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University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
10/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Oct. 14, 2017
TCF Bank Stadium
Michigan State 30, at Minnesota 27
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Tonight's game was the 47th in the all-time series with Michigan State, with the Spartans now holding a 30-17-0 lead (MSU leads 14-11 in Minneapolis). MSU has won five straight games in the series.
• Minnesota fell to 34-26 all-time at TCF Bank Stadium, including 15-19 in Big Ten games.
• The Gophers are 685-513-44 all-time since their first varsity game in 1882.
• Gameday Weather: Rainy, 50 degrees, Wind N 10 mph
• There was an initial weather delay of 34 minutes due to lightning. Official kickoff time was 7:44 p.m. The weather delay was the second at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers' game vs. San Jose State in 2014 was also delayed.
• Minnesota's past two games have been interrupted by inclement weather, as last Saturday's game at Purdue was delayed one hour and 28 minutes.
• PJ Fleck's fifth-year career mark now stands at 33-25, including 16-4 since the start of the 2016 season.
• Michigan State won the coin toss and deferred. Minnesota received the kick, and MSU defended the east end zone.
• Tonight's attendance was a season-high 47,541. Minnesota is averaging 44,501 per game through four home games.
• The Gophers were 3-for-3 on Red Zone possessions, with two drives resulting in TDs. For the season, Minnesota is 20-for-24 in the Red Zone, with touchdowns on 15 possessions.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Demry Croft saw his first playing time since the Oregon State game and had his best career game. Croft completed 11-of-20 passes for 163 yards and three TDs, while rushing seven times for 31 yards.
• Croft's TD passes were the first of his career. He is the first Minnesota with three passing TDs in a game since Mitch Leidner threw for four scores versus Indiana State on Sept. 10, 2016.
• Croft had career-highs for completions (11), pass attempts (20), passing yards (163), passing TDs (3), longest completion (28), rushing attempts (7), and total offense (194 yards, 163P/31R).
• Tyler Johnson led Minnesota with a career-high eight catches for 106 yards and a career-best three TDs. He became the first Gopher with three receiving TDs in a game since Maxx Williams had three vs. Iowa on Nov. 8, 2014. Johnson leads the Gophers with 25 catches for 472 yards and six TDs this season.
• Mark Williams was targeted eight times and finished with his first two receptions for 43 yards.
• Ko Kieft caught his first career pass, covering five yards.
• Thomas Barber finished with a career-best 16 tackles (nine solo), including a career-best two TFLs and a pass breakup. Barber's previous best had been 10 tackles on two occasions, last at Purdue on Oct. 7. His 16 tackles were one shy of tying Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium record.
• Jacob Huff registered a career-high nine tackles (four solo). His previous best had been seven tackles last week at Purdue.
• Kamal Martin recorded a career-high eight tackles (four solo), while recording his second interception this season (third career) and forcing his first career fumble.
• Emmit Carpenter connected on two field goals (25 and 47 yards), and is now 9-of-12 this season.
• Ryan Santoso punted five times for a net average of 43.2 yards per punt. Santoso had a career-long punt of 68 yards, which ties for fourth-longest in program history. Dan Orseske had a 68-yard punt vs. Iowa on Oct. 29, 2011, and Ryan Rindels booted a 68-yarder vs. Memphis on Oct. 4, 1997.
