Honda engine boss Yusuke Hasegawa to believe Jenson Buttons n

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesotas seniors have encountered plenty of speed bumps during their careers, from the health trouble of former coach Jerry Kill that forced his retirement last season to several late-game lapses that cost the Gophers victories against ranked opponents.These soon-to-depart players wont leave the program without success, though, with 29 victories over the last four years. Thats the most by a senior class since 2006, a group that finished with 30 wins. The 2005 class left with 32 victories, a total that could still be matched this season.When they got here, everything wasnt all rosy and going in the right direction, and the culture had to change, and they were a big part of that, coach Tracy Claeys said, adding: We need to try to finish out the season and reward them.The Gophers (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) host Northwestern (5-5, 4-3) on Saturday, a year after losing 27-0 on the road to the Wildcats. With one more win, the Gophers will reach eight victories for a third time in four seasons.If I could do it all over again, I would come back to Minnesota, said safety Damarius Travis, one of 13 seniors and 10 players in their fifth year in the program who will take the field at TCF Bank Stadium for the final time.Sometimes you lose sight of it with some of the things that go on and having a tough loss last weekend, quarterback Mitch Leidner said, looking back at the 24-17 defeat at Nebraska, but at the same time when you go back and reflect its pretty remarkable what weve been able to do.The Gophers also lost 29-26 at now-No. 9 Penn State in overtime and 14-7 at home to Iowa.Theyre probably one or two plays away, the games they ended up on the short end, of being undefeated, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said.The Wildcats need to win one of their last two games against the Gophers and Illinois to become bowl eligible for a second straight season. Theyve steadied themselves after losing their first two games this year to Western Michigan and Illinois State.Im sure the noise was really negative. The only guys who were going to get it fixed were going to be the guys in the locker room, Fitzgerald said.Here are some key angles to the game:THORSON THRIVINGWildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson is coming off a career-best performance against Purdue last week, when he passed for 352 yards and three touchdowns. That was the sophomores second 300-yard game this season and his fifth with three touchdown passes.Thorson ranks third in the conference in yards passing (2,571), yards per game (257.1) and touchdowns (19), the latter of which has him tied for third on Northwesterns single-season list. He needs three more to set a program record.CARR, THE DRIVERThorsons top target has been Austin Carr, who was named this week one of 10 finalists for the Biletnikoff Award given to the nations best wide receiver. Carr has a touchdown catch in eight of 10 games and leads the Big Ten in every major statistical category for receiving.The Gophers are third-to-last in the league with an average of 231 yards passing allowed per game, and theyre tied with Rutgers with a conference-most 20 touchdown passes surrendered.NEARING RECORDSJustin Jackson became Northwesterns first 1,000-yard rusher in three seasons last week against Purdue, and hes on pace to become the schools all-time leader in rushing and all-purpose yards. The Big Tens active career rushing leader with 3,642 yards, Jackson needs 151 yards to tie Darnell Autry for third on Northwesterns all-time list. With 4,159 all-purpose yards, he is 112 yards shy of Venric Mark for fourth place.Theyve had their years when they really relied on the pass and scrambling around a lot more, and this year, without a doubt, it all starts with the running back, Claeys said. Weve got to take him away.SAFE AT HOMEWith a win, the Gophers would match their best season record at TCF Bank Stadium, where they went 6-1 in 2014. Minnesota is 31-24 at home since the stadium opened on campus in 2009, including 23-11 over the last five years.THIRTY FOR THIRTYLeidner is the only player in Gophers history to reach 30 career touchdowns in both passing and rushing. Hes fifth on the all-time program list with 31 rushing scores and tied for sixth with 33 passing touchdowns.---For more AP college football: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 Jonas Brodin Jersey . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Eric Staal Wild Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. http://www.authenticwildpro.com/Mikko-koivu-wild-jersey/ . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Alex Stalock Jersey . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Jordan Greenway Wild Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Honda says Fernando Alonsos seventh place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix is proof it took a step forward with its latest update last weekend.Honda spent seven engine tokens on upgrading its internal combustion engine and turbocharger ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, leading to improved efficiency and, therefore, more power. Spa-Francorchamps is a power-sensitive track where McLaren expected to struggle, leading Honda engine boss Yusuke Hasegawa to believe Jenson Buttons ninth place qualifying result and Alonsos race from last on the grid to seventh is proof of a step forward.Fernando drove a brilliant race, and the team did a phenomenal job to get him from the very back of the grid to finish P7 - and at Spa too! Hasegawa said. Jenson was unlucky to retire at the very start of the race, when he was unexpectedly hit from behind. He had a sttrong start to the weekend, and it was a great shame that he couldnt capitalise on his very good P9 starting position.ddddddddddddThis is another confirmation that our power unit has indeed taken a step forward, and Im happy and thankful to everyone for all their hard work.Honda has three engine tokens left for the rest of the season, but is targeting a big step over the winter to help McLaren challenge for wins again in 2017.Of course, were still hungry and not completely satisfied by these results [in Spa], but after each race we go home encouraged by our progress and this one is no different. Next up is Monza, which is probably the toughest circuit of the year for us, but well prepare as usual to give our all. ' ' '