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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Postgame Notes
10/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Series Notes
∙ With today’s win, Minnesota leads all-time series 32-27-3... The win avenges a 44-17 by the Illini last season in the Metrodome... The Gophers have now won seven of the last nine games in the series, including three of the last four in Champaign.
∙ Minnesota improved to 13-16-1 all time at Memorial Stadium with today’s win over the Illini.
Team Notes
∙ With today’s win, Minnesota’s sixth of the season, the Gophers are now bowl eligible. The Gopher’s 6-1 record is their best start through seven games since Minnesota started with the same record in 2003.
∙ Minnesota’s 60-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession marked the fourth time this season that the Gophers were the first team on the scoreboard. Minnesota entered the game with a 4-0 record when scoring first.
∙ The Minnesota defense shutout Illinois during the first quarter of today’s game. It is the first time through six games this season that the Illini have not scored a first-quarter point. The Gopher defense went on to keep the Illini out of the end zone for the entire first half, a first for Illinois this season, as Minnesota held the U of I to a season-low three first-half points.
∙ Illinois three first-half points marked the second time in seven games this season that the Gophers have held an opponent to as few as three first-half points. Minnesota also held Florida Atlantic to just a field goal on Sept. 20, in a 37-3 victory.
∙ The Gophers forced three second-half turnovers, scoring off two of them. Minnesota forced a fumble on Illinois’ opening drive of the second half and quickly turned it into seven points. Simoni Lawrence scooped up a Juice Williams fumble after a sack by Willie VanDeSteeg and scored on a 9-yard return in the fourth quarter. The Gophers added an interception in the fourth quarter by Ryan Collado to finish the game with a 3-1 edge in the turnover battle.
∙ Minnesota has now forced 20 turnovers on the season, converting 15 of them into 89 points. Last year the Gophers registered just 41 points off of turnovers in 12 games.
∙ Minnesota’s defense collected five sacks today, including three by Willie VanDeSteeg. For the season, the Gophers now have 17 sacks after totaling just 11 in 12 games a year ago.
Individual Notes
∙ Eric Decker became just the sixth gopher in school history to cross the 2,000-yard receiving mark on a 25-yard touchdown catch on Minnesota’s opening drive of the game for a 7-0 lead. It was Decker’s first TD reception since Sept. 20 vs. Florida Atlantic.
∙ Decker finished the game with nine receptions for 86 yards and has now caught at least five passes in eight straight games, dating to last season. His nine receptions also extended his games-with-a-reception streak to 21 games. He has a catch in 29 of 31 career games overall.
∙ Decker now ranks fifth in career receiving yards (2,069), fourth in career receptions (152) and tied for third in career receiving touchdowns (17).
∙ Adam Weber connected on his first seven passes of the game, including a 25-yard TD and a 22-yard third-down completion to Eric Decker. He finished 18 of 26 for 184 yards and now ranks fifth in career completions (400), seventh in career passing yards (4,416) and tied for fifth in career touchdown passess (33) at Minnesota.
∙ Freshman running back DeLeon Eskridge finished with 124 tough yards on 26 carries. It is the second 100-yard rushing performance of the season for the true freshman. Eskridge scored his team-leading sixth and seventh touchdown of the season. The first came on a 1-yard plunge early in the third quarter to cap an 8-yard drive following a fumble Daniel Dufrene. The second came during the fourth quarter on a season-long 46-yard run. It was the second longest run by a by a Gopher this season.
∙ The Gophers executed their first fake punt of the season and converted a 4-yard fourth down on a 12-yard pass from punter Justin Kucek to linebacker Kevin Manion. It was the first career pass attempt for Kucek and the first career reception for Manion.
∙ Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg collected a season-high three sacks and now has 6.5 on the season. He ranks fourth on the Gophers’ all-time sack list with 17.5.
∙ Sophomore safety Kyle Theret collected a career-high 12 tackles.
∙ Junior linebacker Simoni Lawrence totaled a season-high nine tackles and scored his second touchdown of the season on a 9-yard fumble recovery.
Minnesota at Illinois - By the numbers...
62,870 - Today’s attendance. The second largest crowd to watch the Gophers play this season.
4,416 - Adam Weber’s career passing yards. The seventh most in school history.
2,069 - Eric Decker’s career receiving yards.
400 - Number of career completions by sophomore quarterback Adam Weber - the sixth most ever at Minnesota.
89 - Points scored by the Gophers following opponent turnovers in 2008, including seven in today’s game.
46 - DeLeon Eskridge’s fourth-quarter TD run. The second-longest rush of the season by a Gopher this season.
41 - Points scored by the Gophers following opponent turnovers during 2007.
33 - Adam Weber’s number of career touchdown passes, including one today.
12 - Tackles by sophomore safety Kyle Theret today -- a career high.
2 - Touchdowns by linebacker Simoni Lawrence after his 9-yard return for a score today.
