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University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
8/31/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Aug. 31, 2017
TCF Bank Stadium
at Minnesota 17, Buffalo 7
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Tonight's game was the second meeting in the all-time series with Buffalo, with Minnesota now holding a 2-0-0 lead (both at home). The Gophers also defeated the Bulls, 41-17, at the Metrodome on Sept. 21, 2002.
• PJ Fleck became the first coach to win his Minnesota debut since John Gutekunst led the Gophers to a 31-7 win versus Bowling Green State during 1986. Fleck improved to 2-1 against Buffalo and his fifth-year career mark is 31-22.
• Minnesota won the coin toss and deferred. Buffalo received the kick and the Gophers defended the east end zone.
• This evening's temperature of 70 degrees at kickoff ties for 10th-warmest in TCF Bank Stadium history.
• Minnesota has won five of its past six season-openers, including its past two. Last year, the Gophers defeated Oregon State in the opener at TCF Bank Stadium, 30-23.
• Tonight's attendance was 43,224. Last season, the Gophers averaged 43,814 per game.
• Minnesota's longest touchdown pass last season covered 22 yards. The first scoring strike this year went for 61 yards.
• The 61-yard passing TD was Minnesota's longest since a 63-yarder during 2012, a span of 57 games.
• Last season's top passing total against an FBS opponent was 241 yards at Penn State. Tonight, Minnesota QBs combined for 19 completions in 32 attempts for 239 yards.
• Minnesota's two first-quarter TDs were its first in the opening quarter of a season lid-lifter since 2014.
• The Gophers finished the game with 408 yards of total offense. Last season, Minnesota finished with 400+ yards four times, most recently with 466 yards versus Purdue on Nov. 5.
• The Gophers finished with one sack in the game. Last year, Minnesota had 37 sacks in 13 games.
• The Gophers were 1-for-3 on Red Zone possessions, missing two field goals. Last season, Minnesota was 49-for-56 in the Red Zone, with touchdowns on 38 possessions.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Tyler Johnson had a career night, catching six balls for 141 yards and a TD (the second of his career), all in the first half. Johnson's previous single-game bests were three receptions (two times) and 34 yards.
• Johnson's first reception of the season went for a 61-yard touchdown from Conor Rhoda. It was Johnson's longest career reception, and just one yard shy of last season's longest reception (62 yards by Rashad Still).
• Johnson's 141 yards receiving is the second-highest total by a Gophers player in TCF Bank Stadium's history. Da'Jon McKnight had nine catches for 146 yards versus New Mexico State on Sept. 10, 2011.
• Conor Rhoda completed 12-of-21 passes for 176 yards and a TD with one interception, while Demry Croft was 7-of-11 for 63 yards, while adding 32 rushing yards on six attempts.
• Rodney Smith led Minnesota on the ground with 23 carries for 76 yards. Shannon Brooks added 69 yards on 18 attempts, with one TD.
• Brooks scored his first TD of the season (13th career) on a one-yard run late in the first quarter.
• Demetrius Douglas made a start in his first career game. The son of former Gophers WR Omar Douglas, Demetrius finished the night with six catches for 36 yards.
• Brandon Lingen had two catches for 19 yards.
• Antonio Shenault recorded a career-high 10 tackles to lead the Gophers, including one TFL and two pass breakups.
• Antoine Winfield Jr. blocked a FG attempt in the second quarter. It was Minnesota's first blocked FG since De'Vondre Campbell vs. San Jose State on Sept. 20, 2014. Winfield finished the night with seven tackles (five solo), including a sack and two pass breakups.
• Jacob Huff came up with the Gophers' lone interception, the first of his career.
• Emmit Carpenter's miss from 50 yards snapped a string of 12-consecutive field goals dating back to Oct. 22, 2016. That streak ranks fourth-longest in Minnesota history.
• Ryan Santoso punted the ball six times for an average of 44.7 yards, with a long of 55 and three placed inside the 20.
