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University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
11/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
POSTGAME NOTES
Nov. 11, 2017
TCF Bank Stadium
Minnesota 54, Nebraska 21
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Today's game was the 58th in the all-time series with Nebraska, with the Gophers now holding a 32-24-2 lead (Minnesota leads 22-13-2 in Minneapolis). The Gophers have won three of the past five meetings with the Huskers.
• Minnesota improved to 36-26 all-time at TCF Bank Stadium, including 17-19 in Big Ten games.
• The Gophers are 687-515-44 all-time since their first varsity game in 1882.
• Weather: Sunny, 36 degrees, Wind S-SW 12 mph. Ninth-coldest kickoff temperature at TCF Bank Stadium.
• PJ Fleck's fifth-year career mark now stands at 35-27, including 18-6 since the start of the 2016 season.
• Nebraska won the coin toss and deferred. Minnesota received the kick, and defended the west end zone.
• The 54 points scored by the Gophers ties for second all-time by a Minnesota team versus Nebraska, and is the most since a 61-7 win in Lincoln on Oct. 6, 1945. Minnesota defeated ninth-ranked Nebraska, 54-0, on Oct. 2, 1943 in Minneapolis.
• It was Minnesota's first 50-point game since defeating Indiana State, 58-28, on Sept. 10, 2016, and marks the most points in a B1G game since a 63-26 win versus Indiana on Nov. 4, 2006. The point total is also the most scored by the Gophers versus a Big Ten foe at TCF Bank Stadium. Minnesota defeated Iowa, 51-14, on Nov. 8, 2014.
• Minnesota's 410 rushing yards is eighth-most in school history and is the Gophers' first 400-yard rushing game since having 411 yards versus Wisconsin on Oct. 15, 2005.
• The Gophers had six rushing TDs in a game for the first time since also having six versus San Jose State on Sept. 21, 2013.
• Minnesota finished with 514 yards of total offense, its most since having 593 versus Indiana State on Sept. 10, 2016.
• This afternoon's attendance was 39,933. Minnesota is averaging 43,863 per game through six home games.
• Minnesota's 30 first-half points were the most in a half against a Big Ten team since scoring 31 second-half points at Purdue on Oct. 10, 2015. The Gophers won that game, 41-13, thanks to a 28-point third quarter.
• Minnesota had two players reach 100 rushing yards in a game for the third time this season. Two Gophers players (both times Rodney Smith and Kobe McCrary) also accomplished the feat versus MTSU on Sept. 16 and versus Illinois on Oct. 21.
• The Gophers were 6-for-6 on Red Zone possessions, with four drives resulting in TDs. For the season, Minnesota is 33-for-40 in the Red Zone, with touchdowns on 23 possessions.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Rodney Smith returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was Smith's second career kickoff return for a TD. He had a 94-yard return for a TD versus Rutgers on Oct. 22, 2016. It is Minnesota's first opening kickoff return for a touchdown since Tyron Carter's 86-yarder versus Arkansas State on Sept. 5, 1998.
• Smith's kickoff return ties for the longest in program history. Four other players have 100-yard KO returns, most recently by Jalen Myrick versus Northwestern on Oct. 11, 2014.
• Smith finished the game with a career-best 279 all-purpose yards (134 rushing, 10 receiving, 135 KR), which ties for seventh- most in school history. Tellis Redmon had 279 all-purpose yards versus NC State in the Micronpc.com Bowl on Dec. 28, 2000. Smith's previous best had been 257 all-purpose yards versus Rutgers on Oct. 22, 2016.
• Demry Croft made his fourth career start at QB for the Gophers, completing 9-of-15 passes for 105 yards, while rushing 10 times for a career-high 183 yards (18.3 avg) and a career-best three touchdowns.
• Croft's rushing total is a school-record for a quarterback, breaking Marqueis Gray's 171-yard effort versus Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 17, 2011. Croft is the first Minnesota quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since Mitch Leidner had 111 yards at Nebraska on Nov. 22, 2014.
• Croft's 73-yard scoring run in the second quarter is Minnesota's longest rush since Shannon Brooks' 75-yard run versus Illinois on Nov. 21, 2015. He later added a 64-yard run.
• Kobe McCrary had 10 carries for 93 yards and three TDs, his second three-touchdown game this season. McCrary, who leads the Gophers with eight TDs this season, also had three scores in the win against Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 16.
• Tyler Johnson caught three passes for 57 yards. For the season, Johnson has 35 receptions for 677 yards, which ranks fifth all-time for receiving yards by a sophomore.
• Thomas Barber finished with a team-high 11 tackles (five solo). Barber, who leads the Gophers with 93 tackles (62 solo) this season, has finished with double-figure tackles in all but one Big Ten game.
• Jacob Huff registered a career-high 10 tackles (seven solo), including 1.0 TFL and a pass breakup.
• Duke McGhee recorded nine tackles (six solo), including a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss.
• Emmit Carpenter connected on field goals of 36 and 30 yards, and is now 14-of-18 this season.
• Ryan Santoso punted just once for 41 yards.
