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University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Notes
9/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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POSTGAME NOTES
Sept. 10, 2016
TCF Bank Stadium
Indiana State at Minnesota
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Minnesota improved to 3-0 in the all-time series versus Indiana State. Today's game was the first between the Gophers and Sycamores since a 27-10 home victory on Sept. 11, 1993. ISU is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
• Tracy Claeys improved to 4-4 since taking over the head coaching duties eight games into the 2015 season. The victory was the third-straight for Claeys and the Gophers, dating back to Minnesota's Quick Lane Bowl win against Central Michigan.
• The 58 points scored by the Gophers is the most for Minnesota since a 63-26 win against Indiana on Nov. 4, 2006. The point total is the most scored in a game at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers had scored 51 vs Iowa during 2014 and 51 versus UNLV during 2013.
• Minnesota's 31 first downs marked the first time the Gophers had more than 30 in a game since having 31 versus Toledo on Sept. 4, 2004.
• The Gophers finished with 292 rushing yards, marking their first 200-yard rushing effort since having 255 yards versus Illinois on Nov. 21, 2015.
• Minnesota's total of 593 net yards was its most since finishing with 573 net yards at Indiana on Nov. 2, 2013.
• Minnesota won the opening coin flip and elected to receive. Indiana State chose to defend the west end zone.
• The Golden Gophers improved to 5-0 (4-0 at home) since 2012 when wearing today's uniform combination of Gold helmets, Maroon jerseys and Gold pants.
• Minnesota finished the game 5-for-5 in the Red Zone after going 4-for-4 on Red Zone possessions against Oregon State. All nine Minnesota trips inside the Red Zone this season have resulted in TDs.
• Minnesota had three wide receivers with touchdown catches for the first time since Sept. 11, 2010. That day, Marqueis Gray, Da'Jon McKnight and Troy Stoudemire each had TD receptions.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Mitch Leidner completed 20-of-30 passes for 295 yards and tied his career-high with four touchdown passes, finishing with a passer rating of 193.3. The last time he had four TD passes in a game was against Iowa on Nov. 8, 2014. It also marked his first game with 20+ completions and 30+ attempts since last year's Quick Lane Bowl.
• Leidner now has 32 career touchdown passes. He moved past Billy Cockerham (29 TDs, 1996-99) into seventh on Minnesota's all-time list.
• Drew Wolitarsky, who led Minnesota with four catches for 53 yards in the opener against Oregon State, had three catches for 55 yards on the opening drive today. He finished the day with eight catches for a career-high 125 yards and two touchdowns.
• Wolitarsky's two-TD performance was the first of his career, and the first such game for a Gopher since Brandon Lingen had two TD receptions at Purdue on Oct. 10, 2015. Wolitarsky's yardage total marked Minnesota's first 100-yard receiving game since KJ Maye (106) and Brandon Lingen (105) eclipsed the mark at Iowa on Nov. 14, 2015.
• Kobe McCrary had career-high totals of 17 carries for 176 yards and two TDs. His second scoring run covered 50 yards, Minnesota's longest run since Shannon Brooks scored from 75 yards out versus Illinois on Nov. 21, 2015.
• McCrary's 176 yards rushing was the fourth-best total in the history of TCF Bank Stadium. It topped Shannon Brooks' 174-yard effort last year against Illinois.
• Rodney Smith scored his third rushing TD of the season on a one-yard run late in the opening quarter. It was his fifth career scoring run, and he finished with 17 carries for 74 yards.
• Tyler Johnson scored his first career touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Leidner in the second quarter. It was his fourth career reception. Johnson finished with three catches for 22 yards.
• Brian Smith finished with a career-best four receptions for 61 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the first of his career.
• Carlton Djam had seven carries for 33 yards, his first rushing attempts at Minnesota.
• Damarius Travis recorded his second career fumble recovery. His first came during the Gophers' 28-24 win at Nebraska on Nov. 22, 2014.
• Carter Coughlin made his collegiate debut late in the second quarter, and finished the game with one tackle.
• Scott Ekpe and Kamal Martin each recorded their first career sacks in today's game.
• Emmit Carpenter was good on all three of his field goal attempts, connecting from distances of 42, 44, and 45-yards. He is 4-for-4 this season, with all four field goals coming from 40+ yards.
