Minnesota didn’t waste any time putting its opener on cruise control. Behind a pair of punt return touchdowns from Javon Tracy and three first-half rushing scores from Darius Taylor, the Gophers rolled past Eastern Illinois 59-7 on Thursday in Minneapolis.
Tracy was everywhere early. He took two punts to the house - 87 yards in the first quarter and 69 more in the third - while piling up 167 return yards after fielding four of Cade Cox’s nine punts. He also added five catches for 98 yards in the first half, stepping into the role previously held by safety Koi Perich, who transferred to Oregon.
Taylor did his damage before halftime, punching in three rushing touchdowns to help Minnesota build a 35-7 lead by the break. Drake Lindsey kept the offense moving efficiently, finishing 19 of 24 for 264 yards and a touchdown. That scoring throw went to tight end Pierce Walsh, who notched his first career touchdown with 6 seconds left before halftime.
The second half brought more of the same for Minnesota’s depth pieces. Backup quarterback Max Shikenjanski and deep reserve Xavier Ford each added rushing touchdowns, and Daniel Jackson connected on his first college field goal.
Eastern Illinois found the end zone in the second quarter on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cole LaCrue to Tyren Buggs. The Panthers, now 1-1, had opened their season last week with a 28-14 win over Murray State.
For Eastern Illinois, the night exposed plenty of work ahead for fifth-year coach Chris Wilkerson’s group. The Panthers were picked seventh out of eight in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll after back-to-back 3-9 seasons, and Minnesota’s punt coverage and overall speed made that clear.
Minnesota, meanwhile, looked sharp in every phase. The defense finished with nine tackles for loss and held Eastern Illinois to 51 rushing yards on 28 carries, giving P.J. Fleck’s 10th season a clean start.
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 🡒]