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University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Cruise to 44-0 Win Over Kent State
9/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Minnesota football team opened the 2006 season with a convincing 44-0 victory at Kent State tonight in Kent, Ohio. The Golden Flashes proved no match for the Golden Gophers as Minnesota dominated in all aspects of the game. The Gophers out-gained Kent State 468 to 282 yards in total offense and with the exception of their last possession of the first half which ended due to time expiration, scored on their first seven drives of the ball game. The Minnesota defense forced six turnovers to record the program's first shutout since Oct. 23, 2004 against Illinois.
Alex Daniels (Columbus, Ohio) carried 24 times for 155 yards and scored three touchdowns in his debut at running back for the Golden Gophers. Amir Pinnix (Newark, N.J.) also went over the 100-yard plateau with 114 yards on 15 carries, including one touchdown. Bryan Cupito (Cincinnati, Ohio) completed eight of 13 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown. Jamal Harris (Delray Beach, Fla.) intercepted two passes and Dominic Jones (Columbus, Ohio) had one to lead the Minnesota defensive effort.
Kent State took the opening kickoff and on its first play from scrimmage, Golden Flashes’ quarterback Julian Edelman connected with Shawn Lewis for a 27-yard completion. The play was called back, however, because of a holding penalty at the line of scrimmage. Kent State was unable to muster much offense on the rest of the drive as the Minnesota defense buckled down and forced them to punt six plays later.
On the ensuing possession, the Golden Gophers wasted little time in scoring on their first opportunity. Minnesota went 67 yards on six plays in 2:44 to take the early lead. Redshirt freshman Eric Decker (Cold Spring, Minn.) burst onto the scene with a long touchdown reception on the first catch of his career. Cupito hooked up with Decker on a 39-yard scoring strike to give Minnesota the 7-0 advantage with 8:39 remaining in the first quarter.
After forcing the Golden Flashes into a three-and-out on their next possession, the Gophers upped their lead to 14-0 on Daniels’ first career touchdown. The recent linebacker turned running back scored from three yards out to give the Maroon and Gold the two touchdown advantage. The scoring drive went 54 yards, 30 of them from Daniels, on eight plays.
The Golden Flashes appeared as if they would cut into the Gophers lead on the next possession. Edelman connected with Najah Pruden on what looked as if it was going to be a 64-yard touchdown strike, but Minnesota linebacker Mario Reese (Mableton, Ga.) forced a fumble at the one-yard line and recovered it in the end zone to keep the shutout intact for the Gophers.
On their next possession, the Gophers went 75 yards in 17 plays on a drive that took 7:44 off the clock. Daniels again powered the Minnesota offense with runs of 11, nine and seven yards on the drive. The drive stalled at the five-yard line, and Jason Giannini (Canton, Ohio) connected on a 22-yard field goal to give the Golden Gophers a 17-0 advantage.
On its first drive in the second quarter, the Golden Flashes were finally able to put together an offensive threat, driving 70 yards in 15 plays to the Minnesota one-yard line. But with first-and-goal at the one, the Gopher defense stiffened, and Kent State kicker Reid Macko’s 19-yard field goal attempt on fourth down sailed wide right.
The Gophers went into halftime with the 17-0 advantage. Daniels rushed 12 times for 70 yards and Cupito completed 7 of 11 passes for 111 yards to lead the Gophers in the opening stanza.
Minnesota’s dominance continued in the second half as the Gophers took the opening kickoff and drove 56 yards in on seven rushes by Daniels. The drive culminated with Daniels plunging in from one-yard out for his second score of the game, giving the Gophers the 24-0 lead.
The Golden Gopher defense came out with a chip on their shoulder in the second half, and on Kent State’s fourth play of the possession, Harris intercepted an Edelman pass at the Minnesota 23-yard line.
Minnesota took advantage of the turnover and proceeded to score on their fifth straight possession. Set up by a 35-yard pass completion from Cupito to tight end Matt Spaeth (Albertville, Minn.) and an 18-yard run from Pinnix, Daniels scored his third touchdown of the game from six yards out. The Gophers took just 2:26 to go 77 yards on seven plays plays to take a 31-0 lead.
The Golden Gopher defense forced a Kent State fumble on the next possession and took over at the Golden Flashes’ 38 yard-line. Five plays later, Pinnix scored from 15 yards out to give the Gophers the 38-0 advantage.
Harris followed up with his second interception of the game on Kent State’s next possession. Pinnix went over 100 yards on the ensuing drive and Justin Valentine (Columbus, Ohio) punched it in from two yards out to top off the scoring, 44-0.
The Golden Gophers travel to Berkeley, Calif., next Saturday to take on the No. 9/12 California Golden Bears. The game will be broadcast on national television on TBS, as well as on the Gophers’ flagship radio station, WCCO.
Post Game Quote
Minnesota Head Coach Glen Mason
Overall I was pleased how we performed tonight- open up the season on the road and put up 44 points and pitch a shutout on defense, how could you not be happy? I thought we were able to run the ball effectively. Typically, when we do this and have early success as the game goes on it becomes a very physical contest. I thought we were very fortunate at the beginning of the game. Our defense was shaky at times, not trying to take any credit away form Kent State, they do some nice things. They have a nice little quarterback they have a nice little running back they are deceptive at what they do. We had some problems and they gave us some big plays, but we were able to keep them out of the end zone. I’m most pleased on offense- it’s no surprise we don’t have the calibure of running back that we have had in the past, but we still like to run the ball. Some guys made some great improvement and overall, I was proud of our teams display tonight.
