Quick Hitters - This week in Football

Quick hitters

This week in football

Published: 2011-09-26


Adam Richard

arichard@mndaily.com


-MarQueis Gray was 5-for-12 for only 53 yards and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by the Bison. Gray’s legs were unable to carry the Gophers this week, as he gained only 23 yards on 13 carries. He had averaged more than six yards per carry in the previous two games, but only 1.8 yards per carry Saturday.

-Max Shortell finished with 71 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The touchdown strike was a 20-yard pass, his third completion of more than 20 yards in the game. Gray’s longest completion was for 17 yards when the Gophers were losing 37-24 with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

-Marcus Williams, former Hopkins High School star athlete, returned two touchdowns for the NDSU defense — one for 52 yards and the other for 40 yards.

“I’ve been waiting for this for two years,” Williams said of playing the Gophers.

-Duane Bennett and Donnell Kirkwood combined for 23 carries and 144 yards along with two touchdowns. Freshman running back David Cobb also saw his first action of the year with a single carry for three yards.

-NDSU running back D.J. McNorton rushed 13 times for 92 yards and a touchdown, averaging 7.1 yards per carry.

-The Gophers run defense continued their trend of progressively worse play. In four games, the Gophers have allowed an average yards-per-carry of 2.39, 3.59, 3.81 and 5.00.

-Shortell helmed the Gophers’ most impressive scoring drive, but didn’t attempt a single pass. The Gophers ran the ball 10 times, marching 95 yards for a score. The Bison weren’t able to load the box with Shortell under center as often as they did against Gray.

-NDSU scored on every possession they had for the first three quarters of the game. They didn’t punt the ball until the third quarter with 1:12 remaining.

-NDSU quarterback Brock Jensen started the game with six straight completions and finished 16-for-21 with 197 yards and no turnovers. He added 37 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground.

-The Gophers tied a season-high with eight penalties for 57 yards, including two penalties on third down that would have halted the driving Bison. Senior linebacker Gary Tinsley had one of two 15-yard personal foul penalties that allowed NDSU to score on both drives.

-The Bison converted 66 percent of their third downs and Minnesota was called for the two penalties that gave automatic first downs to the Bison.

-Donnell Kirkwood left in the fourth quarter with a tweaked hamstring. He finished with 10 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns. The hamstring is the same he injured last year that forced him to miss the season.

He said he is optimistic that it will not keep him out of a game.

“Nothing too serious, not like the first time,” Kirkwood said.

-Troy Stoudermire left the game after the first quarter. Stoudermire had a fracture in his lower arm, but practiced all week.

The Big Ten’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards was unable to field kickoffs, but attempted to play at cornerback.

He was unable to secure two open field tackles against NDSU that led to big gains, after which Stoudermire left the game.

“Hopefully there wasn't any more damage to [his arm], and I hope he gets used to playing with it,” head coach Jerry Kill said.


All content © 1900 - 2011


ARTICLE URL: http://www.mndaily.com/2011/09/26/quick-hitters