University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
10/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes
POSTGAME NOTES
Oct. 21, 2017
TCF Bank Stadium
Minnesota 24, Illinois 17
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Today's game was the 70th in the all-time series with Illinois, with the Gophers now holding a 38-29-3 lead (Minnesota leads 22-12-2 in Minneapolis). The Gophers have won six of the past seven games, including three straight overall and at home.
• Minnesota improved to 59-37-3 all-time in its 99th Homecoming game, and is 6-4-1 versus Illinois on Homecoming weekend.
• Minnesota improved to 35-26 all-time at TCF Bank Stadium, including 16-19 in Big Ten games.
• The Gophers are 686-513-44 all-time since their first varsity game in 1882.
• Gameday Weather: Cloudy, 65 degrees, 85 percent humidity, Wind S 17 mph (gusts to 28)
• PJ Fleck's fifth-year career mark now stands at 34-25, including 17-4 since the start of the 2016 season. Today's win was his first career Big Ten win with the Golden Gophers.
• Illinois won the coin toss and deferred. Minnesota received the kick, and defended the west end zone.
• This afternoon's attendance was 45,243. Minnesota is averaging 44,649 per game through five home games.
• Minnesota rushed for a season-high 292 yards on 55 attempts.
• The Gophers were 3-for-4 on Red Zone possessions, with two drives resulting in TDs. For the season, Minnesota is 23-for-28 in the Red Zone, with touchdowns on 17 possessions.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Demry Croft made his first career start at QB for the Gophers, completing 5-of-15 passes for 47 yards and his fourth TD of the season, while rushing 11 times for 32 yards.
• Tyler Johnson caught his seventh TD of the season, which leaves him one short of Minnesota's sophomore record of eight, set by Maxx Williams during 2014. Johnson had two catches for 27 yards and now has 27 for 499 yards this season.
• Kobe McCrary led all rushers with a career-high 24 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown, his fourth of the season. McCrary entered the game with 115 rushing yards this season. McCrary's career high is 176 yards vs Indiana State on Sept. 9, 2016.
• Rodney Smith rushed 19 times for 103 yards, giving him 2,373 career rushing yards, which ranks 10th on Minnesota's all-time list. Smith has 138 rushes for 545 yards this season, both team-leading totals.
• This was the second game this season in which McCrary and Smith each rushed for more than 100 yards. Both players had 107 yards in the win versus Middle Tennessee on Sept. 16.
• Thomas Barber finished with a team-high 11 tackles (nine solo), and tied his career-best with two TFL. Barber has finished with double-figure tackles in all four Big Ten games this season. Barber leads the Gophers with 63 tackles (44 solo).
• Adekunle Ayinde tied his career high with nine tackles (eight solo), including one TFL and a pass breakup. Ayinde also recorded nine tackles at Iowa on Nov. 14, 2015.
• Carter Coughlin recorded four solo tackles, including a career-best two sacks for 12 yards in losses, while forcing his first career fumble.
• Jonathan Celestin recorded his first career interception, returning it 31 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Celestin added five tackles (three solo).
• Jacob Huff registered six tackles (four solo), including 0.5 TFL and a pass breakup.
• Kamal Martin recorded five tackles (all solo), while forcing his second career fumble. Martin also forced a fumble last week versus Michigan State.
• Justus Harris appeared in his first career game for the Gophers, finishing with two assisted tackles.
• Emmit Carpenter connected on one-of-two field goals, and is now 10-of-14 this season.
• Ryan Santoso punted five times for an average of 49.4 yards (41.4 net) per punt. Santoso had a long punt of 61 yards and pinned two punts inside the 20 yard line.
