Minnesota 44, New Hampshire 7
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 8, 2012
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Temperature:
62°
Head Official:
Alex Kemp
Attendance:
47022
By SportsDirect Inc.
Minnesota 44, New Hampshire 7: Senior quarterback MarQueis Gray rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for a pair of scores as Minnesota routed New Hampshire in the Golden Gophers' home opener.
After New Hampshire (1-1) pulled to within 9-7 late in the first quarter, Gray raced 75 yards up the middle for a touchdown to ignite the Gophers, who scored the game's final 35 points. Minnesota led 30-7 at halftime and was never threatened.
Gray, who accounted for 337 yards of total offense in the season-opening win at UNLV last week, completed 6 of 8 passes for 100 yards and found Isaac Fruechte in the first quarter and John Rabe in the second for scores.
The Wildcats suffered a big loss early as starting quarterback Sean Goldrich sustained a shoulder injury on the third play of the game and did not return. Backup Andy Vailas completed 18 of 34 passes for 158 yards, but the offense was held to only 231 yards by the Minnesota defense.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gray's 75-yard TD run was the longest by a Minnesota player since 2005. ... Minnesota won its home opener for the first time since 2009 and snapped a two-game losing streak to FCS opponents. ... South Dakota and North Dakota State had beaten the Gophers the past two seasons. ... New Hampshire has lost three straight to FBS foes, but has won five games against FBS teams since 2004. ... Minnesota is off to its first 2-0 start since 2009.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
| New Hampshire |
|
Minnesota |
|
Nico Steriti
|
Player |
MarQueis Gray
|
|
6 |
Attempts |
17 |
|
34 |
Yards |
109 |
|
5.7 |
Avg Yards |
6.4 |
|
0 |
Touchdowns |
2 |
|
0 |
Long |
0 |
Receiving
| New Hampshire |
|
Minnesota |
|
R.J. Harris
| Player |
Isaac Fruechte
|
|
6 |
Receptions |
2 |
|
61 |
Yards |
53 |
|
10.2 |
Avg Yards |
26.5 |
|
0 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
|
0 |
Long |
0 |
Team Stats Summary
| |
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
| Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
| New Hampshire
|
231 |
68 |
163 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3.0 |
1 |
| Minnesota
|
412 |
240 |
172 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
4.0 |
1 |