University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHERS DEFEAT ILLINOIS 37-7
10/16/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota led the entire game and the defense held the Fighting Illini to just seven points.
The Golden Gophers struck first when senior wide receiver Luke Leverson returned a punt for a 74-yard touchdown strike. Later in the first quarter, senior quarterback Billy Cockerham threw a six-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Jermaine Mays.
Freshman kicker Dan Nystrom would tack on three more points in the second quarter, connecting on a 26-yard field goal. Illinois did scored a touchdown late in the second quarter when quarterback Kurt Kittner threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Moorehead.
The second half was all Minnesota. Nystrom connected on a 24-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Senior running back Thomas Hamner ran in a 19- yard touchdown strike late in the third quarter to make the score 27-7.
In the fourth quarter, Nystrom hit a 20-yard field goal to increase the score to 30-7. Finally, with just a little over two minutes left in the game, senior running back Byron Evans scored on a three-yard run.
Senior running back Thomas Hamner collected a career-high 184 rushing yards on 32 carries and one touchdown. Senior quarterback Billy Cockerham also rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries and also completed nine- of-15 pass attempts for 95 yards and one touchdown.
Senior wide receiver Luke Leverson returned a punt in the first quarter for a career-high 74-yard touchdown run. Other notable performances include freshman kicker Dan Nystrom, who split the uprights from 26, 24 and 20 yards respectively. He also kicked four extra points.
Minnesota will host Ohio State Saturday at 11:10 a.m. at the Metrodome. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and also on WCCO Radio 830-AM.
