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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Shuts Out Illinois 45-0
10/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Gophers defense limited Illinois to 72 rushing yards and recorded four quarterback sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss. Kyle McKenzie was the defensive stand-out tallying 2.5 sacks, four tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble. Minnesota's defense forced either a three-and-out or a turnover on six of eleven Illinois possessions.
Minnesota totaled 587 yards of offense including five plays of over 40 yards. Marion Barber III was the offensive star for the Maroon and Gold, running for two scores and throwing for another. Barber finished with 11 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns and also completed a 21-yard halfback-option touchdown pass to Ernie Wheelwright.
Minnesota led 3-0 after the first quarter on a 34-yard Rhys Lloyd field goal. Barber scored on a 44-yard run at 12:44 of the second stanza to make it 10-0. He then capped off the half with an 8-yard TD run with :58 left to send the Gophers into the lockerroom up 17-0 at the break.
Illinois took the second-half kick-off and drove to the Minnesota six yard line. But the Gopher defense stiffened forcing a Jason Reda 28-yard field goal attempt that hit the left upright, keeping the shutout intact. Minnesota proceeded to score a touchdown on its next four drives and the rout was on.
Barber connected with Wheelwright on the option play halfway through the third quarter extending Minnesota's lead to 24-0. Laurence Maroney then scored on a 5-yard TD run with 1:43 left. Following an Illinois three-and-out, quarterback Bryan Cupito hooked up with Paris Hamilton on an 82-yard bomb as the third quarter expired. Amir Pinnix added a 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to make the final 45-0.
Minnesota averaged 8.3 yards per play compared to Illinois' 3.7. Maroney rushed for 72 yards on 15 carries, while freshman Gary Russell added 65 yards on 10 carries. Minnesota totaled 319 yards on the ground. Cupito finished 10- of-21 for 247 yards. Jakari Wallace had a career-high 91 yards on four catches and Jared Ellerson caught four balls for 68 yards.
With its sixth win of the season the Gophers become bowl eligible for the fourth straight season and the fifth time in the past six years. Minnesota takes to the road again next week when it travels to Indiana.
