Gophers defensive lineman Jah Joyner (17) pressured Bowling Green quarterback Connor Bazelak (7), on a passing attempt during Tuesday’s Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. (Al Goldis, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Five takeaways from the Gophers' 30-24 win over Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl:

1. Darius Taylor is a difference-maker

Gophers true freshman running back Darius Taylor missed the final five games of the regular season because of a leg injury, didn't play in earlier contests against Louisiana and Michigan and had only one carry for 3 yards in the opener against Nebraska. On Tuesday, the Detroit native reminded the Gophers faithful of what they were missing by producing career highs of 35 carries and 208 yards in the Quick Lane Bowl. Taylor capped the bowl MVP effort by scoring the decisive touchdown on a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter and ripping off a 10-yard run that enabled the Gophers to go into victory formation. Coach P.J. Fleck even said Taylor was slated as his emergency quarterback if Cole Kramer and Max Shikenjanski were injured.

2. Can a QB who throws for 26 yards be productive?

The answer is yes. Cole Kramer, begged by Fleck to play in the bowl game after Athan Kaliakmanis hit the transfer portal, went out on a high note, leading the Gophers to four touchdowns. Though he went only 8-for-16 for 26 yards passing, Kramer had two TD throws, rushed for a TD and set up a field goal with a 31-yard run. His one interception came when Bowling Green linebacker Cashius Howell hit him just as he released a second-quarter pass. Kramer also played through a lower leg injury suffered in the second quarter. "What an ending to his career,'' Fleck said.

3. Special teams come up big

During the regular season, the Gophers had only seven punt returns as they employed a play-it-safe strategy. Tuesday, they took an aggressive approach, and it paid off. Quentin Redding's 27-yard punt return in the third quarter set up Kramer's 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jameson Geers that stretched the Gophers' lead to 23-10. In the fourth quarter, Minnesota's kick return game came up big when Le'Meke Brockington returned a kickoff 51 yards after Bowling Green cut the lead to 23-17. That return led to Taylor's 17-yard TD run that stretched the lead to 30-17.

4. Jah Joyner had a huge game

While Bowling Green quarterback Connor Bazelak passed for 221 yards, he needed 37 attempts to do so. The Gophers pass rush pressured Bazelak all game long, and defensive end Jah Joyner was the most disruptive. Joyner had two of the Gophers' three sacks and had 11 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Joyner's PFF pass rush grade of 90.5 was his second highest this season.

5. The Gophers played a smart game

Since the Gophers were in the Quick Lane Bowl because their Academic Progress Rate score was the best among the five-win teams in FBS, it was fitting that they won Tuesday by playing a smart game. Fleck and offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. didn't put too much pressure on Kramer, who was making the first and only start of his college career. They went with a hot hand in Taylor, who behind the Minnesota offensive line wore down the Falcons as the game progressed. The Gophers had only one turnover and were penalized only three times for 8 yards.