BleedGopher
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per Randy:
Boye Mafe remembers it well. Last December, the Gophers had a chance to win Paul Bunyan's Axe at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., only to see the Badgers prevail 20-17 in overtime. That came after the Gophers missed a field goal to begin the extra session.
"It means everything, especially after last year and how we lost by a field goal and the heartbreak that brought to the whole team,'' said Mafe, a Gophers fifth-year senior defensive end. "We all felt that on the bus ride home. That one sat with us."
Nearly a year after that stinging loss, the Gophers experienced an emotional 180-degree turn, celebrating with fans that stormed the field after their 23-13 victory over the No. 14 Badgers on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Mafe, a former Hopkins standout, wasn't the first one to grab the Axe. That honor, he said, went to sixth-year senior tight end Ko Kieft, who was on the field when the Gophers closed the game in Victory formation in the final 48 seconds.
"It was a race, and I think Ko actually beat everybody,'' Mafe said. "It was between Ko, Big O [defensive end Esezi Otomewo] and [cornerback] Coney [Durr].''
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
Boye Mafe remembers it well. Last December, the Gophers had a chance to win Paul Bunyan's Axe at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., only to see the Badgers prevail 20-17 in overtime. That came after the Gophers missed a field goal to begin the extra session.
"It means everything, especially after last year and how we lost by a field goal and the heartbreak that brought to the whole team,'' said Mafe, a Gophers fifth-year senior defensive end. "We all felt that on the bus ride home. That one sat with us."
Nearly a year after that stinging loss, the Gophers experienced an emotional 180-degree turn, celebrating with fans that stormed the field after their 23-13 victory over the No. 14 Badgers on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Mafe, a former Hopkins standout, wasn't the first one to grab the Axe. That honor, he said, went to sixth-year senior tight end Ko Kieft, who was on the field when the Gophers closed the game in Victory formation in the final 48 seconds.
"It was a race, and I think Ko actually beat everybody,'' Mafe said. "It was between Ko, Big O [defensive end Esezi Otomewo] and [cornerback] Coney [Durr].''
Gophers seniors rejoice in thrill of reclaiming Axe trophy
Players stung by last December's loss at Wisconsin were happy to return the favor to the Badgers this time around.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!