.

“I just can’t say enough for the defense.” Wacker said. “ . . . When it mattered, we were able to stop them.”

Three plays later, Rishon Early caught Eckers’ third-down pass at the 20 and ran it to the Wisconsin two. Darkins scored to give Minnesota a 28-14 lead.

“We really needed that,” said Early. “I felt the (Wisconsin) defense was slacking off a bit and I was able to get the big run.”