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University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
10/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Oct. 22, 2016
TCF Bank Stadium
Rutgers at Minnesota
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Today's game marked the first-ever meeting between Minnesota and Rutgers on the football field. Minnesota first fielded a team in 1882, while Rutgers has been playing football since 1869. Between the two, these teams had played 2,545 games (Rutgers - 1,321, Minnesota - 1,224) prior to today's contest, but had not competed against each other.
• Minnesota played its 98th Homecoming game today, and the Gophers now stand at 58-37-3 in those contests. Rutgers became the 16th all-time Homecoming opponent for the Gophers.
• Tracy Claeys improved to 7-6 since taking over the head coaching duties eight games into the 2015 season.
• Minnesota won the coin toss and chose to receive. Rutgers elected to defend the east end zone.
• The Gophers improved to 2-5 under Tracy Claeys when winning the coin toss, including 2-1 this season.
• Entering today's game, Minnesota had scored a total of 24 points in the first quarter this season. The 21 first-quarter points scored against Rutgers marks the most points in an opening quarter since also scoring 21 against Indiana on Nov. 4, 2006 (the Gophers also had 21 fourth-quarter points in that game). Minnesota scored 28 points in the third quarter at Purdue on Oct. 10, 2015.
• The Gophers scored seven points off of Rutgers turnovers this afternoon. Through seven games, Minnesota has tallied 52 points off opponents' turnovers, while allowing only 16 points off its own turnovers.
• Minnesota rushed for three TDs against Rutgers, increasing its season total to 18. Last season, Minnesota had 17 TDs via the rush.
• The Gophers finished with 243 rushing yards, marking the fifth time they've recorded 200 or more yards on the ground this season.
• Minnesota has scored 26 or more points in six of seven games this season, including 30 or more in five games.
• Today's Homecoming attendance was 46,096. Minnesota is averaging 46,101 per game through five home games.
• Rutgers is the first Big Ten team to score a first-half touchdown against Minnesota this season.
• Minnesota moved to 5-2 at home since 2012 when wearing today's uniform combo - Maroon helmet, Maroon jersey and Gold pants.
• The Gophers were 4-for-6 on Red Zone possessions. Through seven games, Minnesota is 26-for-31 in the Red Zone, with touchdowns on 20 possessions.
• Minnesota scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the second time this season. The Gophers also scored a TD on their opening drive against Indiana State.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Mitch Leidner returned to the starting lineup after missing the Maryland game with a concussion. For the game, Leidner completed 11-of-18 passes for 156 yards, while rushing seven times for 39 yards and his 27th career TD.
• Drew Wolitarsky finished with five receptions for 50 yards. Wolitarsky now has a reception in 20 consecutive games, which ranks 10th on Minnesota's all-time list.
• Wolitarsky's five catches in today's game give him 101 receptions for his career. He is the 14th Minnesota player to reach 100 or more receptions. He also moved up to 14th on Minnesota's career receiving yards list with 1,339.
• Rodney Smith led the Gophers with 22 carries for 111 yards and a TD. It was Smith's fifth career 100-yard rushing game. Smith now ranks 31st at Minnesota with 1,371 career rushing yards.
• Smith returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. It was his first career kickoff return for a TD, and marked Minnesota's first kickoff return for a TD since Jalen Myrick's 100-yarder versus Northwestern on Oct. 11, 2014.
• Smith had 257 all-purpose yards (111 rushing, 27 receiving, 119 kickoff returns), becoming the first Minnesota player with more than 200 all-purpose yards since David Cobb had 233 during a 30-14 win at Michigan on Sept. 27, 2014.
• Shannon Brooks has scored a touchdown in all five games he played this season - four via runs and one via reception. His rushing touchdown against Rutgers was his fourth this season (11th career).
• Brooks finished the game with 22 carries for 87 yards.
• Tyler Johnson and Brian Smith each had one catch for 34 yards, with both being career-long receptions.
• Jalen Myrick intercepted his first pass of the season (5th career). Myrick added four tackles (two solo).
• Jonathan Celestin recorded his second career sack, and now owns sacks in back-to-back games. He led the Gophers with 12 tackles (four solo).
• Hendrick Ekpe recorded career-highs with two sacks and three tackles for loss, while also forcing his first career fumble. He finished with six tackles (four solo), also a career-best total.
• Damarius Travis had eight tackles (six solo), while intercepting his second pass this season (fourth career).
• Duke McGhee registered nine tackles (five solo) to rank second on the team.
• Emmit Carpenter's game-winning field goal was the first of his career. He finished 2-of-3 on FG attempts, and has made 12-of-14 attempts this season.
