.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
9/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
POSTGAME NOTES
Sept. 24, 2016
TCF Bank Stadium
Colorado State at Minnesota
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Minnesota improved to 4-0 in the all-time series with Colorado State. The Gophers defeated the Rams, 23-20, in overtime on Sept. 12, 2015 in Fort Collins. Two of the three previous games had taken place in Fort Collins. CSU is a member of the Mountain West Conference.
• Tracy Claeys improved to 5-4 since taking over the head coaching duties eight games into the 2015 season. The victory was the fourth-straight for Claeys and the Gophers, dating back to Minnesota's Quick Lane Bowl win against Central Michigan.
• Colorado State won the coin toss and chose to receive. Minnesota defended the east end zone.
• Minnesota has combined for 119 points (39.7 ppg) over the first three games. It's the most points for the Gophers over the first three games since combining for 124 points in wins over UNLV, New Mexico State and Western Illinois during 2013.
• Minnesota improved to 5-0 at home since 2012 when wearing today's uniform combo - Maroon helmet, Gold jersey and Maroon pants.
• The Gophers were 5-for-5 on Red Zone possessions. Through three games, Minnesota is 14-for-14 in the Red Zone, and all but one possession has resulted in a touchdown.
• For the third time this season, Minnesota had a player with two or more rushing touchdowns. As a team, Minnesota had four rushing TDs in a game for the second time this season. The Gophers also had four versus Oregon State.
• The Gophers topped 200 yards rushing for the second-straight game. Minnesota finished the game with 243 yards on the ground.
• Minnesota ended the game with 417 total yards, averaging 6.4 yards per play.
• The Gophers had three sacks against the Rams, and have now totaled nine sacks through the first three games. Last season, Minnesota finished with 22 sacks in 13 games.
• Today's attendance was 44,854. Minnesota is averaging 43,487 per game so far this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Mitch Leidner rushed for his third touchdown this season, increasing his career total to 26, the best figure in school history for a QB. For the game, Leidner rushed 10 times for 50 yards, while completing 16-of-20 passes for 174 yards.
• Shannon Brooks played in his first game of the season, and finished with 13 carries for 85 yards and a TD. The touchdown was the eighth of his career.
• Rodney Smith rushed for his fourth and fifth TDs of the season, giving him seven for his career. Smith just missed a 100-yard game, finishing with 17 attempts for 99 yards. He also had one catch for 15 yards.
• Drew Wolitarsky was Minnesota's leading receiver, as he was targeted seven times and had five receptions for 74 yards. Through three games, Wolitarsky has 17 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
• Damarius Travis came up with his first interception of the season to thwart a CSU scoring opportunity in the first quarter. It was his third career interception, and his first since the Northwestern game on Oct. 11, 2014. Travis was second on the team with eight tackles (seven solo), including one TFL.
• Antonio Shenault led the Gophers with a career-high 10 tackles (eight solo), including 0.5 TFL and a pass breakup.
• Tai'yon Devers recorded his third sack of the season, and all three have forced fumbles. Devers had two sacks that forced fumbles in the season-opener versus Oregon State.
• Steven Richardson recorded his first sack of the season (third career), and ended the day with a career-best four tackles for loss among his seven total stops. His previous best had been 3.0 TFLs during the win at Colorado State on Sept. 12, 2015.
• Emmit Carpenter made his lone FG attempt (28 yards) and is now 5-for-5 on FGs this season.
