Everyone knew the Gophers and New Mexico State were in very different places heading into Thursday's game, which Minnesota won 38-0. But there were things that stood out from the one-sided game. Here are five of them:
5 observations from the Gophers' season-opening win over New Mexico State
A couple of Gophers veterans upped their profile during the one-sided opener and a time-consuming drive stood out. Also, a couple things involving the coaching staff are worth noting.
September 2, 2022 at 9:21PM
![Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding (97) brought down New Mexico State Aggies quarterback Diego Pavia (10) in the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis Thursday night, September 1, 2022. The University of Minnesota Gophers faced the New Mexico State Aggies in the opening football game of the season. ] JEFF WHEELER • Jeff.Wheeler@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/V3TKA7GL7APL32EUOKHYCIKVOE.jpg?&w=712)
- Jalen Logan-Redding can play
A third-year defensive lineman, Logan-Redding started and finished with two tackles. He was particularly noticeable in the first quarter when while pressuring Aggies QB Diego Pavia, he diagnosed a screen pass, put on the brakes and reached up a hand, forcing Pavia to loft his pass and underthrow his receiver. It was subtle but effective play.
- Brevyn Spann-Ford can block
At 6-7 and 270 pounds, Brevyn Spann-Ford makes a great pass-catching target as a tight end. His blocking, however, showed his value to the Gophers on Thursday. He was especially effective on Minnesota's first two touchdown drives, sealing lanes for Mohamed Ibrahim to exploit.
- Some solid clockwork
Up 17-0 in the second quarter, the Gophers got the ball with 5:44 remaining in the half. Fleck and Ciarrocca did a solid job of draining the clock while making sure they scored a touchdown. Ibrahim rushed five times for 28 yards, while Morgan went 3-for-5 for 36 yards and scored on a QB sneak with 19 seconds left in the half.
- An argument for the defense
"Joe Rossi is a stud,'' Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said of his defensive coordinator after the game. The Gophers, who ranked third nationally in total defense last year with 278.8 yards allowed per game, held the Aggies to 91 total yards. It's the eighth time since the start of last season that they've held opponents to 250 yards or fewer and second time in that span allowing fewer than 100 (63 by Colorado was the other).
- Burying the hatchet
Credit Fleck for seeing out Aggies coach Jerry Kill for the pregame handshake and chat to diffuse any bad blood between the two coaches. And credit Kill for taking the high road, too, and for his postgame comments about what coaching the Gophers meant to him.
- Up next: Western Illinois
11 a.m. Sept. 10, Huntington Bank Stadium, BTN, 100.3-FM
Western Illinois, an FCS program that went 2-9 last year, opened its season Thursday night with a 42-25 loss at Tennessee-Martin, the No. 15-ranked team in the FCS coaches' preseason poll. The Fighting Leathernecks gave up 577 total yards in losing for the seventh time in their past eight games.
Western Illinois tied the score 7-7 early in the second quarter on Henry Ogala's 31-yard touchdown pass to Jafar Armstrong before the Skyhawks scored 21 consecutive points to pull away. Wide receiver Naseim Brantley, a graduate transfer from Sacred Heart, caught six passes for 171 yards, including touchdown grabs of 51, 44 and 32 yards.
Nick Davenport completed nine of 19 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns for the Leathernecks, while Ogala went 12-for-19 for 105 yards and a score. Davenport led Western Illinois with 62 yards on 10 carries.
Thursday's game was the Leathernecks debut for coach Myers Hendrickson, who went 30-6 in three seasons at NAIA-level Kansas Wesleyan.
A former Gophers player, Taylor Landfair, helped the No. 2 Huskers hand No.16 Minnesota its third consecutive loss.
