.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Take on Trojans Saturday
9/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Game Notes - vs. USC
GOPHERS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST USC SATURDAY
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers will look to bounce back from a 41-38 loss at the hands of South Dakota this Saturday when they host USC. The Trojans will visit Minneapolis for the first time since 1980. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT
The Gophers are 1-1 on the season with a win at Middle Tennessee and last week’s loss. USC hammered Hawaii on opening weekend and edged Virginia 17-14 last week.
This is the second consecutive season Minnesota has hosted a Pac-10 opponent, after California visited TCF Bank Stadium last year. The Gophers are 24-23-2 all-time against Pac-10 opponents.
ESPN will televise the game. It will air statewide on the Gopher Radio Network and nationwide on the Sports USA Radio Network. It will also air on Sirius/XM Radio (Sirius Channels 90 and 126/XM Channel 196).
QUICK HITTERS
> Minnesota is 1-4-1 in its history vs. the Southern California Trojans. It is the first time the teams have faced off since 1980.
> Minnesota is in its 127th season of college football in 2010. Only three other schools -- Rutgers (141), Michigan (131) and Navy (130) will have played more at the end of this season.
> With Minnesota’s first two back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, junior running back Duane Bennett ranks No. 6 in the nation in rushing average.
> With one interception in each of the first two games of the season, sophomore linebacker Mike Rallis ranks No. 3 in the nation in interceptions per game.
> Minnesota has come from behind in each of its last seven victories.
THE USC SERIES
Saturday’s game will be the seventh gridiron meeting between the University of Minnesota and the University of Southern California. USC leads the series 1-4-1.
However, the series has been dormant for the last 30 years. Southern Cal was ranked No. 5 in when the teams met in Minneapolis in 1980 and the Trojans won 24-7. The Gophers’ lone victory in the series came in 1955, a 25-19 victory at Memorial Stadium.
THAT'S ANOTHER GOLDEN GOPHER ...
First Down! Through the first two weeks of the season, Minnesota has converted 51 first downs, which leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 11 in the nation.
The Gophers racked up 27 first downs in their Week One victory at Middle Tennessee State, while holding a 24-17 edge in first downs last week vs. South Dakota. Of Minnesota’s first downs, 29 have come on the ground, while 17 have come through the air. The Gophers have converted five first downs via penalty, as well.
THE ADAM WEBER EXPERIENCE
Gopher quarterback Adam Weber entered the 2010 season as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the nation. Only Houston quarterback Case Keenum has more starts in his career than Weber. Keenum now has 42 starts, while Weber has made 40. The Minnesota signal-caller has been under center to start the game for every game in his Gopher career. Weber also ranks in the top three among active quarterbacks in career pass attempts (3rd - 1,274), career completions (3rd - 735) and career yards (3rd - 8,646).
GRAY MATTER
Sophomore quarterback MarQueis Gray is going to see extensive time at wide receiver in the 2010 season, due to his athletic, play-making ability. Gray saw the most action of his collegiate career thus far in last week’s game vs. South Dakota. The 6-4, 230-pounder responded with career-best marks for receptions and yards. Gray hauled in nine passes for 91 yards. He also scored his second career receiving touchdown, pulling in a 16-yard Adam Weber aerial early in the third quarter.
EDWARDS' EVENTFUL DAY
Junior defensive tackle Jewhan Edwards had some big plays defensively for Minnesota last week. Edwards made three tackles and all three of them were tackles for loss, including a sack. Edwards’ first career sack was also the first and only sack of the season for the Gophers so far in 2010. Edwards’ three tackles-for-loss were a career-best.
MIKE CHECK
Sophomore Mike Rallis broke his leg in the third game of 2009 and missed the rest of the season. But he hit the weight room and added size. He gained about 15 pounds, which led him back to his natural linebacker position. Rallis ha showed he is back where he belongs in the first two weeks of the season, racking up a team-high 16 tackles and a team-best 3.5 tackles for loss. Rallis has also had one interception in each of the last two games. With his two picks, Rallis ranks tied for No. 3 in the nation in interceptions.
-UM-
