Five players rushed for one touchdown apiece, two defenders found the end zone, and Minnesota cruised to a 66-0 win over Northwestern State on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Drake Lindsey completed eight of nine passes for 139 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (2-0). Max Shikenjanski took over for Lindsey with the score out of hand and completed four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown; he also rushed for a score.
Abram Johnston completed six of 11 passes for 10 yards and two interceptions for Northwestern State (1-1), which snapped a 20-game losing streak in its season opener. The Demons’ leading rusher against the Golden Gophers was Jeremiah James, who had three carries for eight yards.
Minnesota outgained Northwestern State 484-42.
The Golden Gophers raced to a 35-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and increased their advantage to 59-0 at the half. According to the school, the team’s 35-point outburst in the first 15 minutes marked the program’s highest-scoring quarter since at least 1973.
The only blemish for Minnesota was an injury to starting running back Darius Taylor. He grabbed the back of his right leg before tumbling out of bounds on a 17-yard run, and he did not return.
The Golden Gophers defense set the tone on the first play from scrimmage. Defensive back John Nestor jumped in front of Johnston’s first pass of the game and returned it down the left sideline for a 29-yard touchdown six seconds into the first quarter.
A.J. Turner, Le’Meke Brockington and Lindsey added rushing touchdowns to increase Minnesota’s lead to 28-0 late in the first quarter.
The Golden Gophers defense struck for another touchdown. This time it was linebacker Matt Kingsbury, who spotted a fumble for a 25-yard scoop and score to make it 35-0.
Minnesota added three more touchdowns and a field goal in the second quarter.
Lindsey provided a highlight-reel throw on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Javon Tracy. The receiver got behind the secondary and caught the deep ball in stride.
Shikenjanski scored the only touchdown of the second half on an 8-yard run.
