Minnesota 24, Michigan St 31

Gopher lose, 31-24 to Michigan State.   The Gophers fall to 2-7 on the season.  Nice effort against a ranked team on the road though.  Michigan State can into the game with the second ranked defense in the nation and the Gophers moved the ball very well against them.  It's progress, they've looked very good the last two weeks, I've got to give Jerry Kill and company credit for keeping this team together and playing hard. 

Observations:
-MarQueis Gray looks so much more confident at QB now than he did earlier this season.
-Heckuva game by DaJon McKnight (9 catches, 173 yards, 3 TD's). 
-The OL still needs to get bigger, stronger and more experienced. 
-Nothing against Duane Bennett, but an upgrade really is needed at RB. 
-Keanon Cooper is finally playing like people thought he would be at LB. 
-I'd still like to see Eric Lair incorporated into the gameplan more. 
-Michigan State's 74 yard TD drive (in 59 seconds) at the end of the 2nd quarter was the key drive of the games.  Had the Gophers stopped them they would have had the lead & all of the momentum going into the 2nd half.  
-Dan Orseske really needs to be more consistent with his punting. 
-Marcus Jones & Troy Stoudermire ruled out for season, for a team lacking in athleticism that hurts.
-Up next is Wisconsin @ TCF Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.