Tag: Minnesota

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

Posted on | by Field Level Media

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

Aug 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer (16) throws the ball against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota looks to spread ball around vs. Nevada

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota shut out Rhode Island last week, thanks in large part to a passing attack that used multiple targets, bringing the Golden Gophers to 1-1 for the season.

But for the Golden Gophers to surge past .500 and beyond, coach P.J. Fleck said his team must repeat that approach, starting Saturday against Nevada in Minneapolis.

“That’s going to have to be the key for us to have success,” Fleck said. “The ability to spread it around. … For this to work the best it can work, everybody has to be reliable.”

Following a disappointing opening loss to North Carolina, Minnesota saw its offense click against Rhode Island. Darius Taylor led the running game with 64 yards, while quarterback Max Brosmer completed 24 of 30 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Brosmer and his understudy, Drake Lindsey, connected with 12 different targets.

Plenty of defensive playmakers emerged for the Golden Gophers, too. Minnesota snagged three interceptions, with Jack Henderson taking his to the end zone for a 25-yard TD in the fourth quarter.

“We have a swarming defense that plays with legal football violence in everything that we do,” Fleck said. “And I think that’s been the message from Day 1 with our players, and they’ve responded really well in two games with that.”

In addition to staying sound in all three phases of the game, Nevada (1-2) must pare down a recent rash of penalties to stay afloat at Minnesota.

The Wolf Pack were penalized 14 times for 134 yards in last week’s 20-17 loss to Georgia Southern, including a pair of personal fouls on consecutive plays late in the opening half.

The sequence led to a Georgia Southern touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the second quarter.

“We’ve been walking that line,” Wolf Pack coach Jeff Choate said. “We crossed the line, and that was the first time it really hurt us. I think that lesson can now be learned in a really tangible way, and we can tighten the screws on them a little bit more because we have evidence, ‘Hey, this can cost us a game.’”

Quarterback Brendon Lewis passed and rushed for a touchdown against Georgia Southern while accounting for 368 yards of total offense, including 271 through the air.

Saturday will mark the first meeting between Nevada and Minnesota. The Wolf Pack are 2-5 against competition from the Big Ten and will aim to improve on a 27-0 loss at Iowa in 2022.

–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’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

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

Aug 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Justin Walley (5) intercepts a pass intended for North Carolina Tar Heels tight end Bryson Nesbit (18) during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Four field goals power UNC to win over Minnesota

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Omarion Hampton rushed 30 times for 129 yards, Noah Burnette made all four of his field-goal attempts and North Carolina escaped with a 19-17 win over Minnesota on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Max Johnson passed for 71 yards and rushed for a touchdown for North Carolina (1-0) before he was carted off with a right leg injury. Burnette did all of his scoring in the second half, including the go-ahead kick from 45 yards out with 1:44 to play.

Marcus Major had 20 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (0-1). The Golden Gophers had a chance for a game-winning kick as time expired, but Dragan Kesich hooked a 47-yard attempt wide right.

Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer completed 13 of 21 passes for 166 yards in his team debut. He transferred from New Hampshire during the offseason.

North Carolina opened the scoring with 11:12 remaining in the second quarter. On third-and-goal, Johnson dropped back to pass, tucked the ball and ran for a 3-yard touchdown that culminated with a headfirst dive.

Minnesota pulled even at 7-7 with 7:35 to go in the second quarter. Major sprinted up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown.

The Golden Gophers’ defense set up the score. Cornerback Justin Walley returned an interception 70 yards to the North Carolina 6-yard line.

Brosmer made it 14-7 with 55 seconds left in the half. Tight end Nick Kallerup lined up behind Brosmer and gave him a friendly shove across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run.

North Carolina cut the deficit to 14-10 on a 29-yard field goal by Burnette with 6:34 left in the third quarter.

Burnette struck again, this time from 52 yards, to pull the Tar Heels within 14-13 with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Tar Heels capitalized on a fumble by Brosmer to grab a 16-14 lead with 9:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Burnette made a 42-yard field goal.

The Golden Gophers regained a 17-16 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Kesich with 3:40 to go.

Minnesota running back Darius Taylor did not play because of an injury that he sustained during training camp.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Cousins delivers video goodbye to Minnesota

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Kirk Cousins recorded a video farewell to Minnesota after officially signing a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday afternoon.

Cousins agreed to the contract on Monday, choosing Atlanta’s offer — with a reported guarantee of $100 million for the 35-year-old coming back from a torn right Achilles — over a similar deal from the Vikings.

“Today’s a little bit of a bittersweet day for me. I’m in Atlanta now and a little later today I’m going to be signing a contract with the Falcons to officialize the agreement we made,” Cousins said. “But that also means I’ve got to say goodbye to Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings. That’s what makes today tough.”

Cousins offered direct thanks to “tremendous teammates, coaches, support staff, management and ownership of the Minnesota Vikings for the way they’ve come along side me and supported me. … I had great people around me. I don’t take that for granted. It was a privilege to be quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’d also just like to say thank you to the people in Minnesota, the people in the Twin Cities and the people we did life with on a daily basis.”

Cousins jumps into the QB1 role with the Falcons, who hired Raheem Morris as head coach to run a form of the same offense the Vikings ran the past two seasons under head coach Kevin O’Connell.

The Vikings agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with Sam Darnold to fill the spot Cousins vacated.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) talks with teammates prior to their game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins reportedly names price: $90 million

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Approaching his 36th birthday while rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon, Kirk Cousins said he’s willing to take a little less to return to the Minnesota Vikings.

According to a report in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Cousins would eschew free agency and stick with the Vikings the next two seasons if they meet his asking price of $90 million through 2025.

While it could seem a sticker-shock ask, Cousins was No. 15 in average salary at $35 million on his existing contract with the Vikings. If he nets another guaranteed contract and the cap hit for 2024 comes in at $45 million, he would be the eighth in the league between Josh Allen (Bills, $47.1 million cap number in ’24) and Derek Carr (Saints, $35.7 million).

Cap gymnastics make it feasible to reduce Cousins’ cap figure to a more palatable number for next season. But the Vikings also have critical contracts to negotiate with wide receiver Justin Jefferson and edge rusher Danielle Hunter, among others.

Cousins said he would focus in free agency mostly on “structure,” and not salary when his contract automatically voids in March.

“Everything that isn’t the dollars,” Cousins said when asked to elaborate on his definition of structure. “That stuff you also work through.”

Among teams potentially in the market for a quarterback this offseason, Cousins’ previous team, the Washington Commanders are projected to have the most cap space at nearly $77 million. New England has space — projected at nearly $66 million — but the Patriots are expected to closely consider top available quarterbacks in the draft with the No. 3 overall pick.

“I’m not going to try to sell myself, if you will. I kind of like to let people make their own decisions, because I do think the league needs quarterbacks, and if you’re trying to talk yourself out of a quarterback, then I can’t help you much,” Cousins said last month. “The Achilles is going to heal. And it’s on track, and I’m a pocket passer and there’s a lot of time before next season. For a lot of reasons, it doesn’t concern me, but if I can’t convince other people of that, then that’s OK.”

Cousins will be 36 before playing his next regular-season snap. A fourth-round pick in 2012, he was tied for the NFL lead with 18 touchdown passes when he suffered the Achilles injury eight weeks into the 2023 season.

Jefferson is owed $19.7 million on his fifth-year option, the last year of his rookie contract, and is a lock to become the fifth active wide receiver with a contract over $100 million. Raiders star Davante Adams is the NFL’s highest-paid receiver with a $140 million total contract value, but Dolphins All-Pro Tyreek Hill leads in average annual value at $30 million (Adams stands at $28M per, Rams’ Cooper Kupp averages $26.7M, and A.J. Brown draws $25M per year from the Eagles).

Hunter set a career-high with 16.5 sacks in 2023 after relenting on plans to sit out in a contract standoff.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) scrambles out of the pocket against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers lands former Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis

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Former Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis committed to Rutgers on Tuesday.

He entered the transfer portal after throwing for 1,838 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023 and took an official visit to Rutgers last month.

Kaliakmanis will be reunited in Piscataway, N.J., with former Golden Gophers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. Ciarrocca now holds the same role on coach Greg Schiano’s staff with the Scarlet Knights.

Kaliakmanis completed 53.3 percent of his passes for 2,784 yards with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 23 games for Minnesota over the past two seasons. He also rushed for 234 yards and three scores.

At Rutgers, he joins a quarterback room that includes incumbent starter Gavin Wimsatt. Wimsatt led Rutgers (7-6) to a winning season, punctuated by a 31-24 win against Miami in the Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl.

–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