University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Notes
9/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
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POSTGAME NOTES
Sept. 30, 2017
TCF Bank Stadium
Maryland 31, at Minnesota 24
TEAM / SERIES NOTES
• Today's game was the third in the all-time series with Maryland, with the Terps now holding a 2-1-0 lead (1-0 in Minneapolis).
• Minnesota fell to 34-25 all-time at TCF Bank Stadium, including 15-18 in Big Ten games.
• The Gophers are 684-511-44 all-time since their first varsity game in 1882.
• Gameday Weather: Sunny, 61 degrees, Wind S-SE 13 mph
• PJ Fleck is 23-4 over his past 27 games as a head coach, with only Alabama's Nick Saban (25-1), Clemson's Dabo Swinney (24-2) and San Diego State's Rocky Long (23-3) having better marks. Fleck's fifth-year career mark is 33-23.
• The loss snapped PJ Fleck's 16-game regular season win streak, dating back to his tenure at Western Michigan. The last time his team had lost a regular season game was a 27-19 setback at Northern Illinois on Nov. 18, 2015.
• Minnesota won the coin toss and deferred. Maryland received the kick, and the Gophers defended the east end zone.
• The Gophers were held scoreless in the first quarter for the first time since the 17-12 Holiday Bowl win vs. Washington State on Dec. 27, 2016.
• Minnesota trailed at the half for the first time this season. The last time the Gophers trailed at the half was a 28-23 deficit versus Purdue on Nov. 5, 2016. Minnesota rallied to win that game, 44-31.
• Maryland's TD with 11:11 remaining in the fourth quarter was the first second-half score allowed by Minnesota this season. The Gophers held teams scoreless in the second half for the first 108 minutes and 49 second this season.
• Minnesota is 3-1 for the fourth consecutive season. The Gophers' last win in a B1G opener was a 30-14 victory at Michigan on Sept. 27, 2014.
• Today's attendance was 43,511. The Gophers are averaging 43,487 per game through three home games.
• Minnesota, which entered the game plus-four in turnovers this season, had two interceptions and two fumbles lost, while Maryland did not have a turnover.
• The Gophers were 3-for-4 on Red Zone possessions, with three drives resulting in TDs. For the season, Minnesota is 14-for-17 in the Red Zone, with touchdowns on 12 possessions.
• Minnesota's 13 completions in the game went for an average of 17.6 yards per catch.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Shannon Brooks' one-yard TD run in the fourth quarter was his fifth this season, giving him 21 for his career. Brooks is tied for ninth all-time with Thomas Hamner (1996-99) and Chris Darkins (1992-95).
• Rodney Smith's one-yard TD run early in the second quarter was the 20th of his career, tying him with five other Gophers for 12th all-time.
• Conor Rhoda completed 13-of-26 passes for 229 yards, all career-bests, but was intercepted twice.
• Brandon Lingen's seven-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter was his first since having six catches for 105 yards and a TD at Iowa on Nov. 14, 2015. Lingen finished with two catches for 31 yards.
• Tyler Johnson had three catches for 69 yards. He leads the team with 15 catches for 351 yards and two TDs.
• Eric Carter had two receptions for 54 yards, including a spectacular diving catch for 35 yards, setting up the final TD.
• Phillip Howard had a career-long 19-yard reception in the second quarter. He also had career-highs for receptions (4) and yards (46).
• Jonathan Celestin recorded a career-high 15 tackles (11 solo), including one TFL. His previous best had been 13 tackles versus Iowa on Nov. 8, 2016.
• Thomas Barber finished with a career-best 10 tackles (seven solo), including one TFL and a pass breakup. Barber's previous best had been nine tackles versus MTSU on Sept. 16.
• Antonio Shenault registered a career-high 11 tackles (seven solo). He had previously recorded 10 tackles on two occasions, including during the season-opening win versus Buffalo.
• Kiondre Thomas and Jacob Huff each had a career-high six tackles.
• Emmit Carpenter connected on a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter, extending his streak of successful attempts to six after missing his first two attempts this season.
• Carpenter's consecutive FG streak ended at six after missing from 42 yards on the opening drive of the second half.
• Ryan Santoso punted three times for a net average of 40.0 yards per punt. He had two punts of 50+ yards, giving him five such boots this season.
