Gophers meet goals in 59-7 blowout win over Eastern Illinois
· Yahoo Sports
When lower-level directional schools appear on their nonconference schedule, the Gophers’ objectives should shift drastically.
In Thursday’s season opener, Minnesota — a 42-point favorite — needed to steamroll Eastern Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium, and do so with crisp execution in all three phases while suffering minimal injuries.
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Check, check, check.
The Gophers outclassed Eastern Illinois 59-7 and can turn the page from, effectively, a preseason game against an FCS level team to a stiffer Southeastern Conference foe in Mississippi State coming north on Sept. 12.
Darius Taylor scored three touchdowns in the first half, Javon Tracy returned two punts for scores and the U defense limited the Panthers to 113 total yards.
Tracy’s two punt-return scores — 87 yards in the first half and 67 to start the second — made him the first Gopher and fourth player in Big Ten history to have multiple punt return TDs in the same game.
Tracy’s pair of TDs made it a great debut for new special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato. Tracy, who added 98 yards on five catches, was not even touched on his two scores.
Taylor, who missed three games with injury last season, had 14 carries for 56 yards and three receptions for 31 yards before resting in the second half. He became the second Gophers running back to eclipse 100 receptions, joining Chuck Rios’ 132 from 1990-94.
“(Taylor is) one of the best players in the country when healthy,” head coach P.J. Fleck said at halftime on Peacock.
Fleck was then able to bring in second-stringers at the end of the third quarter, cutting down further on injury risks.
But it wasn’t perfect.
The U’s offense was forced to punt on the opening drive, a continuation of the slow starts that plagued games last season.
Minnesota’s defense had a series of blown coverages and linebacker Matt Kingsbury dropped two interceptions on the Panthers’ lone touchdown drive of the first half.
And Elon transfer running back TJ Thomas Jr. fumbled in the second half, but he came back out for the next series.
The Gophers (1-0) will have an extra day to prepare for Mississippi State, which opens the season Friday against Louisiana-Monroe. The U hasn’t hosted an SEC team since Vanderbilt in 1959.
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