SB Nation Minnesota - Redhawks At Gophers: Gray's Record Day Paces Gophers To Victoryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-09-18T11:30:51-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21951892011-09-18T11:30:51-05:002011-09-18T11:30:51-05:00Redhawks At Gophers: Gray Breaks 50-Year Old Mark In Minnesota Victory
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<p>It wasn't always pretty, and it was more exciting than it may have needed to be at the end of the day, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> got their first victory of the 2011 season on Saturday afternoon, holding off a very game squad from the University of Miami (Ohio) by a final score of 29-23 at TCF Bank Stadium.</p>
<p>It looked like it might be more of the same for the Gophers early on, as Redhawks' quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36690/zac-dysert">Zac Dysert</a> hit receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116672/nick-harwell">Nick Harwell</a> for a 66-yard gain on Miami (Ohio)'s third play from scrimmage, moving the ball down to the Gophers' 9-yard line. However, the Gopher defense stiffened up, and the Redhawks had to settle for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Minnesota came up with a big play of their own on their first drive, as MarQueis Gray hit Malcolm Mouton with a swing pass on Minnesota's second play for a 55-yard gain down to the Redhawks' 25. The drive stalled, however, and the Gophers also had to settle for a field goal, tying the game at three.</p>
<p>The Gopher defense continued to impress, forcing the Redhawks to go three-and-out on three consecutive drives, yielding a total of just 11 yards in those three Miami (Ohio) possessions. In a drive that stretched from the first quarter into the second, redshirt freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113967/donnell-kirkwood">Donnell Kirkwood</a> capped off a ten-play, 80-yard drive with his first career touchdown, a rushing score from four yards out to make the score 10-3 in favor of Minnesota.</p>
<p>The Gophers would get another Chris Hawthorne field goal on their next drive to extend the lead to 13-3, and an interception by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36839/troy-stoudermire">Troy Stoudermire</a> thwarted the Redhawks' next drive. The Gophers could do nothing with it, however, and the Redhawks got the ball back, getting a big completion from Dysert to Chris Givens for a 31-yard gain to put the Redhawks deep into Minnesota territory. Miami (Ohio) got a huge fourth down conversion on a 4th-and-1 at the Minnesota 5-yard line, and a couple of plays later <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/88082/erik-finklea">Erik Finklea</a> powered into the end zone from a yard out to make the score 13-10 going into the locker room.</p>
<p>Minnesota turned their first drive of the second half into another Hawthorne field goal to make the score 16-10, but the Redhawks answered back, marching 77 yards for a score. Dysert and Harwell were the key components again, as they connected for a 32-yard gain to move the Redhawks inside the Minnesota 10-yard line. Two plays later, Dysert hit Givens for a 7-yard score to tie the game at 16. The Redhawks then proceeded to botch the snap on the extra point attempt, and the game remained tied.</p>
<p>The Redhawks put the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, and that's when the MarQueis Gray show kicked into high gear. Gray was almost completely responsible for the first 55 yards of the drive, with 47 of them coming on the ground and 8 coming on a completion to Da'Jon McKnight. With the Gophers at the Miami (Ohio) 5-yard line, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7017/duane-bennett">Duane Bennett</a> picked up three yards on first and goal to move Minnesota to the 2, and Kirkwood picked up another yard. On third and goal and the Gophers in a "stacked-I" formation (with two blocking backs in front of Kirkwood), Gray faked a handoff to Kirkwood and hit tight end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/132000/john-rabe">John Rabe</a> in the end zone for a touchdown and a 23-16 Minnesota lead.</p>
<p>After the two teams exchanged punts, the Gophers' special teams came up huge. The Redhawks were punting away from their own 30-yard line, and Bennett got a free release towards Redhawks' punter Zac Murphy. Bennett blocked the punt, sending it high into the air, and the Gophers waited for it to come down. It went off the hands of another Gopher player and into Bennett's hands, who walked into the end zone for the score. It was the first blocked punt for the Gophers since their game against Illinois on November 7, 2009. . .a block that also went for a touchdown. Unfortunately, Hawthorne missed the extra point, making the lead 29-16 in favor of the Gophers.</p>
<p>The Redhawks wasted no time in answering, however, going 80 yards in 8 plays in just 2:34 on the ensuing possession. Dysert was 6-for-8 on the drive, eventually hitting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135742/dawan-scott">Dawan Scott</a> for a 26-yard touchdown pass to slice the Minnesota lead to 29-23.</p>
<p>The Gophers next. . .and final. . .possession was interesting. Starting at their own 33 with just a shade under eight minutes to play, Minnesota took nearly five minutes off the clock, but eventually faced a 4th-and-9 from the Miami (Ohio) 34-yard line. Gray took a shotgun snap and looked to pass, but didn't have much of a chance in the face of the Redhawks' pass rush. Though he did manage to throw the ball away, the Gophers turned it over on downs, and gave Miami (Ohio) a chance to steal the victory with 2:58 remaining.</p>
<p>Dysert, who was under relentless pressure from the Gophers' pass rush on the entire final drive, managed to move the Redhawks downfield. Miami (Ohio) got to the Minnesota 20-yard line, but on a fourth down play with time running out, Dysert tried to hit Givens in double coverage in the end zone, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7510/kim-royston">Kim Royston</a> broke up the pass to preserve the victory for Minnesota.</p>
<p>Gray had a record day for the Gophers running the football, as he broke the record set by the legendary Sandy Stephens on October 28, 1961 for the most rushing yards for a quarterback in a single game. Stephens' old record was 160 yards, and Gray finished the day with 171 yards on 25 carries. Gray also generated 163 yards and a touchdown through the air. . .and, more importantly, he and the rest of the Gophers did not turn the ball over once against the Redhawks.</p>
<p>The win was the first as Gophers' coach for Jerry Kill, who suffered a seizure a week ago on this same field in Minnesota's loss to New Mexico State.</p>
<p>The Gophers will resume play next weekend at TCF Bank Stadium, as they will host the North Dakota State University Bison.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/18/2433154/redhawks-at-gophers-gray-breaks-50-year-old-mark-in-minnesota-victoryChristopher Gates2011-09-17T17:50:59-05:002011-09-17T17:50:59-05:00Redhawks At Gophers: Minnesota Holds Off Rally To Win, 29-23
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> certainly didn't make things easy on themselves, but they did manage to hold off a furious, last-minute rally by the Miami (Ohio) University Redhawks on Saturday afternoon to get Jerry Kill his first win as the head coach of the Gophers by a final score of 29-23.</p>
<p>The last few minutes saw some pretty crazy action, to say the least. The Gophers failed on a 4th-and-9 attempt from the Miami (Ohio) 34-yard line late in the game, giving the Redhawks the ball with good field position. From there, junior quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36690/zac-dysert">Zac Dysert</a> moved the Redhawks down the field, converting a big 4th-and-10 play to keep the Redhawks' final drive alive. However, on Miami's final offensive play, Dysert attempted to force one to Chris Givens in double coverage, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7510/kim-royston">Kim Royston</a> broke up the pass to preserve the Minnesota victory.</p>
<p>We'll have a more in-depth recap of this one later on, but for now, the Gophers have emerged with their first victory of the 2011 season in a thriller over the Miami (Ohio) University Redhawks by a final score of 29-23.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/17/2431948/redhawks-at-gophers-minnesota-holds-off-rally-to-win-29-23Christopher Gates2011-09-17T17:38:45-05:002011-09-17T17:38:45-05:00MarQueis Gray Sets Minnesota Golden Gophers' Single-Game QB Rushing Record
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<p>With a 7-yard gain in the fourth quarter of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a>' game against the Miami (Ohio) University Redhawks, Minnesota quarterback MarQueis Gray has broken a 50-year old Gophers' record.</p>
<p>The carry gave Gray 162 yards on the afternoon, which is the most that any Gopher quarterback has ever rushed for in a single game. The previous record was set by legendary Gopher quarterback Sandy Stephens in a game against the University of Michigan on October 28, 1961.</p>
<p>Hopefully Gray won't lose any yardage from here on out and, potentially, lose the record. More importantly, hopefully he can continue having an impressive afternoon for the Gophers. At the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the Gophers lead the Redhawks by a score of 29-23 at TCF Bank Stadium. The team is looking to give Jerry Kill his first victory as the Minnesota head coach, and get themselves into the W column after an 0-2 start.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/17/2431939/marqueis-gray-sets-minnesota-golden-gophers-single-game-qb-rushingChristopher Gates2011-09-17T17:29:35-05:002011-09-17T17:29:35-05:00Redhawks At Gophers: Miami (Ohio) Strikes Back To Make It 29-23
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<p>The Miami (Ohio) University Redhawks needed to make something happen to get back into the game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a>, and they did just that after giving up a blocked punt for a touchdown by getting a touchdown of their own.</p>
<p>Redhawks' quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36690/zac-dysert">Zac Dysert</a> went to work after the Redhawks retook possession of the ball, hitting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135742/dawan-scott">Dawan Scott</a> for a 22-yard gain on the first play of the drive. On a big 3rd-and-4, Dysert hit <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116672/nick-harwell">Nick Harwell</a> for six yards to keep the drive alive for Miami (Ohio). After a 19-yard completion to Harwell put the Redhawks, Dysert then found Scott again for a 26-yard touchdown strike. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116698/mason-krysinski">Mason Krysinski</a> converted the extra point, and the Golden Gophers' lead was back down to six at 29-23.</p>
<p>The Gophers have retaken possession and are currently at their own 42-yard line, looking at 2nd-and-2 with around seven minutes left in the game.</p>
<p>Can the Gophers get their first win of 2011? Keep it right here to find out!</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/17/2431915/redhawks-at-gophers-miami-ohio-strikes-back-to-make-it-29-23Christopher Gates2011-09-17T17:22:33-05:002011-09-17T17:22:33-05:00Redhawks At Gophers: Special Teams Gives Minnesota A 29-16 Lead
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a>' defense forced another three-and-out against the Miami (Ohio) University Redhawks, and the special teams came through in a huge way.</p>
<p>The Redhawks lined up to punt, and senior running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7017/duane-bennett">Duane Bennett</a> charged Redhawks' punter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/88096/zac-murphy">Zac Murphy</a> completely untouched. Bennett got to Murphy and blocked the punt, causing it to go high into the air. The ball actually caromed off of the hands of another Gopher that was waiting for it to come down, and into the waiting hands of Bennett at the Redhawks' 2-yard line. Bennett walked into the end zone from there, and gave the Gophers a 29-16 lead.</p>
<p>The play was the first blocked punt for a touchdown that the Gophers have gotten since they accomplished the feat against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> back in 2009.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Chris Hawthorne was unable to convert the PAT, and the score now sits at 29-16 in favor of the Golden Gophers.</p>
<p>The Redhawks have taken the ensuing kickoff and have moved close to midfield with just under ten minutes remaining, trailing the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a score of 29-16.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/17/2431900/redhawks-at-gophers-special-teams-gives-minnesota-a-29-16-leadChristopher Gates2011-09-17T17:13:31-05:002011-09-17T17:13:31-05:00MarQueis Gray Sets Mark With Second Straight 100-Yard Game
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a>' quarterback MarQueis Gray has been a machine this afternoon against the Redhawks of Miami (Ohio) University. With approximately 12 minutes remaining in the football game, he has rushed the ball 20 times for 155 yards, and also generated 155 yards and a touchdown through the air.</p>↵<p>The rushing yards are what we're the most interested in, however, as the Gophers Athletic Department has let us know via the magic of Twitter that Gray is the first Gophers' quarterback since Billy Cockerham in 1999 to rush for 100 or more yards in two consecutive games. Gray is also on the verge of setting the Gophers' single-game rushing yardage mark for a quarterback, which is currently held by Gopher legend Sandy Stephens. Stephens ran for 160 yards in a game against the Michigan Wolverines on October 28, 1961.</p>↵<p>While Gray has had a great game thus far, he's going to have to pull out a little bit more out of the hat, from the looks of it. The Gophers currently lead the Redhawks 23-16 at TCF Bank Stadium as the fourth quarter winds down. The Gophers are looking for the first win of the Jerry Kill Era after an 0-2 start.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/17/2431886/marqueis-gray-sets-mark-with-second-straight-100-yard-gameChristopher Gates2011-09-17T17:02:40-05:002011-09-17T17:02:40-05:00Redhawks At Gophers: Minnesota Retakes The Lead, 23-16
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> were on the doorstep again when the third quarter finished, and two plays into the fourth quarter, they had put their second touchdown of the day on the board.</p>
<p>The Gophers went out of a "stacked-I" formation on both of their plays after the quarter break, meaning that they had two blocking backs in a straight line in front of tailback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113967/donnell-kirkwood">Donnell Kirkwood</a>. On the first play, Kirkwood was stopped after a 1-yard gain to move the ball down to the 1-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Marqueis Gray faked the handoff to Kirkwood, and hit tight end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/132000/john-rabe">John Rabe</a> for the 1-yard touchdown reception.</p>
<p>The scoring drive for the Gophers moved 60 yards in 12 plays, taking 6:01 off of the clock. The touchdown pass to Rabe was one of only two completed passes on the drive. . .the rest of the yardage came on the ground. The catch for Rabe was his first catch as a Gopher.</p>
<p>With 14:23 left in the ball game, the Minnesota Golden Gophers lead the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks by a score of 23-16.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/17/2431872/redhawks-at-gophers-minnesota-retakes-the-lead-23-16Christopher Gates2011-09-17T16:57:48-05:002011-09-17T16:57:48-05:00Redhawks At Gophers: Gophers On The Doorstep As Third Quarter Ends
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a> are on the verge of another touchdown as we move to the fourth quarter of play at TCF Bank Stadium.</p>
<p>After the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks tied things up at 16 on their last drive, the Gophers got good field position when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116698/mason-krysinski">Mason Krysinski</a> put the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, giving the Gophers the ball at the 40-yard line. From there, the MarQueis Gray show continued, as he carried for 14 yards and moved the Gophers into Redhawks' territory. In fact, Gray has accounted for nearly all 55 yards that the Gophers have gained on this drive, and all of it has come on the ground. He has attempted two passes. One of them went incomplete, while the other one was caught by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36834/da-jon-mcknight">Da'Jon McKnight</a> for an 8-yard gain. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113967/donnell-kirkwood">Donnell Kirkwood</a> has had two carries on the drive, both of which were stuffed for no gain.</p>
<p>The Gophers are now looking at a second and goal from the Miami (OH) 2-yard line as we start the fourth quarter. Our score is tied at 16.</p>
<p>Keep it right here to see if the Gophers can get the first win of the Jerry Kill Era this afternoon.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-golden-gophers/2011/9/17/2431864/redhawks-at-gophers-gophers-on-the-doorstep-as-third-quarter-endsChristopher Gates