The Minnesota Golden Gophers have extended their lead over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Senior Day at TCF Bank Stadium.
After the Gophers' defense once again forced the Illini into a three-and-out, they started out in Illinois territory at the 46-yard line. It took just seven plays from there, as MarQueis Gray got into a bit of a groove passing the football, finding Da'Jon McKnight for gains of 16 and 11 yards to move the ball inside the Illinois red zone. On a 3rd-and-5 play from the Illinois' 8-yard line, Gray faked a handoff, rolled out to the right and, when it looked like he was going to run, flipped one to a wide open John Rabe in the end zone. The replay confirmed that it was an 8-yard touchdown pass, and the Jordan Wettstein extra point made it 14-0, Minnesota.
The Gopher defense continues to be impressive, as they've already set a season high with four sacks on the day, and we're not even to halftime. In fact, the Illinois offense, with seven minutes remaining in the first half, has minus-one yards of total offense to their name, and have yet to pick up a first down.
With seven minutes left in the first half at TCF Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Illinois Fighting Illini, 14-0.