The Minnesota Golden Gophers escaped Sin City with a thrilling, triple-OT 30-27 victory over UNLV on Thursday night.

Kicker Jordan Wettstein, who had pulled a 32-yard field goal wide left earlier in the game, banged home a 32-yarder to give second-year coach Jerry Kill his first road victory at Minnesota.  

Senior tight end John Rabe, who had two catches all of last year (both touchdowns), caught two overtime touchdowns from QB MarQueis Gray, including a 25-yard score on the first play of the second overtime for a 27-20 lead. UNLV redshirt freshman Nick Sherry responded with a six-yard touchdown to Devante Davis in the corner of the end zone, tying the game at 27. 

On the subsequent drive, Sherry threw an off-balance pass into the end zone, which was intercepted by defensive back Derrick Wells for his second of the game.  The turnover gave the ball back to the Gophers to set up the game-winning field goal from Wettstein. 

The Gophers overwhelmed UNLV with their three-pronged running attack of Gray, junior college transfer James Gillum, and sophomore Donnell Kirkwood. The trio rushed 44 times for 200 yards. Gillum scored the Gophers’ lone touchdown during regulation on a 16-yard scramble midway through the second quarter. 

Gray finished 17 of 30 for 269 yards passing and two touchdowns. Despite his impressive stats, Gray's accuracy was off and he missed at least three receivers who were wide open on deep routes.

The Gophers played a sloppy regulation, which included 11 penalties and a bobbled punt from Troy Stoudermire -- the Big Ten's all-time leading kick returner. Despite the miscues, the Gophers will gladly take the victory.   

The Gophers' 30 points marked their most under Kill.

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