Gophers blank Nevada 27-0 for first back-to-back shutouts since 1962

Sure, Max Brosmer passed for 191 yards and a touchdown. And yes, Darius Taylor had an explosive 80-yard TD run among his 124 rushing yards and three scores. But more than anything, Saturday belonged to the Gophers defense.

Behind two interceptions by Kerry Brown and one by Ethan Robinson, the Gophers blanked Nevada 27-0 at Huntington Bank Stadium, a week after shutting out Rhode Island 48-0, marking the first time since 1962 that they’ve posted back-to-back shutouts.

Sixty-two years ago, Minnesota beat Illinois 17-0 on Oct. 20 at Memorial Stadium and Michigan by the same score seven days later at Michigan Stadium. That season, Minnesota also had back-to-back shutouts of Missouri and Navy early and added a November blanking of Iowa.

“I’m really proud of our defense,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “… I love how our defense is playing. I love the complementary football. How we play offense is gonna complement our defense. How we play defense will complement our offense. Special teams will be the bridge.”

The Gophers defense also posted four sacks Saturday, including 1½ by safety Jack Henderson.

After leaving eight points on the field when they settled for two first-quarter field goals, the Gophers (2-1) started operating with more offensive efficiency and fed off their defense. They built a 20-0 halftime lead by making the Wolf Pack (1-3) pay for a turnover and by maximizing a two-minute drill.

Brosmer, who completed 14 of 20 passes for 195 yards in the first half and finished 16-for-26, found Taylor out of the backfield for a 10-yard TD that made it 13-0 with 4:03 left in the second quarter.

And when the Gophers got the ball back with 1:55 to play in the half, Brosmer led a 69-yard drive capped by Taylor’s 4-yard TD run from a rugby-like scrum. Brosmer hit Taylor for 11 yards, Jackson for 14 and tight end Jameson Geers for 22. After a pass interference penalty moved the ball to the 4, Taylor’s run made it 20-0.

“That was great,” Brosmer said of the late drive in front of an announced 44,534. “… That’s something that we pride ourselves on — executing when we’re called to do so.”

Nevada missed a first-half field-goal attempt, then drove to the Gophers 16 in the fourth quarter only to have Robinson make a leaping interception of a pass by quarterback Brendon Lewis.

In three games, the Gophers have allowed only one touchdown.

“Coach [Corey] Hetherman has brought a new energy, new attitude, to this team,” Gophers linebacker Maverick Baranowski said of his defensive coordinator. “We played hard last year, but this year we are really clicking. It also helps that we’re a lot older, more mature.”

With the victory, the Gophers finished nonconference play with a 2-1 record, a mark that could’ve been 3-0 had they made fewer mistakes in the opener against North Carolina. Instead, they enter Big Ten play needing four wins to reach bowl eligibility. Of course, they’re hoping for more. They’ll face an immediate challenge against rival Iowa on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium before traveling to defending national champion Michigan on Sept. 28. A difficult three-game stretch finishes Oct. 5 with a home game against No. 11 USC.

The redshirt freshman defensive back intercepted two passes, and the Gophers cashed them in for 10 points. The first came when Jalen Logan-Redding hit Lewis, forcing a short throw that Brown dived to intercept at the Gophers 45. Brown’s second pick came in the second quarter, shortly after Brosmer threw an end zone interception. Brown returned the pick 17 yards to the Nevada 16.

“I’m thankful for my D-line getting pressure on the quarterback,” Brown said.

80 Official yards in Taylor’s touchdown run. He might have covered 120 yards with his cutback to set up a late block. “They made it pretty easy for me,” Taylor said of his blockers.

With nonconference play in their rearview mirror, the Gophers begin their Big Ten slate with a super-charged rivalry game against Iowa on Saturday (6:30 p.m., NBC). Last year, Minnesota ended an eight-game losing streak against the Hawkeyes, securing the Floyd of Rosedale trophy with a 12-10 victory in Iowa City. The Gophers’ victory was controversial to those on the Iowa side because Hawkeyes cornerback Cooper DeJean appeared to return a punt 54 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:21 left to play. Officials, however, ruled that DeJean had given an invalid fair catch signal, negating the return.