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Minnesota survives 23-16 nail-biter to keep the Axe out of Wisconsin

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) mounted a fourth comeback and survived a rally attempt by the Wisconsin Badgers (6-6) in the final minutes to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the second straight year with a 23-16 victory over their border rival at Camp Randall.

This is first time Minnesota has won back-to-back games over Wisconsin since 1993-94.

The difference in the game was a go-ahead 45-yard touchdown strike from redshirt freshman quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to redshirt freshman wide receiver Le’Meke Brockington with less than four minutes left in the game, breaking a 16-16 tie.

On the Badgers’ next drive, Justin Walley intercepted a deep pass from Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz and returned it to the Badgers’ 35-yard line.