The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe between the Gophers and Badgers was swayed by a former Hawkeye.

Cornerback John Nestor, who transferred from Iowa to Minnesota this year, had two interceptions and a fumble recovery to help the U win the rivalry game, 17-7, on a snowy and cold Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium.

The Gophers (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) have won four of five Axe games against Wisconsin for the first time since a strong stretch across 1984-90. The Badgers (4-8, 2-7) endured their second straight losing season in two decades.

Gophers players raced to the Axe in the north end zone as fans threw handfuls of snow in the air in triumph. Some fans stormed the field.

While Nestor led a stingy defense, running back Darius Taylor scored on a 49-yard touchdown run in the first half, and qua

See Full Page