Tag: Golden Gophers

Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs for a touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

No. 4 Penn State averts upset bid, edges Minnesota

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nicholas Singleton rushed for a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and No. 4 Penn State converted a fake punt late in the fourth, helping it secure a 26-25 victory over Minnesota on Saturday in Big Ten play at Minneapolis.

Penn State’s Drew Allar completed 21 of 28 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.

Omari Evans reeled in a 45-yard scoring strike and Tyler Warren had eight catches for 102 yards for the Nittany Lions (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten), who overcame two blocked kicks to record their third win in a row.

With Penn State nursing a 26-25 lead and in punt formation, upback Luke Reynolds took the snap and rushed 32 yards on a fourth-and-1 play with 3:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. Allar rushed for 2 yards to convert one fourth-down play and completed an 11-yard pass to Warren on another to seal the win.

Minnesota’s Max Brosmer completed 15 of 23 passes for 175 yards and a one touchdown. He also was intercepted once.

Marcus Major rushed for a 20-yard score and tight end Jameson Geers reeled in a touchdown pass for the Golden Gophers (6-5, 4-4), who dropped two in a row following a four-game winning streak.

Minnesota followed up Derik LeCaptain’s blocked punt by converting on the next play, with Brosmer capping a flea flicker by connecting with Geers on a 21-yard touchdown pass. The trick play staked the Golden Gophers to a 17-10 lead with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter.

Penn State answered on the ensuing drive as Allar rushed up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown. The Nittany Lions were denied on their bid to tie the game, as Jack Henderson blocked the extra-point attempt and Ethan Robinson scooped up the ball and raced down the field for the conversion to extend Minnesota’s advantage to 19-16.

Dragan Kesich drilled a 42-yard field goal to increase the Golden Gophers’ lead early in the third quarter before Singleton raced 12 yards for a score to give Penn State a 23-22 advantage.

Kesich answered Ryan Barker’s second field goal with his second of the day.

–Field Level Media

Illinois coach Bret Bielema has words with an official during the first half at Autzen Stadium.

No. 24 Illinois’ Bret Bielema out to remain perfect vs. Minnesota

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Illinois coach Bret Bielema will strive to maintain his stranglehold over Minnesota when the No. 24 Fighting Illini host the Golden Gophers on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.

Bielema is 10-0 in his coaching career against Minnesota, including a 3-0 mark since he took over at Illinois in December 2020. He went 7-0 against Minnesota as Wisconsin’s coach, while he never faced the Golden Gophers during his coaching stint at Arkansas.

“I have a lot of respect for Coach Bielema and what he does,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. “He always has a hard, smash-mouth, tough football team no matter where he’s been — Wisconsin, Arkansas, Illinois. It’s his DNA.”

Illinois (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) is looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss at No. 1 Oregon a week ago. The Fighting Illini fell behind 35-3 by halftime and lost 38-9.

Now, Illinois returns to its home field, where it is 5-0 this season.

“We’re a program that’s on the rise,” Bielema said. “It’s a program that’s building, and we’re going to get better at every opportunity. … I promise you that we’ll get better this week.”

Bielema challenged the Fighting Illini’s fans to make it tough on Minnesota.

“I hope you’ll be there and be loud,” he said. “You’ve got an 11 a.m. (local time) kickoff. You’ve got to get that first beverage, whether it’s a coffee, a mimosa, a bloody, a Red Bull — whatever you got going, man — just get up and get it going and get here and get seated by about 10:30 and get ready to be a part of a really good Big Ten football environment.”

Minnesota (5-3, 3-2) would love to spoil the mood among the Illini faithful. The Golden Gophers are going for their fourth straight win after knocking off then-No. 11 Southern California, UCLA and Maryland over the past three contests.

One more win would make Minnesota bowl-eligible.

Fleck wanted no part of that hypothetical as he prepared for Illinois.

“We’ve got to play our best football against a ranked opponent on the road,” he said. “We’ve got to D.I.B. — do it better.”

Quarterback Max Brosmer leads Minnesota with 1,776 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. His top target in the passing game is Daniel Jackson, who has 51 catches for 568 yards and three touchdowns.

Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor also will look to build upon his impressive season. He has 513 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in seven games.

Illinois’ offense is led by quarterback Luke Altmyer, who has passed for 1,667 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. Top wideout Pat Bryant has 34 catches for 510 yards and seven touchdowns, but his status is uncertain this week because of a concussion. Bielema said Monday that Bryant is expected to clear concussion protocol and play Saturday.

With running back Kaden Feagin out for the rest of the season with a hip injury, the next top rushers are Aidan Laughery (268 rushing yards) and Josh McCray (258 rushing yards, three TDs).

Minnesota leads the all-time series 40-33-3, although Illinois has won the past three.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Daniel Jackson (9) catches a touchdown pass against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Max Brosmer (4 TDs) leads Minnesota’s attack vs. Maryland

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Max Brosmer threw four touchdown passes to propel Minnesota to a 48-23 romp over Maryland in the Golden Gophers’ homecoming game on Saturday in Minneapolis.

Justin Walley added a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown as Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) won its third straight, all in the conference.

Brosmer completed 26 of 33 passes for 320 yards without an interception. His touchdown and yardage totals were his most in a Golden Gophers uniform after transferring this year from New Hampshire.

Minnesota’s Daniel Jackson caught nine passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Spencer added six receptions for 99 yards and two more scores.

Darius Taylor had a 51-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter for Minnesota and finished with 115 yards rushing and receiving on 20 touches.

The Minnesota defense stymied Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who entered with the second-most passing yards of any quarterback in the Big Ten.

Edwards finished with 19 completions in 35 attempts for 201 yards with two interceptions. In the final minute of the first half, Edwards scored on a touchdown run for Maryland (4-4, 1-4), which has lost three of its last four games.

Coming off a bye, Minnesota was sharp from the start. The Golden Gophers scored on their first two possessions and when Walley dashed up the sideline for his pick-six, it provided a 21-0 lead before the game was 11 minutes old.

Brosmer was working against an injury-riddled Maryland secondary, which was further depleted in the first quarter when Judah Jenkins was ejected for targeting as he made a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jackson.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defensive backfield thrived. Koi Perich returned his fifth interception of the season 45 yards to set up a 40-yard field goal by Dragan Kesich, which gave the Golden Gophers a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Kesich’s second field goal, a 34-yarder with two seconds left in the first half, gave Minnesota a 34-10 lead at the break.

The Golden Gophers scored on the first possession of the second half, needing five plays to traverse 75 yards. Brosmer capped the drive with a 25-yard pass to Spencer in the back corner of the end zone.

In relief of Edwards in the fourth quarter, MJ Morris completed 7 of 8 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Maryland’s Tai Felton, who entered as the Big Ten leader in receptions, had nine catches for 104 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer (16) runs the ball for a touchdown against the USC Trojans during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota rallies in second half as Golden Gophers upset No. 11 USC

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Quarterback Max Brosmer punched in the third of his three rushing touchdowns with 56 seconds left in the game and Minnesota held on to upset visiting No. 11-ranked Southern California, 24-17, Saturday in Minneapolis.

Brosmer’s TD carries were a five-yarder and a pair of goal-line runs. His last one required a video review, a fourth-down sneak that the officials initially called a USC stop.

The call was overturned, giving Brosmer the score to cap a 12-play, 75-yard Golden Gophers drive. USC drove back down the field, but Koi Perch sealed the win by out-jumping 6-foot-6 Trojans receiver Duce Robinson in the end zone to intercept Miller Moss’ deep ball thrown into double coverage.

Minnesota (3-3, 1-2 in the Big Ten) limited Moss to 200 yards on 23-of-38 passing and picked off the USC quarterback twice. Devon Williams intercepted Moss early in the fourth quarter, which led to a six-play, 65-yard Golden Gophers touchdown drive.

Darius Taylor opened the game-tying possession with a 22-yard reception and a rush of 19 yards. Taylor finished with 144 yards on 25 carries and caught a team-high five passes for 56 yards.

After Brosmer capped that drive with a five-yard touchdown rush, the Minnesota defense forced a quick three-and-out to regain the ball and set up the winning possession.

USC (3-2, 1-2) pulled ahead in the third quarter when Woody Marks closed a 12-play, 91-yard drive with a goal-line touchdown. Marks rushed for 134 yards on 20 carries. Quinten Joyner added 44 yards on four carries for the Trojans.

Moss connected with Robinson on a three-yard touchdown in the first half. Robinson caught four passes for 39 yards, while Kyron Hudson’s five receptions for 54 yards led the Trojans.

With the loss, USC remains winless on the road in its brief Big Ten history. Minnesota, meanwhile, snapped a two-game losing streak after dropping its first two conference games of the season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines defensive back Jyaire Hill (20) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

No. 12 Michigan holds off Minnesota’s late charge for 27-24 win

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Kalel Mullings rushed 24 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as No. 12 Michigan hung on for a 27-24 win over Minnesota in Big Ten Conference play at Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Wolverines (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) led 24-3 after Dominic Zvada made a 53-yard field goal halfway through the third quarter but nearly blew the lead and the game.

The Golden Gophers (2-3, 0-2) rallied for three fourth quarter touchdowns, drawing within three points on Max Brosmer’s 12-yard touchdown strike to Daniel Jackson with 1:37 left.

But Minnesota couldn’t get the ball back after an initial recovery on an onside kick was ruled offsides. Mullings recovered a second onside kick at the Gophers’ 38 yard-line and Michigan was able to run out the clock.

Brosmer completed 27 of 40 passes for 258 yards with an interception as the Gophers earned a 296-241 advantage in total yardage. Darius Taylor rushed for 36 yards on 13 carries, scoring on runs of 3 and 4 yards less than three minutes apart early in the fourth quarter that pulled Minnesota within 24-17.

Alex Orji hit 10 of 18 attempts for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Wolverines, which got a 35-yard field goal from Zvada with 4:33 remaining for the insurance points that made the difference.

Michigan controlled the first half, generating one long drive and then capitalizing on two short fields for easy touchdowns.

First came a 79-yard march in the first quarter that Mullings capped with a 27-yard scoring run. Then came the Minnesota mistakes. First was a fumble that teed up the Wolverines for a 16-yard field that Mullings cashed in via a 1-yard plunge with 8:59 left in the first half.

It became 21-0 at the 3:48 mark when Michigan turned a fumbled punt into an 11-yard touchdown pass from Orji to Tyler Morris. The Gophers finally got on the board as time expired when Dragan Kesich connected on a 20-yard field goal.

Michigan was outgained 130-107 in the half but came up with four sacks in addition to producing 14 points off two turnovers.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) runs the ball as Nevada Wolf Pack safety Kitan Crawford (4) defends during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Darius Taylor’s 3-TD day carries Minnesota over Nevada 27-0

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Darius Taylor rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns to lead Minnesota to a 27-0 nonconference home win over Nevada on Saturday.

Taylor also had a receiving touchdown and Max Brosmer went 16-of-26 passing for 191 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Golden Gophers (2-1).

Brendon Lewis went 15-of-23 passing for 114 yards with three interceptions for Nevada (1-3), which had just 172 yards of total offense and committed eight penalties for 89 yards.

In addition to picking off Lewis three times, Minnesota’s defense also collected four sacks.

Leading 6-0 in the second quarter, the Golden Gophers earned some separation with a pair of touchdowns.

First, Max Brosmer hit Taylor for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 4:03 left in the first half to give Minnesota a 13-0 lead.

The score came two plays after Minnesota’s Patrick Garwo III intercepted a pass and returned it to the Nevada 16-yard line.

Then Taylor scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining until halftime to put Minnesota ahead 20-0.

The score capped off a 7-play, 69-yard drive that took only 1:23.

With 8:58 left in the third quarter, Taylor scored on an 80-yard touchdown run to give Minnesota a 27-0 lead.

Taylor broke through the Nevada front seven in the middle of the field, sprinted down the right sideline, then cut back across the field to the end zone.

Nevada put together a drive in the fourth quarter to the Minnesota 16-yard line, but it ended on an interception by Minnesota’s Ethan Robinson in the end zone off Lewis.

Minnesota took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of field goals by Dragan Kesich, one from 52 yards and another from 21.

Nevada had a chance to score in the second quarter after mounting an 11-play, 51-yard drive, but a 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) runs for a touchdown against the Rhode Island Rams during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota rebounds from loss, demolishes Rhode Island

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Max Brosmer completed 24 of 30 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns, and Minnesota cruised to a 48-0 win over Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Darius Taylor and Marcus Major rushed for one touchdown apiece for Minnesota (1-1), which bounced back from a two-point home loss against North Carolina last week. Cristian Driver, Le’Meke Brockington and Tyler Williams each caught a touchdown.

Marquis Buchanan had five catches for 64 yards to lead Rhode Island (1-1). The Rams managed only 18 yards on 13 carries against Minnesota’s defense. Rhode Island’s two quarterbacks, Devin Farrell and Hunter Helms, were a combined 13-for-30 passing for 117 yards and three interceptions.

The Golden Gophers outgained Rhode Island 422-135.

Brosmer helped put the game away for Minnesota with back-to-back touchdown passes in the third quarter.

Driver hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Brosmer to increase Minnesota’s lead to 24-0 with 7:57 left in the third. Less than seven minutes later, Brockington caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Brosmer to make it 31-0.

Kesich added a 47-yard field goal to give the Golden Gophers a 34-0 lead with 11:04 to go in the game.

Minnesota’s defense got on the scoreboard on Rhode Island’s next drive. Jack Henderson intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to put the Golden Gophers on top 41-0.

Drake Lindsey took over for Brosmer in the fourth quarter. Lindsey capped the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Williams.

Kesich started the scoring with a 53-yard field goal to cap Minnesota’s opening drive. The kick offered some redemption for Kesich, who missed what would have been a game-winning field goal as time expired in his previous game.

Taylor gave the Golden Gophers a 10-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. He finished with 14 carries for 64 yards after sitting out the opener because of an injury.

Major joined the action with a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 1:16 left in the half. The play marked Major’s second score in as many weeks and increased Minnesota’s lead to 17-0 at the half.

–Field Level Media

–Field Level Media

Dec 26, 2023; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) runs the ball against the Bowling Green Falcons in the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Reports: Minnesota RB Darius Taylor (leg) set to return

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Minnesota running back Darius Taylor will start against Rhode Island on Saturday after missing the season opener with a leg injury, multiple outlets reported.

As a freshman last season, Taylor ran for 799 yards and five touchdowns in just six games for the Golden Gophers. He missed seven games with a hamstring injury.

His average of 133.2 rushing yards per game would’ve led the nation but he did not have enough games to qualify.

Taylor rushed for 193 yards against Eastern Michigan, 138 at North Carolina, 198 at Northwestern and capped the season with 208 yards in a 30-24 win over Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl.

With Taylor sidelined, Minnesota (0-1) opened the season with a 19-17 loss to North Carolina in Minneapolis on Aug. 29. Marcus Major carried 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown to lead the Gophers.

–Field Level Media

Devin Farrell was named his conference’s Offensive Player of the Week and the Rams received votes in the first regular-season edition of the Stats FCS national poll.

Minnesota coach’s message to team for Rhode Island game: ‘Be a goldfish’

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Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck borrowed a line from the TV show “Ted Lasso” as he prepared his team for this week’s non-conference game against Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis.

The message: Be a goldfish.

The Golden Gophers (0-1) are coming off a heartbreaking 19-17 loss at home against North Carolina in their season opener last week. Dragan Kesich missed two field goals, including a 47-yarder as time expired that would have won the game.

“Be a goldfish,” Fleck explained on his weekly coach’s show. “Ted Lasso talks about a guy (who) comes up to him and he’s really anxious about a play and says, ‘Sorry, coach.’ Ted Lasso looks at him and just says, ‘Be a goldfish.’

“The guy looks at him like, ‘What are you talking about?’

“(Ted Lasso says), ‘Goldfish are the happiest animals on the planet because they have a 10-second memory.’”

The Goldfish — er, Gophers — will turn their attention to Rhode Island (1-0), which is coming off a 20-17 win against Holy Cross in its season opener.

Quarterback Devin Farrell threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Harris Jr. with 19 seconds remaining to lead the Rams to the win. Farrell finished 20-for-33 for 287 yards and two touchdowns.

The game marked Farrell’s first action since he played in high school in Georgia. He started his college career at Virginia Tech, transferred to Rhode Island, and did not play last season as he backed up four-year starter Kasim Hill.

“You don’t play since high school and you come out and do what he was able to do,” Rhode Island coach Jim Fleming said. “I was very impressed.”

Minnesota also features a quarterback who made his team debut last week. Max Brosmer, a transfer from New Hampshire, is looking to build upon an up-and-down performance in which he completed 13 of 21 passes for 165 yards.

Marcus Major led the Golden Gophers’ ground attack with 20 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown. Major started in place of injured teammate Darius Taylor, whose status remains uncertain heading into Saturday.

Rhode Island will have to find a way to move the ball against a stout Minnesota defense. In the opening game, both Cody Lindenberg (11 tackles) and Maverick Baranowski (10 tackles) finished with double-digit stops.

–Field Level Media

Dec 26, 2023; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Darius Taylor (1) runs the ball against the Bowling Green Falcons in the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Quick Lane Bowl: Darius Taylor runs wild as Minnesota beats Bowling Green

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Darius Taylor had 35 carries for 208 yards and a touchdown, and Minnesota held on for a 30-24 win over Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl on Tuesday afternoon in Detroit.

Cole Kramer passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one more for Minnesota (6-7), which won its seventh straight bowl game. Elijah Spencer and Jameson Geers had one touchdown catch apiece.

Connor Bazelak passed for 221 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score for Bowling Green (7-6). Odieu Hiliare had 10 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown, and PaSean Wimberly led the way on the ground with 63 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Kramer won in unlikely fashion in an unexpected start. He completed 8 of 16 passes for only 26 yards as the replacement for season-long starter Athan Kaliakmanis, who entered the transfer portal last month.

The Golden Gophers pulled ahead for good with two touchdowns in the third quarter.

Kramer delivered the go-ahead score on a 1-yard quarterback keeper with 9:20 to go in the third quarter. That gave Minnesota a 16-10 edge.

On the Golden Gophers’ next drive, Kramer came through with his arm. He threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Geers to increase Minnesota’s lead to 23-10.

Bowling Green cut the deficit to 23-17 with 11:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. Wimberly took the handoff on a jet sweep and raced down the right sideline for an 18-yard score.

Minnesota answered with a touchdown on its next drive to grab a 30-17 lead. Taylor added to his dominant day with a 17-yard rushing score.

Bazelak brought the Falcons within 30-24 with 2:33 to go. He stretched across the goal line for a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

Minnesota recovered the onside kick moments later.

Bowling Green opened the scoring with a big play on its first possession. Bazelak launched a deep pass down the middle of the field and found Hiliare for a 46-yard touchdown.

Minnesota pulled within 7-6 midway through the first quarter. Spencer hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass, but the Golden Gophers’ two-point conversion attempt failed moments later.

A 31-yard field goal by Dragan Kesich gave Minnesota a 9-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Bowling Green regained a 10-9 advantage with 1:38 remaining before halftime when Alan Anaya made a 33-yard field goal.

–Field Level Media