Javon Tracy wasted no time making his mark on Minnesota’s season opener, turning special teams into a one-man highlight reel and helping the Gophers cruise past Eastern Illinois 59-7 on Thursday in Minneapolis.
Tracy set a program record with two punt returns for touchdowns, finishing with 167 return yards after fielding four of Cade Cox’s nine punts. His first burst went for 87 yards in the opening quarter, and he struck again on a 69-yard return in the third. He also chipped in five catches for 98 yards in the first half, giving Minnesota a constant spark whenever he touched the ball.
Darius Taylor did his damage even earlier. He scored three times before halftime, powering the Gophers to a 35-7 lead by the break.
Minnesota’s offense kept rolling behind Drake Lindsey, who completed 19 of 24 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. That scoring throw went to tight end Pierce Walsh, who recorded his first career touchdown with 6 seconds left before halftime.
The second half brought more of the same for the home side. Backup quarterback Max Shikenjanski and deep reserve Xavier Ford each added rushing touchdowns, and Daniel Jackson knocked through his first college field goal.
It was a smooth start to P.J. Fleck’s 10th season.
Eastern Illinois found the end zone once, when Tyren Buggs caught an 8-yard touchdown from Cole LaCrue in the second quarter. The Panthers, now 1-1, had opened with a 28-14 win over Murray State last week.
Minnesota’s defense made sure the game never tightened. The Gophers finished with nine tackles for loss and limited Eastern Illinois to 51 rushing yards on 28 carries.
For Eastern Illinois, the opener exposed work that still needs to be done after back-to-back 3-9 seasons and a seventh-place projection in the eight-team Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll. The punt coverage unit in particular had a rough night.
Minnesota will get back to work at home against Mississippi State on Sept. 12.
It will be the first time an SEC team has visited Minneapolis since 1959. Eastern Illinois hosts Indiana State on Sept.
In Other News...
Gophers Kicking Battle Just Took An Unexpected Turn
Minnesotas kicking competition has already taken on a little more intrigue, even before the Gophers have needed to sort out who will handle the job in games. Luke Drzewiecki, the new arrival in the room, had his eligibility for a fifth year affirmed by a Louisiana court, a development that keeps him in the mix as Minnesota works through its options at a position where reliability can shape a season.
Judge William Jorden granted an injunction for Drzewiecki and more than 40 other players in the class of 2022, removing one immediate question about his status. Drzewiecki was in uniform for Minnesotas season opener, though he was not expected to play, so the next step is less about whether he can stay available and more about how the Gophers choose to use him once the kicking battle settles in. [Read more 🡒]
P.J. Fleck Moments That Still Define Minnesota In The NIL Era
P.J. Flecks time at Minnesota has always been defined by the blend of recruiting, development and adjustment that has kept the program relevant in a changing college football landscape. He arrived in early 2017 and quickly put together a class that included names Minnesota fans still know well, like Mohamed Ibrahim and Tanner Morgan, giving the Gophers a foundation that helped shape the programs rise under his watch.
The bigger lesson came after a tough 2018 season, when defensive problems forced Fleck to make a major staff change and turn to Joe Rossi. Rossi simplified things on that side of the ball, Minnesota played better because of it, and the season ended with a Quick Lane Bowl win. In the NIL era, moments like those still matter because they show how Fleck has kept Minnesota moving by identifying what works, then being willing to change what does not. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Got The Easy Start They Needed But One Concern Remains
Minnesota got the kind of season-opening tuneup teams usually dream about, rolling past Eastern Illinois 59-7 and taking control early enough to spend much of the second half resting starters. Darius Taylor scored three touchdowns, the defense held Eastern Illinois to 113 total yards, and the special teams had its own breakout moment in a game that was lopsided from the start.
The bigger test comes next, when the Gophers turn their attention to Mississippi State and the first real chance to see how much of that opening-day polish carries over. After a performance like this, Minnesota can feel good about its depth and its physical edge, but the schedule is about to ask more difficult questions in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]