Up-and-coming Gophers defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has Rutgers roots, too

Said Brown: “We do it every time in practice. I was just remembering the reps and the practices and being able to parlay that into the game.”

Perich and Brown are two of the 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, selected by the Maxwell Football Club.

The Gophers are getting strong play from their defensive line, too. Defensive end Jah Joyner’s strip sack of Altmyer forced a fumble that end Danny Striggow recovered at the Minnesota 27 with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Defensive end Anthony Smith posted his third sack and seventh quarterback hurry of the season, categories in which he ranks second on the team, behind Joyner.

“Our guys are playing so happy, so fast, and they’re being obsessed with the football,” Hetherman said. “That’s what we love to see. That’s what we want to see when we turn the film on. And our guys are doing a good job affecting the pocket, matching the hand of the quarterback, collapsing the pocket, where now the quarterback maybe can’t step up, which affects where the ball flies.”