Gophers run over Alabama

Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney combined for 292 yards.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Marion Barber III heard all about how Alabama stopped Auburn's vaunted running backs.
Barber and teammate Laurence Maroney simply thought they were better.
Barber ran for 187 yards and a touchdown and Maroney added 105 yards to lead Minnesota to a 20-16 victory over Alabama in the Music City Bowl on Friday.
Barber and Maroney, the only teammates in NCAA history to each rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, were the only runners to go over 100 yards in a game this season against the Crimson Tide, which entered with the nation's second-ranked defense.
"They're a duo, and they're both going to come at you," Minnesota coach Glen Mason said, grinning. "They must be pretty good, I guess."
Alabama held Auburn to just 74 yards rushing in the Crimson Tide's final game, but Barber wasn't impressed.
"I never looked at that," the soft-spoken Barber said. "We just came in more prepared."
Almost fatal mistake
The Golden Gophers (7-5) ran for 276 yards to overcome three turnovers -- including two by Barber -- on their first three drives. Still, they nearly gave the game away in the fourth quarter.
Rhys Lloyd, who made field goals from 27 and 24 yards, missed a 24-yard attempt with 5:34 to go that would have sealed the victory. Mason admitted he was worried since Minnesota lost games late against Michigan and Iowa.
"When we missed the field goal that would have put us in pretty good shape, I said, 'Here we go again,' " Mason said. "I know if I'm thinking that, so are our kids, but we fought through."
On Minnesota's next possession, it was pinned deep in its own end and elected to take a safety to make it 20-16 rather than attempt a punt.
The decision nearly backfired.
Alabama's Tyrone Prothro returned the free kick to the Minnesota 48, and four completions by Spencer Pennington got the Crimson Tide to the 15. But Pennington overthrew a Prothro in the end zone on third down and couldn't convert a fourth-and-5 with 1:14 remaining.
"That's all you can ask for, a chance to win the game," Pennington said. "Prothro was open, and I threw it a little high."
No running game
Alabama (6-6), making an NCAA-record 52nd bowl appearance, was forced to throw throughout the game with leading rusher Kenneth Darby limited because of an abdominal strain.
The Crimson Tide had minus-2 yards rushing in the first half and finished with 21.
Pennington, who finished 22-of-36 for 243 yards and a touchdown, frequently tried to let receivers make plays using short passes.
"We didn't execute the way we should have," he said. "We felt like we should have beaten these guys today."
In the second quarter, Pennington found Keith Brown on a curl route, and Brown shook a defender for a 40-yard gain. That set up Le'Ron McClain's 1-yard TD plunge with 2:57 left to cut Minnesota's halftime lead to 17-14.
But it was as close as Alabama would get.
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