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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Rip Toledo In Season Opener 63-21
9/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Gophers racked up 415 rushing yards and won its 13th straight non-conference game. Minnesota improved to 8-0 in home openers under head coach Glen Mason. Minnesota's 63 points is the most in a season opener since 1937.
The Gophers started quickly on their first drive. Bryan Cupito, making his first career start, hit Jared Ellerson across the middle for 47 yards on the sixth play of the game and eventually led to a one-yard touchdown run by Justin Valentine, the first of his career.
Toledo responded on the ensuing drive when Bruce Gradkowski connected with Lance Moore on a 25-yard touchdown pass to knot the game at 7-7. After that, it was all Gophers. Minnesota scored 56 unanswered points to take a 63-7 lead just seconds into the fourth quarter.
Laurence Maroney started the scoring spree with a 20-yard touchdown run at the 7:59 mark of the first quarter. Just minutes later, Cupito connected with Ernie Wheelwright on a 42-yard touchdown, the first score for both players in their young careers. The score gave the Gophers a 21-7 lead after one quarter. Cupito was impressive in the opening stanza, going 7-of-8 for 208 yards while the team piled up 294 yards of total offense.
Marion Barber III opened the second quarter with an 18-yard scoring run to cap a 90-yard drive to put Minnesota up 28-7. Just four minutes later, Barber scored again from one- yard out to give the Gophers a 35-7 margin. On its next drive, Minnesota went 77 yards in 12 plays, capped by a Maroney 1-yard plunge to give the Gophers a 42-7 lead at halftime. Minnesota piled up 464 yards in the first half.
Minnesota added three straight scores in the second half, including 3-yard touchdowns by Valentine and Amir Pinnix. Wheelwright scored again on a 10-yard reception from Adam Ernst just seconds into the fourth quarter for the Gophers' final tally and a 63-7 lead.
Toledo scored twice in the final quarter to make the final score 63-21.
Maroney led Minnesota's rushing attack with 108 yards on 14 carries. Pinnix had 88 yards on 17 carries and Gary Russell had 79 yards on 14 carries. Barber added 78 yards on 14 carries. Cupito finished 10-of-12 for 279 yards while Ellerson led the receiving corps with 140 yards on four receptions.
Gradkowski ended 19-of-30 for 202 yards and Moore had 10 catches for 99 yards.
Minnesota hosts Illinois State next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
