MINNEAPOLIS — After Minnesota's season-opening win over UNLV last Thursday, Gophers senior quarterback MarQueis Gray was beating himself up over numerous overthrown passes. He knew he and the Gophers' offense left plenty of points on the field.
Those overthrows didn't happen Saturday against New Hampshire. In fact, Gray wasn't asked to throw much at all — he finished with six completions on just eight attempts for 100 yards. But Gray was efficient on offense as he led Minnesota to a 44-7 rout over the visiting Wildcats, improving the Gophers to 2-0 on the season.
Although he didn't throw much, Gray was effective when he did. Twice, the Gophers had one-play scoring drives. The first came in the first quarter after a big kick return by Troy Stoudermire gave Minnesota the ball on the New Hampshire 27-yardline. On the very first play of the drive, Gray found a wide-open Isaac Fruechte, who waltzed into the end zone for the Gophers' first touchdown of the game.
It was that type of play that a week ago that Gray may not have made. He was overanxious in Las Vegas and had trouble hitting open targets.
Those nerves were calm on Saturday.
"Last week, if I would have made those throws, we wouldn't have went into overtime," Gray said. "I was down after that game, but we won the game. That's all that matters. I knew I was able to make those throws."
Like he did against UNLV, Gray connected with tight end John Rabe for another touchdown. It was the tandem of Gray and Rabe that hooked up twice for touchdowns in overtime to boost Minnesota to a triple-overtime win. Saturday, Gray hit Rabe on back-to-back plays of an impressive drive, including a 33-yarder that brought the ball to the UNH 2-yard line.
On that play, Gray hung in the pocket and avoided pressure while all the while maintaining his focus downfield. He was able to stay poised and see his open tight end.
"MarQueis seemed like MarQueis today," said Gophers running back Donnell Kirkwood, who ran for 70 yards and a touchdown Saturday. "Just a good player. He played like himself. He played like he was in practice. That was a good thing."
One play Gray hit Rabe for the long pass downfield, he again found Rabe for a two-yard score and a 23-7 Minnesota edge in the second quarter.
After making just four receptions all last year as a junior, Rabe now has five catches just two games into his senior season — three of those have resulted in touchdowns. He's quickly turning into a go-to target for Gray.
"I think everyone on the offense looked a lot more comfortable," Rabe said. "Just the nerves from UNLV, maybe everyone was a little excited. Now, obviously we were excited to play at home. We were all calmer, I think, and we were able to execute."
But Gray didn't have to do all that much with his arm. In fact, he racked up more yardage with his legs, gaining 109 yards on 17 carries. Much of that, however, came on one play.
After New Hampshire found the end zone to make it a 9-7 Gophers lead, Gray responding on the opening play of Minnesota's ensuing drive by breaking off the longest run of his career. Gray faked a handoff to K.J. Maye and scampered up the middle. With plenty of room to run, Gray broke free all the way to the end zone for a 75-yard score. It was the longest play of Gray's career, either passing or rushing.
"He certainly made some big plays," Gophers coach Jerry Kill said. "… He did good things with his feet. I think he felt better about it."
On several runs, Gray used every bit of his 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame to his advantage, bowling over Wildcats defenders and stiff-arming would-be tacklers to gain extra yardage.
He was elusive on his 75-yard touchdown run, but Gray also delivered some physicality.
"He is a big guy that can run with the football, and you saw that today," said New Hampshire defensive end Cody Muller.
Earlier this week, Minnesota offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover was asked if the Gophers would try to limit the number of carries Gray had each game so as not to wear him down from the beating his body would take. Limegrover said the coaching staff wouldn't put any type of Stephen Strasburg-type limit on Gray, alluding to the Washington Nationals pitcher.
Fittingly, on the day the Nationals announced Strasburg would be shut down for the season because of an innings limit, Gray ran the ball 17 times — tied for the most on the team Saturday and matching his 17 carries in last week's win over UNLV.
When Gray breaks off big runs like he did on his 75-yard scamper, it's hard to see the benefit in limiting the senior's ability to run.
"I knew we were going to run the ball," Gray said. "But to only throw the ball eight times, I had no idea. … We just had a great game and everybody played good, yet we still have some things to work on."
Added Kill: "He certainly did a lot of things better than he did the week before. That's what we expect out of everybody, not just MarQueis."
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