Central Michigan vs. Minnesota: Score and Reaction for 2015 Quick Lane Bowl

The Quick Lane Bowl between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the Minnesota Golden Gophers was as exciting as it seemed on paper to the causal fan for much of Monday's game at Ford Field in Detroit.

In the spirit of this particular holiday season, an intangible force awakened in these two teams who've hovered around .500 to create a compelling conclusion that culminated in a 21-14 victory for the Golden Gophers.   

Central Michigan's offense went inert after a 15-play, 82-yard touchdown drive that ended on the first play of the second quarter, and the Chippewas trailed 13-7 in the fourth quarter. But Minnesota provided a spark when it turned the ball over on downs at the CMU 44-yard line.

After the Chippewas picked up 21 yards through the air, true freshman running back Romello Ross, who had 100 yards on 19 carries, took matters into his own hands on three consecutive totes.

The last of those touches came 13 yards from paydirt, but Ross channeled Central Michigan product Thomas Rawls and powered his way to the end zone. ESPN provided footage of Ross' punishing run:

But the Golden Gophers weren't demoralized by Ross' rumble with 11:08 remaining. Minnesota marched 74 yards in 13 plays, including three third-down conversions. Quarterback Mitch Leidner picked up the last two with his legs, including what amounted to the game-winning 13-yard scoring scamper.

Marcus R. Fuller of the Pioneer Press applauded Leidner's efforts as a runner and provided context for the Golden Gophers:

Leidner's mobility came in handy on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt when he evaded the Chippewas pass rush and found receiver KJ Maye to make it a seven-point game.

Cooper Rush tried to answer his counterpart but had bitten off more than he could chew. Rush threw an ill-advised pass as he was being tackled and was intercepted by defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

Tom Dienhart of BTN.com noted how Minnesota made it difficult on Rush to find anyone open all game:

Nate Schneider of the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun hinted that Rush was due for a mistake based on the season he's had:

That giveaway came with 2:10 left on the game clock and cost Central Michigan a chance at forcing overtime, as Minnesota running back Shannon Brooks picked up 10 yards on 3rd-and-9 to all but ice the contest.

ESPN's Brett McMurphy pointed out an interesting trend from the 2015 bowl season:

Minnesota finished 6-7, but at least it's moving forward with a postseason win under its belt. It was a difficult year for the Golden Gophers, who had head coach Jerry Kill retire in late October due to health concerns.

Austin Ward of ESPN.com applauded the coaching and the leadership of Leidner, who was 24-of-30 passing for 223 yards and a score with one interception:

Interim head coach and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys acquitted himself well, and it appears Minnesota has the right type of players to stay competitive in the Big Ten.

John Bonamego completed his first season at the helm for Central Michigan with a 7-5 record, and it looks like he has a cornerstone to build the offense around in Ross.

Postgame Reaction

Bonamego praised the Minnesota pass defense, led by cornerback Eric Murray, which stymied the usually productive Rush, per Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press:

The coach also expressed faith his team will reach new heights soon enough, saying, per CMU Football, "I'll always remember our seniors. Coaching transitions are tough. We'll have a championship soon."

Chippewas defensive back Kavon Frazier noted the support of CMU's fans.

"It was an amazing turnout. They played a great factor in the game," Frazier said.

Leider was named MVP for his performance. "We've been in that situation before," he said of the game-winning drive. He also praised his teammates, adding, "They were all going to do their job, and we were going to come out on top."

As a departing senior, Maye was pleased to see his career end in style. "Hard work pays off. That's the main thing I'll take away from the four years I've had with this program," he said, per KFAN1003.

Claeys summed up his thoughts thusly, per KFAN1003: "We got some work to do, but at least this is a hell of a lot better way to end the season."