Minnesota entered Saturday's game having lost two straight and without starting quarterback Mitch Leidner, among others.
Fortunately for the Gophers, Maryland, which was a bit of a paper tiger at 4-1, also didn't have its starting quarterback.
Minnesota executed its offensive game plan better than Maryland, relying on running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith rather than an inexperience quarterback.
With the Gophers' defense also holding down the Terps, the end result was a nice and easy 31-10 win on the road.
A recap of Saturday's game:
CLASS LESSONS
-- The strategies of the teams couldn't have been any different. Both teams had quarterbacks making their first collegiate starts. Minnesota's Conor Rhoda had thrown two collegiate passes in his first three years while Maryland's Tyrell Pigrome had appeared in all five of Maryland's games this season, completing 11 of 21 passes. The Gophers elected not to put pressure on their quarterback, using a strategy of running the ball. Minnesota rushed 48 times (five by Rhoda) and threw just 15 passes. On the flip side, Maryland put the game in Pigrome's hands. The raw quarterback threw 37 passes and ran 25 times. The Terrapins only had 10 rushes by other players (plus one "team" rush). It was pretty clear by the end of the game which strategy worked better.
-- How much was not passing out of the ordinary for Minnesota? Leidner hadn't had that few in a game since he has 12 against Purdue on Oct. 10, 2015. However, Demry Croft also had five attempts in that game. The last time the Gophers had 15 or fewer passes in a game as a team was Nov. 8, 2014, against Iowa when they had 14.
-- Some things you can't teach. Smith had an incredible spin move to escape a tackler in the backfield, before cutting back to his left and hitting a hole in scoring on an eight-yard touchdown run for the game's initial score.
-- On Smith's 70-yard run, he hit the hole fast but probably should have never gotten into the end zone. Instead of going for a tackle downfield, Maryland's Adam Mayer tried to push Smith out of bounds. Mistake. Smith retained his balance, stayed in bounds and easily finished off the TD run.
-- Think Minnesota missed KiAnte Hardin? He had an interception for the second straight week, and it was a nice one. He stepped in front of the intended receiver and making a good grab on a high throw.
-- Sometimes it is right place, right time. Antoine Winfield Jr. had a game-clinching, memory-making 82-yard interception return for a touchdown. It might have been the easiest interception he'll ever get. The ball bounced off a Maryland receiver's hands on a short cross route and bounded in the air right to Winfield. Still have to make the catch, of course, but this was a low degree of difficulty. They all count, though.
-- Luck plays a part, too. Maryland's Tino Evans missed out on two potential interceptions.
-- Right tackle Garrison Wright was hurt in the third quarter. Minnesota's first play with Chad Fahning in as a replacement? A Rhoda run to the left.
DULY NOTED
-- Minnesota kicker Emmit Carpenter missed his first field-goal attempt of the season, a seemingly easy 36-yard attempt. Kicking from the right hash, the ball just stayed to the right of the goal post. Carpenter would later make a 37-yarder.
-- Jon Celestin missed out an interception in the fourth quarter then did a few pushups as penance.
-- Holding penalties wiped out a couple of big Maryland runs. Overall, the Terps had nine penalties for 75 yards. Minnesota wasn't immune either as a hold canceled a big Brooks carry. The Gophers had seven penalties for 50 yards.
-- Maryland had only two plays in Minnesota territory in the first three quarters.
-- Pigrome was the first true freshman quarterback to start a game for Maryland since Nov. 24, 2012.
WHAT IT MEANT
Despite not having its starting quarterback and right tackle, Minnesota found a way to win. The Gophers are now just two wins away from being bowl-eligible with three very winnable games -- two of them at home -- coming up on their schedule.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Rodney Smith had a career-high 144 yards rushing on 18 carries with two touchdowns, including a career-long 70-yarder. His touchdown on the game's first score was as impressive a backfield move as you'll see.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME
Minnesota wanted to run and gave the ball most to Brooks, who had 22 carries for 86 yards. He also scored on a nice middle screen. Brooks had an easy walk into the end zone with two offensive linemen bodyguards and a lot of open space in front of him.
THAT MOMENT
Late in the second half, Minnesota had a chance for a chip-shot field goal, but instead decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Terps 22. The Gophers handed it to Brooks, who gained 3 yards, although a defensive offsides penalty did the trick, too. Two plays later, Rhoda found Brooks on a screen pass for a touchdown and 14-0 lead. Maryland would never really be in the game after this.
THIS NUMBER
279 -- Combined all-purpose yards for Smith (167) and Brooks (112). The rest of the team had a combined 191 yards, and that includes 82 yards for Winfield Jr. on his interception return for a touchdown.
THEY SAID IT
"I felt good once I got out there and took a couple hits. Everything settled in from there and we got things cooking on offense." -- quarterback Conor Rhoda
"I don't know how he does it, that's one of his big secrets." -- Shannon Brooks on fellow running back Rodney Smith's spin move.
"We were confident in what we came here to do. We came here to get a W." -- cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr.
"We killed ourselves with penalties and turnovers, especially early in the game. Playing from behind is a hard thing to do with a freshman quarterback." -- Maryland head coach DJ Durkin
WHAT'S NEXT
Minnesota will host Rutgers (2-5), which has been outscored 174-14 in losing its last four games and 218-28 overall in five losses.
Dave Heller is the author of the upcoming book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns
