BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Minnesota quarterback Bryan Cupito had another solid game for Minnesota.
A week after passing for 396 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against a stingy Ohio State defense, Cupito completed 16 passes of 26 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown in Minnesota’s 42-21 win Saturday over Indiana.
Cupito’s success also traces back to the first half of Minnesota’s 23-20 win over Michigan Oct. 8, when he completed 11 of 23 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown before getting knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury and concussion early in the fourth quarter.
“We’re finally starting to pull it all together,” Cupito said. “The receivers are making some big catches and we’ve got to take that into these next two weeks and the bowl game and we’ll keep going.”
Maroney will be OK
Gophers running back Laurence Maroney left the game for much of the first half after bruising his ankle early in the first quarter Saturday.
Minnesota’s medical staff re-wrapped Maroney’s ankle and foot after the injury, but Maroney said he’ll be just fine.
“I’ll be all right,” Maroney said. “It never got comfortable but I’m a player so I’ll fight through it and keep playing.”
Maroney returned with about nine minutes remaining in the half but limped to the sidelines several times.
With 15 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown, Maroney passed Thomas Hamner for second place on Minnesota’s career rushing list.
Misses give Mason memories
Minnesota coach Glen Mason said kicker Jason Giannini’s two extra-point misses and missed 34-yard field goal attempt reminded him of his first loss to the Hoosiers in Bloomington, 20-19 in 1998.
“You’ve heard me talk about how back in 1998 we lost the game down here because we missed two extra points and two short field goals,” Mason said. “And I was standing on the sideline thinking, Here we go again.”
Minnesota had not won at Indiana since beating the Hoosiers 22-7 in 1985.
Defense taketh
Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery’s interception in the third quarter off a deflection was Minnesota’s first interception since playing host to Purdue on Sept. 24.
The interception led to Minnesota’s go-ahead touchdown on its next possession on a 1-yard run by Gary Russell to give the Gophers a 21-14 lead they would never relinquish.
True freshman defensive end Steve Davis’ first-quarter sack was his sixth of the season and first since Oct. 8 against Michigan.
Safety Terrance Campbell returned to action for the first time since Oct. 8 at Michigan.