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Coming off an unconvincing home win against Rutgers, Minnesota looked to make a statement against Illinois.
It took a while, but the Gophers took advantage of Illinois miscues and pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 40-17 on the road.
If Minnesota did make a statement is was on offense -- in case you weren't sure, this team is built around running the ball, which the Gophers do often and with aplomb.
Here's a recap of Saturday's game:
CLASS LESSONS
-- If you're going to get turnovers, you might as well take advantage. And Minnesota did just that. Illinois fumbled three times with the Gophers scoring two touchdowns and a field goal on the ensuing possessions. The Illini also turned the ball over on downs, with Minnesota getting a touchdown after taking over.
-- Does Minnesota need tackling lessons? Safety Duke McGhee was ejected in the first quarter due to a targeting penalty. This was the sixth time this season a Gophers player has been ejected, the fifth due to targeting. Linebacker Jack Lynn had to miss the first half of this game after getting tossed last week in the second half because of targeting.
-- Having KiAnte Hardin in the lineup makes a difference. Unable to play last week at home due to a restraining order (and his status for the next home game is still in doubt), Hardin had a 32-yard kick return in the first quarter, added a 20-yard punt return later and finished with five tackles, third on the team.
-- A heavy wind appeared to have an effect. Brian Smith dropped a high pass which looked to swirl in the wind, Ryan Santoso had a 10-yard punt and both teams muffed punts in which the returner came up to try and field the football.
-- Santoso had a great punt in the fourth quarter, pinning Illinois at the 4. On Illinois' first play from scrimmage, Demarius Travis pressured, forcing QB Jeff George Jr. to move up in the pocket, where he was then sacked in the end zone by Merrick Jackson for a safety.
-- Illinois went for it on fourth down three times, making one first down. However, that one conversion led to the touchdown which made it 21-14.
-- Minnesota dialed up the pressure late in the fourth quarter and George never had a chance. The Gophers nearly had a safety, forced two high throws and then George threw high into tight coverage on fourth-and-10 from the 10.
DULY NOTED
-- Minnesota scored 40 points against an FBS team for the first time since Oct. 10, 2015 at Purdue in a 41-13 win. The Gophers tallied 40 points despite having just 283 total yards.
-- The Gophers ran the ball 48 times and threw just 19 times. Minnesota's five rushing touchdowns were its most since the Gophers had six against San Jose State on Sept. 21, 2013.
-- Drew Wolitarsky caught a short pass over the middle and turned it into a 35-yard gain -- the longest reception of the season for Minnesota.
-- Minnesota had seven possessions starting in Illinois territory. In those seven ensuing drives, the Gophers had four touchdowns and a field goal.
-- Hendrick Ekpe forced a fumble, which was then recovered by his older brother Scott, who had two of Minnesota's fumble recoveries.
WHAT IT MEANT
With six wins, Minnesota is now eligible for a bowl game. The Gophers also have kept alive hopes for winning the Big Ten West, with the final three games taking on added importance if that goal is to be even possibly met.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
This might be getting old, but Minnesota likes to run the ball and Rodney Smith has been the main benefactor. Smith had a game-high 20 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 10 on the season. Only one other Gophers running back has reached 10 rushing TDs in a season since 2007, David Cobb, who had 13 in 2014. Smith also now has three consecutive 100-yard rushing games, the first Minnesota player to accomplish that since Cobb had four straight in 2013.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME
In a 40-17 win you might not think there were big defensive plays, but this game wasn't always a blowout. That was thanks in part to Jonathan Celestin, who had two big quarterback pressures on third-down plays, forcing Illinois quarterback Jeff George Jr. into errant throws. Along with the two QB hurries, Celestin had four tackles, including a tackle for loss.
THAT MOMENT
Illinois was threatening to make it a game, closing within 21-14 late in the third quarter, when Minnesota went on its best drive of the game, 70 yards on 12 plays culminating in a Shannon Brooks touchdown. The Gophers converted three downs on the drive: Smith ran for 13 on third-and-3, Nate Wozniak made a nice grab on a low throw on third-and-5 and Smith ran for 6 on third-and-2 with a late hit on Illinois putting the ball at the Illini 13, setting up the TD.
THIS NUMBER
245 -- total yards for Illinois. This is the fewest yards allowed by Minnesota in a Big Ten game since Nov. 8, 2014, against Iowa. It marks the fewest yards allowed in a Big Ten road game since Sept. 27, 2014, at Michigan.
THEY SAID IT
"They're two good backs. I don't know if anybody has any combination of them between the two of them. I think if you're gonna go down, you're gonna go down with your best." -- head coach Tracy Claeys on Smith and Brooks.
"It's a mindset. Try to be as physical as you can, make someone miss. Definitely a mindset." -- running back Rodney Smith, on Minnesota's success in the red zone.
"We had to bring as much juice as we could." -- linebacker Jonathan Celestin, on playing on the road.
WHAT'S NEXT
Minnesota returns to TCF Bank Stadium for its penultimate home game, hosting Purdue. The 3-5 Boilermakers have lost both games under interim head coach Gerad Parker, who took over for the fired Darrell Hazell.
Dave Heller is the author of the upcoming book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams Players from the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns
