After last week’s loss to Nebraska, Minnesota was in desperate need of a victory in order to show fans that there is still hope in the 2018 season. With starting quarterback Zack Annexstad out, Tanner Morgan took the lead and played well in a rainy night at TCF Bank Stadium, throwing for over 300 yards. The Gophers travel to Illinois next weekend as the team looks for their first win away from home.
203: First half passing yards by Morgan who found Johnson twice in the end zone in the first 30 minutes.
4: Straight 100-yard receiving games for Tyler Johnson which ties a school record (Eric Decker). This is the sixth time this season that Johnson has gone over 100-yards, also tying Ryan Thelwell’s school record. Johnson ended the game with 102 receiving yards. Four is also the number of running backs this season who have eclipsed 100 rushing yards in a game this season for Minnesota after Shannon Brooks ran for 154 tonight. Four different running backs totaling 100 rushing yards in a game is another school record.
“I am really proud of that young football team, what they just accomplished is really special,” P.J. Fleck said after the game. “There will be a lot of people talking about how we had the lead and what we should’ve done, but we played a really good football team. We made some mistakes, put the ball on the ground, and they capitalized. Then we finally got to the point where we had to finish the game, and then the big-time play by two freshmen won the game. That just showed this team has incredible resolve at a very young age.”
7: Touchdowns for Seth Green this season after he ran it out from one yard out in the first quarter.
302: Total passing yards for Tanner Morgan, the first Gophers quarterback to throw for over 300 yards since Mitch Leidner did it on Oct. 31, 2015. Morgan was 17/24 with 302 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
67: Yards on one play in Minnesota’s game-winning drive. Tanner Morgan threw a pass to Rashod Bateman that landed right in Bateman’s hands in stride as he flew to the end zone. Bateman ended the game with four catches for 108 yards and one touchdown.
“It was a great call,” Morgan said. We had great protection up front, really solid. Bateman made a great move on the guy, he just made a great play, made a catch, and went down and did the rest. It was an absolutely elite play, elite move, elite call.”
10: Total tackles for Blake Cashman including one tackle for loss. The Gophers had five total tackles for loss and two interceptions in the victory.
5: Fumbles for the Gophers including three lost. The rain came down the entirety of the game in Minneapolis.
1: The first conference win of the season comes at an optimal time for Minnesota as they look to reach six wins and become bowl eligible.
22: First downs for the Gophers tonight, including 12 through the air.