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University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
11/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Nov. 19, 2016
TCF Bank Stadium
Northwestern at Minnesota
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Today's game was the 92nd meeting in the all-time series with Northwestern, with Minnesota now holding a 53-34-5 lead (30-14-3 at home). The Gophers have won three of the past four meetings against the Wildcats.
• Tracy Claeys improved to 10-7 since taking over the head coaching duties eight games into the 2015 season.
• Minnesota's senior class recorded a 20-8 mark at TCF Bank Stadium since 2013. Overall, this year's seniors have won 30 games (8 during 2013, 8 during 2014, 6 during 2015 and 8 during 2016), which is the most by a senior class since the 2006 class (2003-06) also won 30 games (10 during 2003, 7 during 2004, 7 during 2005 and 6 during 2006).
• With the win, Minnesota improved to 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten. It's the third time in the past four years the Gophers have reached eight victories, and it ties the 2014 team for the most B1G wins since 2003.
• Northwestern won the coin toss and deferred. Minnesota received the kick and NU defended the west end zone.
• Today's temperature of 30 degrees at kickoff was the sixth-coldest in TCF Bank Stadium history.
• Today's attendance was 38,162. Minnesota drew 306,697 fans this season, an average of 43,814 per game.
• The Gophers improved to 8-1 under Tracy Claeys when losing the coin toss, including 6-1 this season.
• Minnesota led 6-0 after the first quarter. The Gophers have held leads after one quarter six times this year, and are 3-2 in those games. Minnesota has held four teams scoreless in the first quarter this season.
• The Gophers led 12-0 at the half, marking the second time they've held a B1G team scoreless in the first half this season. Minnesota held a 14-0 halftime lead versus Maryland, and kept the Terps off the scoreboard for three quarters.
• Minnesota scored three points off Northwestern turnovers this afternoon. Through 11 games, the Gophers have tallied 93 points off opponents' turnovers, while allowing only 23 points off their own turnovers.
• The Gophers finished with seven sacks in the game, increasing their season total to 33. Last year, Minnesota finished the season with 22 sacks in 13 games.
• The Gophers' defense stopped the Wildcats on three of four 4th down attempts, including two stops of 4th and 1 in the Red Zone.
• Minnesota scored 175 points in its seven home games this season for an average of 25.0 points per game.
• Minnesota improved to 1-1 at home since 2012 when wearing today's uniform combo - Gold helmet, Gold jersey and White pants.
• The Gophers were 5-for-5 on Red Zone possessions. Through 11 games, Minnesota is 44-for-50 in the Red Zone, with touchdowns on 34 possessions.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Mitch Leidner finished 14-of-25 passing for 197 yards and a touchdown. He also ran eight times for 32 yards and a TD. It was Leidner's 32nd career rushing touchdown, a school record for quarterbacks, and tied with Laurence Maroney (2003-05) for fourth on Minnesota's all-time rushing TD list.
• Leidner connected with Rashad Still on a career-long 62-yard pass play in the second quarter. Leidner's previous best had been a 57-yard completion at Ohio State on Nov. 7, 2015, while Still's longest reception had been 52 yards versus Michigan on Oct. 31, 2015. Still finished with two catches for 81 yards.
• Shannon Brooks led the Gophers with 14 rushing attempts for 73 yards, an average of 5.2 yards per carry.
• Rodney Smith rushed for his 15th touchdown this season, which ranks third on Minnesota's single season list. Smith also has a kickoff return this season, giving him 16 total touchdowns, which also ranks third for a single season.
• Smith has rushed for a TD in six straight games, which ties Thomas Hafner (1996-99) for the third-longest streak in Minnesota history. Hafner accomplished the feat during Nov. 14, 1998 to Oct. 2, 1999.
• Drew Wolitarsky had four receptions for 42 yards and a TD. He now has a reception in 24 consecutive games, which ranks seventh in Minnesota history. His 57 receptions this season ranks 14th.
• For his career, Wolitarsky ranks ninth at Minnesota with 121 receptions, while ranking 11th with 1,600 receiving yards.
• Blake Cashman forced his first career fumble, which was recovered by Steven Richardson. It was Richardson's second fumble recovery this season, and the third of his career.
• Cashman led the Gophers with a career-high 10 tackles (nine solo), while tying his career-best with two sacks.
• Richardson also forced his fourth career fumble, which Julian Huff recovered (third career). Richardson tied his career-best with two sacks, while also registering two TFLs.
• Jack Lynn finished with nine tackles (four solo), just one short of his career-high, and had 1.5 TFLs.
• Emmit Carpenter connected on field goals of 19, 42 and 30 yards, giving him 20 this season. That figure ties Dan Nystrom's 2002 figure for second all-time. Nystrom also holds the school record for a single season, with 25 field goals during 2000.
• Carpenter missed his first career PAT, snapping a streak of 37-straight PATs to begin his career.
