The Golden Gophers followed up their Week 1 effort against TCU with a lackluster first half against Colorado State. The score was 7-6 at halftime in favor of the Rams, and it wasn’t that close. The Minnesota offense hadn’t been able to move the ball much at all, and would have been getting shut out if not for Ryan Santoso’s 35- and 50-yard field goals. It looked as though the team might very well get off to an 0-2 start for the first time since 2011.
Golden Gophers: Week 2 Recap and What’s Ahead
Whatever the coaches said in the locker room at the half, worked. The Gophers took the lead, and the Rams needed a 38-yard field goal as time expired to force overtime. Minnesota won the toss and elected to go on defense. On the first play from scrimmage, linebacker Cody Poock forced a fumble and tackle Scott Ekpe recovered. Five plays later, Santoso hit an 18-yarder and that was the ballgame. Not Minnesota’s best game, to be sure, but it’s something to build on.
The Positive
-The defense played very well throughout. Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Jalen Myrick each came away with an interception, and Colorado State didn’t hit the 200-yard mark in passing or rushing.
-Receiver Drew Wolitarsky and running back Rodney Williams each hit the 100-yard mark. Wolitarsky also scored to cap a three-play, 70-yard drive on the Gophers’ first possession of the third quarter.
-The offense converted in a couple of important third- and fourth-down situations.
-Minnesota caught a major break in that Colorado State’s best receiver, Rashard Higgins, was injured and didn’t play. He could have been the difference in such a close game.
-Quarterback Mitch Leidner: 233 yards and two TDs. Not bad at all.
-Jalen Myrick averaged 23.7 yards per kick return, and Peter Mortell averaged over 47 yards per punt. Santoso missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, but hit from 35, 50, and 18. Special teams are in pretty good shape.
The Negative
-I don’t know how the numbers broke down as far as the first half versus the second, but Leidner attempted 45 passes and completed just 23. I’d like to see those numbers be closer.
-Ninety-nine percent of what happened in the first half. Against any number of Big Ten teams (not just Ohio State and Michigan State), the game could have been out of reach for the Gophers by halftime.
The Bottom Line
This game had the potential to be ugly. The Gophers fixed things at halftime, got the job done, and headed back to Minneapolis with the W. There are definitely things to work on, but there are a lot of things they should be pleased with as well.
This Saturday’s matchup with Kent State gives Minnesota an opportunity to continue improving on offense. The Golden Flashes gave up 30 or more points five times last season, and won just two games. The Gophers absolutely need to use this game to work on timing, rhythm, and chemistry within the offense. I’m sure the coaching staff is hoping to see them dominate this game and get a boost of confidence that carries over into conference play two weeks from now. The defense needs to keep doing what they’ve been doing; with any luck, this game will be a chance to get defensive backups some playing time.
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