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University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, April 25
University of Minnesota
vs
2026 Minnesota Spring Game
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Photo by: Alec Mahan
Gold Beats Maroon, 31-7, in Spring Game
4/25/2026 2:31:00 PM | Football
Gold Team throws for three touchdowns
MINNEAPOLIS — The Gold Team used a balanced passing attack to post a 31-7 victory against the Maroon Team in the spring game on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Quarterbacks Owen Lansu and Michael Merdinger orchestrated a Gold offense that racked up 285 total yards. Lansu completed 5-of-7 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Merdinger added two touchdowns through the air.
The Gold defense set the tone early, stifling the Maroon ground game and holding them to just seven yards on 12 attempts. Linebacker Nate Cleveland led the way for Gold with 10 total tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss.
Gold jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind a 1-yard touchdown run from Grant Washington and a 51-yard field goal by Daniel Jackson. Maroon responded in the second quarter when Max Shikenjanski connected with Javon Tracy for a three-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 10-7 heading into halftime.
The second half belonged to Gold. Merdinger threw a seven-yard touchdown to Zion Steptoe to push the score to 17-7. The Gold aerial assault continued in the fourth as Hayden Moore hauled in a 50-yard strike from Lansu, and Perry Thompson capped the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown reception from Merdinger.
Noah Jennings was the top target for the Gold, hauling in two receptions for 84 yards, including a game-long 74-yard catch from Drake Lindsey in the first quarter.
Shikenjanski finished the day 20-of-26 passing for 181 yards for Maroon. Jalen Smith led all receivers in the contest with five catches for 57 yards.
The Sid Hartman Spring Game MVPs were all from Team Gold and were Karter Menz ( 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss), Noah Jennings (2 catches for 84 yards) and Zion Steptoe (2 catches for 35 yards and one touchdown).
Quarterbacks Owen Lansu and Michael Merdinger orchestrated a Gold offense that racked up 285 total yards. Lansu completed 5-of-7 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Merdinger added two touchdowns through the air.
The Gold defense set the tone early, stifling the Maroon ground game and holding them to just seven yards on 12 attempts. Linebacker Nate Cleveland led the way for Gold with 10 total tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss.
Gold jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind a 1-yard touchdown run from Grant Washington and a 51-yard field goal by Daniel Jackson. Maroon responded in the second quarter when Max Shikenjanski connected with Javon Tracy for a three-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 10-7 heading into halftime.
The second half belonged to Gold. Merdinger threw a seven-yard touchdown to Zion Steptoe to push the score to 17-7. The Gold aerial assault continued in the fourth as Hayden Moore hauled in a 50-yard strike from Lansu, and Perry Thompson capped the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown reception from Merdinger.
Noah Jennings was the top target for the Gold, hauling in two receptions for 84 yards, including a game-long 74-yard catch from Drake Lindsey in the first quarter.
Shikenjanski finished the day 20-of-26 passing for 181 yards for Maroon. Jalen Smith led all receivers in the contest with five catches for 57 yards.
The Sid Hartman Spring Game MVPs were all from Team Gold and were Karter Menz ( 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss), Noah Jennings (2 catches for 84 yards) and Zion Steptoe (2 catches for 35 yards and one touchdown).
BTN's Mike Hall Visits the Team
Thursday, April 23
Film Room: Darius Taylor
Sunday, April 12
Keep Stacking Days | Spring Football
Wednesday, April 08
Coach Fleck Spring Update
Tuesday, April 07