Fourth down execution and special teams in the fourth quarter haunted Minnesota against Penn State, falling short of upsetting the No. 4 team 25-26 in Minneapolis.

Late in the fourth quarter leading by one point, Penn State head coach James Franklin elected to fake a punt on his side of the field and picked up 32 yards. Three plays later, Franklin opted to be aggressive again by going for it on fourth-and-one, and a tush push gave the Nittany Lions a first down.

Fourth down execution and special teams in the fourth quarter secured No. 4 Penn State’s win over Minnesota 26-25 in Minneapolis.

Franklin poetically chose to go for it on fourth-and-one with a passing play on the final play of the game where Penn State quarterback Drew Allar found Tyler Warren for the first down.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said his team played their hearts out, but Penn State is one of the best teams in the country.

“This is one of the top five teams I’ve ever played against as a football coach,” Fleck said.

The Gophers got off to a hot start and kept the Nittany Lions out of their element for most of the game.

Minnesota mounted a march of nine plays for 70 yards on their opening drive, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown run from Marcus Major.

The Gophers’ defense stuffed the Nittany Lions on third-and-short on Penn State’s first two drives, revving up the crowd inside Huntington Bank Stadium. After the Gophers’ first punt of the game, Penn State went for it on fourth-and-five and Anthony Smith jumped all over Allar for a 12-yard sack.

Max Brosmer unleashed a missile-like throw with a Nittany Lion defender in his face to Daniel Jackson for 23 yards. After stalling, Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich hammered a 48-yard field goal through the posts to give Minnesota a 10-point lead.

The Gophers’ defense made three third-down stops in the first quarter against the fifth-best third-down team in the nation. The Nittany Lions offense is averaging 454.1 yards per game this season and proved the point with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Allar to Omari Evans, 10-7 Gophers.

Miscommunication between Gophers corners Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson allowed Evans to roam free and walk into the endzone.

Fleck said his defense played exceptionally well against one of the best offenses in the country aside from a mental lapse.

“We had one miscommunication on the big explosive play, but other than that they played their tail ends off I couldn’t be more proud of that defense,” Fleck said.

The Gophers’ defense bent but did not break, helped by a second-down sack by defensive back Jack Henderson. 

Penn State kicker Ryan Barker drilled a 45-yard field goal to tie the game halfway through the second quarter. Minnesota responded moments later when Mark Crawford pinned the Nittany Lions at their three-yard line. Derek LeCaptain blocked the Penn State punt and Minnesota took over at the 21-yard line.

Offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr., who tirelessly refines his game plan each week, went with a bit of trickery. Harbaugh drew up a double reverse pass and Brosmer found a wide-open Jameson Geers for the touchdown.

The Nittany Lions responded by cruising into Minnesota territory with the help of a defensive pass interference. Allar powered into the endzone for what looked like the game-tying touchdown with 19 seconds in the half.

Henderson breached the Penn State line on the extra point attempt blocking the kick, and Robinson returned it for two points giving Minnesota a 19-16 lead at halftime.

Henderson said he saw a gap in Penn State’s field goal unit he thought he could exploit during the week.

“Really just determination in the first PAT (point after touchdown) I got a glimpse of daylight and so I knew on the next couple I’d have an opportunity to make it so I just fired through that hole,” Henderson said.

The PAT returned for two for the Gophers since Mario Reese back in 2006.

Minnesota put together a sustained drive to open the third quarter and Kesich delivered again with a 42-yard field goal doubling his team’s lead.

Even as stout as the Gophers run defense was all night, Nick Singleton rumbled into the endzone and this time Barker made the PAT, 23-22 Penn State, their first lead of the game.

Looking for a response on the first play of the fourth quarter the Gophers turned the football over. Brosmer dropped the ball and Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley recovered.

Brosmer said the two turnovers are something that cannot happen.

“At the end of the day I know it happens in football but I know that I can be way better and put my team in a better situation to go out and score more points,” Brosmer said.

Minnesota’s defense held strong keeping the Nittany Lions out of the endzone leading to a 32-yard field goal by Barker, 26-22 Penn State.

Brosmer picked apart the Nittany Lions’ defense until first-and-goal. Penn State shored up in the red zone and trailing by four the Gophers settled for a 26-yard field goal with under six minutes to play.

Penn State ran a fake punt on fourth-and-one, and Luke Reynolds picked up 32 yards. Once again the Gophers’ defense came up with a third-down stop but Franklin went again and a tush push got the first down.

Minnesota, expecting push on the final play, was unable to cover Warren, who broke free, and Allar put the ball on him for the game-sealing fourth down conversion.

While Saturday’s match was the last one at Huntington Bank Stadium this year, the Gophers still have a meeting set with a 5-6 Wisconsin team at Camp Randall Stadium for the annual battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Friday at 11:00 a.m.