Hillcrest graduate Mar’Keise Irving ran for two touchdowns and a career-high 110 yards, Justin Walley scooped up a fumble and ran 25 yards for a score and Minnesota easily defeated Northwestern 41-14 on Saturday at Ryan Field in Evanston.
Tanner Morgan threw for 134 yards and ran for a touchdown and Ky Thomas added 106 yards on 21 carries as Minnesota (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) improved to 3-0 on the road.
Already thin at running back with season-ending injuries to Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts, Minnesota’s Bryce Williams suffered a lower leg injury, putting pressure on Irving, a freshman, and Thomas, a redshirt freshman.
Williams’ status is unknown as he undergoes tests.
“Everybody knows we’re going to run the football,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. “I don’t think that is a secret. I don’t think we’re catching anyone off guard by that.”
Minnesota running back Mar’Keise Irving, right, scores a touchdown past Northwestern linebacker Chris Bergin and defensive back Coco Azema during the second half Saturday in Evanston. The Gophers won 41-14. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
Thomas was banged up early in the game but returned. The Gophers’ depth chart has taken so much of a hit that Fleck experimented with linebacker Derik LeCaptain at running back. LeCaptain had a 24-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“Bryce went down today, Ky was done for a while and we were down to Bucko (Irving) and we had Derik (LeCaptain) on deck,” Fleck said. “Again, those are the cards we’re dealt.”
Northwestern struggled before coach Pat Fitzgerald pulled starter Ryan Hilinski. Andrew Marty finished 10 of 16 for the Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) and threw a pair of touchdown passes.
Fitzgerald would not name a starter going forward.
“We have to help him (Marty) a little bit more, we had more drops in the second half than we had in a long time and those are opportunities for first downs and being able to sustain drives,” Fitzgerald said. “I thought he gave us a spark and that was encouraging. So who is going to be our quarterback for next week? We will work through that.”
The Gophers never trailed after opening the game with a 13-play, 67-yard drive capped by a 26-yard Matthew Trickett field goal.
On the next play from scrimmage, Hilinski completed a pass to Malik Washington, who was stripped by Mariano Sori-Marin. Walley picked up the loose ball and scored.
Minnesota held Northwestern to a three-and-out and capitalized with another field goal from Trickett for a 13-0 first-quarter lead.
Marty came in during an 11-play, 75-yard drive and capped it with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Evan Hull, who accounted for 50 yards on the drive.
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The Gophers answered on their next possession with Irving scoring from the 3.
Trailing 20-7 late in the first half, Northwestern got a key defensive stop when Coco Azema tipped a Morgan pass and Brandon Joseph made a diving catch in the end zone for the interception.
Morgan had an 18-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Marty threw a late, 17-yard touchdown pass to Berkeley Holman.
With an impressive win, Minnesota sits alone at the top of the Big Ten West despite losing its two top running backs.
Irving and Thomas ran for a combined 216 yards. That got center John Michael Schmitz’s attention. ”Those young backs are special,” he said.
Hillcrest graduate Mar’Keise Irving ran for two touchdowns and a career-high 110 yards, Justin Walley scooped up a fumble and ran 25 yards for a score and Minnesota easily defeated Northwestern 41-14 on Saturday at Ryan Field in Evanston. Tanner Morgan threw for 134 yards and ran for a touchdown and Ky Thomas added 106 yards on 21 carries as Minnesota (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) improved to 3-0 on the road. Already thin at running back with season-ending injuries to Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts, Minnesota’s Bryce Williams suffered a lower leg injury, putting pressure on Irving, a freshman, and Thomas, a redshirt freshman. Williams’ status is unknown as he undergoes tests. “Everybody knows we’re going to run the football,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said. “I don’t think that is a secret. I don’t think we’re catching anyone off guard by that.” Minnesota running back Mar’Keise Irving, right, scores a touchdown past Northwestern linebacker Chris Bergin and defensive back Coco Azema during the second half Saturday in Evanston. The Gophers won 41-14. (Nam Y. Huh/AP) Thomas was banged up early in the game but returned. The Gophers’ depth chart has taken so much of a hit that Fleck experimented with linebacker Derik LeCaptain at running back. LeCaptain had a 24-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. “Bryce went down today, Ky was done for a while and we were down to Bucko (Irving) and we had Derik (LeCaptain) on deck,” Fleck said. “Again, those are the cards we’re dealt.” Northwestern struggled before coach Pat Fitzgerald pulled starter Ryan Hilinski. Andrew Marty finished 10 of 16 for the Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) and threw a pair of touchdown passes. Fitzgerald would not name a starter going forward. “We have to help him (Marty) a little bit more, we had more drops in the second half than we had in a long time and those are opportunities for first downs and being able to sustain drives,” Fitzgerald said. “I thought he gave us a spark and that was encouraging. So who is going to be our quarterback for next week? We will work through that.” The Gophers never trailed after opening the game with a 13-play, 67-yard drive capped by a 26-yard Matthew Trickett field goal. On the next play from scrimmage, Hilinski completed a pass to Malik Washington, who was stripped by Mariano Sori-Marin. Walley picked up the loose ball and scored. Minnesota held Northwestern to a three-and-out and capitalized with another field goal from Trickett for a 13-0 first-quarter lead. Marty came in during an 11-play, 75-yard drive and capped it with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Evan Hull, who accounted for 50 yards on the drive. Chicago Tribune Sports Newsletter Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. The Gophers answered on their next possession with Irving scoring from the 3. Trailing 20-7 late in the first half, Northwestern got a key defensive stop when Coco Azema tipped a Morgan pass and Brandon Joseph made a diving catch in the end zone for the interception. Morgan had an 18-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Marty threw a late, 17-yard touchdown pass to Berkeley Holman. With an impressive win, Minnesota sits alone at the top of the Big Ten West despite losing its two top running backs. Irving and Thomas ran for a combined 216 yards. That got center John Michael Schmitz’s attention. ”Those young backs are special,” he said.