New Mexico State head coach, and former Minnesota Gophers head honcho, Jerry Kill stated in 2017 he never wanted to step foot in the University of Minnesota again after Athletic Director Mark Coyle fired then head coach Tracy Claeys. Claeys was Kill’s former defensive coordinator.
Kill told KARE 11 on Aug. 25 he was even unsure if he would shake PJ Fleck’s hand on the field.
Now we can see why. The Gophers on Thursday dominated their non-conference opponent 38-0.
The Aggies’ offense started out with a three and out. Quarterback Diego Pavia tossed a near interception to Gophers defensive back Justin Walley.
Minnesota then followed that defensive effort with an offensive drive. Seven plays for 74 yards, ending in a Mohamed Ibrahim touchdown, his first in 364 days.
Leaning heavily on Pavia’s running ability on their next drive, New Mexico State’s offense moved smoother. After giving up a first down, the Gophers stopped New Mexico State’s advances and the Aggies punted again. Quarterback Gavin Frakes subbed in for Pavia but to no avail, the Aggies couldn’t muster many first downs, only achieving two in the first three quarters.
The one-two running back punch of Ibrahim and Trey Potts attacked the Aggies defense relentlessly for the entire game. Ibrahim at the first quarter’s close posted 70 yards rushing, averaging ten yards per carry. Both players got game balls.
“Emotional,” said Fleck on what it was like watching Ibrahim play as well as he did coming back from a season-ending leg injury. “I’m not any of these players’ parents but you feel like you are…what he’s been through, what he’s overcome, is what row the boat is all about.”
On Potts, who suffered a season-ending leg injury versus Purdue last season, Fleck said, “Thanks to the doctors at Purdue, thanks to the medical team there, thanks to the medical team in Indiana, thanks to the doctors and medical team here at the University of Minnesota, he’s alive. He never knew if he’d play again.”
Through 15 minutes and three seconds, Ibrahim was the main reason the Gophers led 14-0. Potts found the end zone for the first time at the conclusion of the third quarter. Ibrahim finished with 21 rushes for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns while Potts ended with 17 rushes for 89 yards and a score.
After a Matthew Trickett 26-yard field goal make, the Gophers continued their rushing onslaught with Ibrahim achieving over 100 yards rushing in the first half, extending his streak to ten straight games since the 2020 Outback Bowl. Minnesota ended the half with a touchdown with a Tanner Morgan QB-sneak. 24-0 Gophers as halftime arrived.
Morgan continued to showcase his mobility in the second half as he dashed for a crucial 14-yard gain for a first down after the Gophers were backed up on a 2nd and 26. He then snuck in for another rushing touchdown to extend the Minnesota mauling of the Aggies to 31-0.
“I knew I had to get the first down,” Morgan said. “I had a couple really good blocks from the outside, Michael Brown-Stephens got me good blocks where I could get a couple yards to get the first. But, playing quarterback, third down is a huge part of that, being able to move the sticks. Whatever is necessary, that’s what I gotta do.”
Defensive lineman Thomas Rush earned the Gophers’ first sack of the game in the second half, sacking Frakes for another Aggies three and out. Defensive back Terrell Smith nabbed Minnesota’s first interception of the season during the fourth quarter on Frakes, picking him off in the end zone.
Redshirt-senior offensive lineman Axel Ruschmeyer suffered an injury late in the third quarter and did not return to the game. If he is out for an extended period of time, that could be problematic for a Gophers o-line, which features many new faces and not much experience.
The game ended in a Golden Gopher 38-0 shutout over New Mexico State. Minnesota totaled 485 yards compared to New Mexico State’s 91.
As to the Jerry Kill drama, Fleck met with Kill before the game and did in fact shake his hand after the game.
“I told him, ‘thank you for all you’ve done in my career,’” Fleck, who worked with Kill on Northern Illinois’ coaching staff, said. “I know this, I appreciate Jerry’s passion because I know how bad Jerry loves this place.”
Minnesota will play Western Illinois next Saturday, September 10, at 11 AM CST. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
