University of Minnesota Athletics

GOLDEN GOPHERS RUN OVER RAGIN' CAJUNS IN HOME OPENER

9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football

Marion Barber III, starting for the first time in his career, rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns to lead Minnesota to its seventh straight home opening win. The Golden Gophers got on the board first with a 43-yard field goal by Dan Nystrom with 8:30 left in the first quarter. Minnesota quickly scored again with 10:52 remaining in the second quarter when Barber scampered nine yards for his first career touchdown. The score capped a seven-play, 43-yard drive and put Minnesota ahead 17-0. On the Golden Gophers' next possession, Barber capped an 11-play, 73-yard drive that included a reception by senior wide receiver Ron Johnson. The catch marked the 37th straight game Johnson has a reception, the longest streak in the nation. Louisiana-Lafayette got on the scoreboard with 2:58 left in the half when Ricky Calais picked off a Travis Cole pass and rambled 20 yards for a touchdown to narrow the Minnesota lead to 17-7. Minnesota quickly extended its lead before the intermission with an eight-play, 45-yard drive that ended with a Nystrom 46-yard field goal to put Minnesota up 20-7 at the half.

Asad Abdul-Khaliq to Antoine Henderson. It was Henderson's first receiving touchdown since the 1999 season. The Ragin' Cajuns posted their longest drive of the day to start the fourth quarter. Jon Van Cleave tossed a 5-yard TD pass to Andre George to cap an 11-play, 36-yard drive to make the score 30-14. Minnesota ended the game with two more touchdowns. Ron Johnson tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Abdul-Khaliq on a reverse and Terry Jackson scampered four yards for his first career score.

Barber ended the day with 173 yards on 26 carries while Tellis Redmon added 95 yards on 14 carries. The Golden Gophers were dominant on the offensive line, rushing for 331 yards and racking up 533 yards of total offense and 31 first downs. Louisiana-Lafayette had just 156 yards of total offense and only 60 yards rushing. Cole ended the day 10-of-21 for 107 yards while Abdul Khaliq connected on 4-of-6 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. Kyries Hebert had an outstanding day for the Cajuns on defense with 20 tackles, 10 of which were solos. The Golden Gophers host Baylor next Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Metrodome.

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