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University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Handle Illinois 31-10
10/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Golden Gophers took a 17-10 lead going into halftime when Thomas Tapeh plunged into the end zone from one yard out as time expired in the opening half. Tapeh's touchdown run capped a 16-play, 86-yard scoring drive.
Minnesota shut-out Illinois in the second half while adding 14 points of its own. Asad Abdul-Khaliq put the Golden Gophers ahead 24- 10 with an 11-yard scoring run, capping another impressive scoring drive of nine plays for 73 yards. Minnesota ended its scoring when Jermaine Mays blocked a punt for the second-straight game. Mays blocked Matt Minnes on the Illinois goal line and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, giving Minnesota a 31-10 edge.
Illinois got on the board first with a safety after Golden Gopher punter Preston Gruening couldn't handle the snap and kicked the ball out of the end zone. Minnesota took the lead 7-2 when Abdul-Khaliq connected with Aaron Hosack for a nine-yard touchdown play. The score capped a six-play, 84-yard drive. Dan Nystrom added a 23-yard field goal with 10:30 left in the second quarter to give Minnesota a 10-2 lead. The field goal gave Nystrom 58 for his career, surpassing Chip Lohmiller as the all-time career leader.
Illinois tied the game at 10-10 when Jon Beutjer connected with Walter Young on a 16-yard scoring play. Beutjer again connected with Young on a two-point conversion to knot the game.
Terry Jackson II led a Minnesota rushing game that went for 302 yards. Jackson had 159 yards on 16 carries, a career-high for the sophomore. Thomas Tapeh added 113 yards on 27 carries, marking the second time Tapeh topped the 100-yard mark. The Golden Gophers had two players go over 100 yards for the fifth time under Glen Mason.
Abdul-Khaliq finished 15-of-27 for 144 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Antoine Burns tied a career-high with six receptions for 62 yards.
Beutjer was 14-of-29 for 165 yards before being relieved by Dustin Ward. Ward finished 11-of-22 for 174 yards. Brandon Lloyd had 139 yards receiving on five receptions.
Minnesota hosts Northwestern for Homecoming next Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Metrodome.
Game Notes
Minnesota 31 (5-1, 1-1), Illinois 10 (1-5, 0-2)
Oct. 3, 2002
Attendance: 32,663
Minnesota now holds a 29-26-3 advantage all-time vs. Illinois. UI won last season's meeting, 25-14, in Champaign, Ill. The home team has won 10 of the past 13 meetings in a series that dates back to 1898. Minnesota has won three straight over Illinois at the Metrodome, and it is 18-10-2 all-time vs. the Orange and Blue at home. Minnesota is 4-3-1 vs. Illinois at the Metrodome. Glen Mason is 3-1 vs. Illinois while at Minnesota.
The Golden Gophers are 2-4 in Big Ten home openers under Mason. Minnesota is 10-10-1 in Big Ten home openers at the Metrodome.
Minnesota:
Cornerback Mike Lehan sat out tonight's game with an injury to his right leg. It was his first missed game as a Golden Gopher.
Minnesota gave up a safety for the first time since Oct. 20, 2001, vs. Michigan State.
Terry Jackson II's 59-yard run in the first quarter was the second-longest rush of his career and the second-longest rush for the Golden Gophers on the season. Jackson had a 71-yard run on Sept. 21 vs. Buffalo.
With his TD pass to Aaron Hosack in the first quarter, quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq has now had at least one passing touchdown in nine consecutive games, dating back to last season.
Nose guard Anthony Montgomery registered the first tackle of his career in the second quarter.
With his 11-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, Abdul-Khaliq registered the fourth game in his career with both a rushing and passing TD.
Jermaine Mays? blocked punt in the third quarter was his second in as many weeks and the third of his career.
Mays? blocked punt for a touchdown was Minnesota's first since Tellis Redmon returned a blocked punt 15 yards against UL Monroe on Sept. 11, 1999.
Defensive tackle Darrell Reid registered the first fumble recovery of his career in the third quarter.
With his career-high 159 yards on the ground, Jackson recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and of his career.
With Jackson's 159 yards and Thomas Tapeh's 113 yards, it marked the first time Minnesota has had two players with 100 yards rushing since Marion Barber III (158) and Tellis Redmon (126) each reached the century mark vs. Michigan State on Oct. 20, 2001.
This is the fifth time under Glen Mason that two Gophers have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. Minnesota has posted two 100-yard rushers in the same game 18 times in school history.
Thomas Tapeh registered the second 100-yard rushing game of his career. His first was Sept. 16, 2000 at Baylor.
Wide receiver Antoine Burns caught six passes to match his career high for receptions in a game. His had six catches vs. Wisconsin on Nov. 24, 2001.
In his career's first start, cornerback Ken Williams established a career high with three pass break-ups.
Placekicker Dan Nystrom broke Minnesota's school record for field goals made in a career. Nystrom now holds the record with 58 FGs in his career, passing Chip Lohmiller with 57 (1986-89).
Nystrom stands in a tie for third place with John Langeloh (Michigan St., 1987-90) in the Big Ten all-time record book for career kick scoring with 310 points. He needs 32 points to move into a tie for second place with Dan Stultz (Ohio St., 1997-00) at 342.
Nystrom stands in a tie for fifth place with Brian Gowens (Northwestern, 1995-98) in the Big Ten all-time record book for career field goals made with 58. He needs one FG to move into a tie for fourth with Dan Stultz (Ohio St., 1997-2000).
Nystrom stands in a tie for eighth place with David Freud (Indiana, 1976-78) and Travis Forney (Penn St.,1998-99) in the Big Ten all-time record book for consecutive extra points made with 65.
Minnesota has rushed for at least 200 yards and scored at least 30 points in five of six games this season.
Minnesota rushed for 300 yards-plus (302) for the first time since gaining 300 yards on the ground vs. Murray State on Oct. 27, 2001.
Minnesota's 5-1 start to the season is the school's best record through six games since the Golden Gophers began the 1999 season 5-1.
Illinois
Illinois? 1-5 start is the school's worst record through six games since going winless (0-11) in 1997.
Illinois? safety in the first quarter was its first since Oct. 21, 2000, at Northwestern.
Minnesota's snapped punt for a safety was UI's third special teams score of the year (Wilson 70-yard punt return for TD; Brian Brosnan blocked punt returned for TD).
Eugene Wilson's interception in the second quarter was the first of the season for both Illinois and Wilson. It was the 11th INT of his career which moves him into sixth on the all-time list, tying Red Grange and Henry Jones.
Brandon Lloyd recorded his fourth 100-yard game of the season and 11th of his career. He now needs six more this season to tie David Williams? 16-game record.
Matt Minnes had a career-high nine punts on the day.
Antoineo Harris rushed for 47 yards to move into the top-10 in career rushing at Illinois. He improves to ninth on the school list.
Head Coach Ron Turner is 2-3 vs. Minnesota.
Minnesota Quotes
Minnesota 31 (5-1, 1-1), Illinois 10 (1-5, 0-2)
Minnesota Head Coach Glen Mason
"Needless to say, I'm pleased. You always ask after a loss, how you expect the players to react. I think we did fairly well. I'm pleased with how our guys overcame adversity after the muffed punt. I was very happy we got the touchdown before the half because it gave us that extra boost."
On Terry Jackson III
"Jackson was the best back ready to play. Everybody was talking about Marion Barber and Thomas Tapeh, but Terry was never mentioned anywhere. But those other guys got injured and Terry rose to the occasion. He's paid his dues and now he's doing a great job at back."
On the Offense
"We aren't an option offense. So, really I don't care whose running just as long they are getting the job done. Three hundred yards is nice but it's even better when you get four hundred. I can't complain though, our guys are doing a great job. I wasn't pleased with how our offense worked last week, but I am ecstatic right now.
On Kenny Williams
"The true stories are the ones about the guys who are actually playing one of those guys being Williams. We have always been high on Kenny Williams. He has performed outstanding for a redshirt freshman. He just needed the experience and he got that today."
On Quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq
"His performance today was real gutty. We never thought he'd play the way he did today. He wasn't happy with how he did last week, but he really recovered today. He is hurting right now, but we have one week to get him ready again."
Minnesota Player Quotes
Bradley Vance (Linebacker)
"I think one of the key points of the game was getting key turnovers in the red zone. We had been emphasizing power in the red zone all week in practice, and this was more like a practice for us. We just had to go out there and do what we could."
On next week's game against Northwestern:
"We're looking forward to Northwestern. We thought we should have gone out there and got that one last year. So, we're really looking forward to it this time."
On the overall game:
"This game I think could've gone either way. I think last year they were a lot more physical. So we knew we had to come out and be very physical. I think we tried out best and worked hard out there. We came in really prepared and that will help us later in the season."
Thomas Tapeh (Running Back)
"We ran the ball this week. That was our motto in practice all week. We got a lot done out there. It was all about getting respect."
On the running backs' play:
"It feels good. It's not just me and Marion Barber anymore. As you can see, Terry Jackson played well and everyone is contributing. It's a team thing."
Mark Losli (Defensive End)
On turnover: "There was pressure on their quarterback, he was running naked, and I wish I could've picked it up and turned around, but I did what I could and that worked."
Dan Nystrom (Kicker)
On breaking the field goal record: "It feels great, but I'm not worried about records. They will come if they come, but for now I'll concentrate on helping the team in any way that I can."
Ukee Dozier (Cornerback)
On the absence of Lehan: "When we knew Mike was out, everyone realized we had to step up because we were missing a leader and a captain. We came together as one and executed well."
On defensive performance: "Everybody did what we were supposed to do. Tonight we showed that Minnesota defense can do things well."
On the win in general: "It is a great confidence builder knowing we can beat Illinois' offense. We know OSU has a good offensive core too, and we have can stand up to them."
Terry Jackson II (Running Back)
On how the team felt after Purdue: "When we lost to Purdue, it just made us want to come out harder this game. We really came together as a family."
Darrell Reid (Defensive Tackle)
"Any time you deal with adversity, it makes a team stronger. We overcame adversity tonight and it made us better. Coach made great calls tonight. We blitzed them early and kept mixing things up. We were able to get to them early."
"We aren't focused on getting into a bowl game right now. We think about winning game and game out. We don't think about the bowls; it will happen if we keep winning."
Asad Abdul-Khaliq (Quarterback)
"Today was a big win. They were a good team. We had to keep it real and keep going hard. We're building confidence. The defense did a heck of a job tonight. Overall we executed well, played well and got the win."
On his touchdown: "The key today was to keep winning. Their ends kept crashing hard. On my touchdown, they left a space wide open. I made a move and avoided the tackle."
Illinois Quotes
Minnesota 31 (5-1, 1-1), Illinois 10 (1-5, 0-2)
Head Coach Ron Turner
"We need to fight through adversity. It seems like that's what we've done this year. When we make mistakes, we have not been able to overcome them. There is very little margin of error and you're going to make mistakes in games and things are going to happen. We've got to learn to fight and overcome them. We turned the ball over but there was still a long time to go. We have to stop them. But, obviously you can't turn the ball over in that situation. We have to coach better and we have to play better."
"Obviously that was the key play in the game. If I had to do it over again, sure, I'd make another call. You just can't put the ball on the ground. You have to hold on to the ball. Even if you get sacked, you kick three, or have second and long, at least you give yourself a chance."
On Beutjer on fumble late in the second quarter: "It was a boot. Fake the run and came out to the corner with an option to run or pass. Obviously, they got up the field, which happens, but we made a bad situation worse. You throw the ball away number one or hang on to the ball."
"I really liked the feel at halftime. There was a good energy level, I didn't see anybody down, we just needed to come out and keep fighting. When we came out in the third quarter and couldn't make a stop, that when a lot of life was taken out."
"Despite where we are, we're not far off. The only people who really believe that are in that lockerroom. We are only a few plays away from doing some really good things."
"They played well, no surprises, they played hard. We weren't able to run the ball. We never got in a rhythm offensively."
Illinois Player Quotes
Jerry Schumacher (Linebacker)
"Earlier in the first half, we thought we had them. We're playing like a broken record and it has to be fixed. We're not catching our breaks so we need to start creating our own breaks."
Greg Lewis (Wide Receiver)
"Everyone on this team has pride. We're not going to lay down. We've all got to fight. We're trying to get this in the right direction. Things have just snowballed. Jon (Beutjer) just couldn't get settled."
Brandon Lloyd (Wide Receiver)
"We turned the ball over and we couldn't bounce back. We executed on only two drives and we're not being consistent. I don't know why we can't get through this adversity."
Jon Beutjer (Quarterback)
"We're beating ourselves by not executing. We're not scoring enough points offensively."
