Kate Butler

The Golden Gophers took the field at TCF Stadium today for the first home game this season, pulverizing the UNH Wildcats 44-7. Minnesota put two points on the board with a safety halfway through the first quarter, followed by a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback MarQueis Gray to Isaac Fruechte a mere eighteen seconds later. Keeping the same high-intensity pace the entire game, the Gophers took the early lead and ran with it.

More specifically, MarQueis Gray “ran with it” for a 75-yard touchdown after pulling off a fake that nobody saw coming, including the announcers. KFAN’s Justin Gaard spoke to Gray regarding the 11-second sprint into the end zone, which was the longest play in his career. This came as an answer to New Hampshire’s one and only touchdown, a five yard run by RB Chris Setian.

 In another brilliant read of the field, Gray fired a pass from the two-yard-line to teammate John Rabe for a touchdown. Gray wasn’t done yet though, minutes later he picked up his second rushing touchdown, leaving the Wildcats visibly deflated. With a score of 30-7, the Gophers went into the third quarter with the most points in one half since they appeared in the 2006 Insight Bowl.

Donnell Kirkwood ran two yards for a touchdown that would put the Gophers up by 30 points heading into the final quarter of the game. A tactful 19-yard pass from quarterback Max Shortell resulted in A.J. Barker’s first career touchdown. Even with a total of one safety, seven touchdowns, and Jordan Wettstein’s seven beautiful field goals, Coach Jerry Kill said, “A win is a win…We did our job today, there is no room for error.”

As the 2-0 Gophers gear up to play Western Michigan next week, Kill hopes to help keep the team motivated by filling TCF Stadium’s seats. In a post-game interview, Kill said, “It’s gotta be a big party in the Twin Cities when we play!”   

*Photo - GopherSports.com