The Minnesota Gophers Football team was looking to establish their running game after a lackluster performance against Nebraska in a 13-10 win last weekend. The Gophers only tallied 55 yards on the ground last week in a performance that was very un-P.J. Fleck-like.

Well, coach Fleck and the Gophers fans certainly had to be pleased with the productivity of the ground game in their 25-6 win over the Eastern Michigan University Eagles. The Maroon and Gold offense racked up 296 yards on 56 carries for a 5.3 average per rush. They also added two rushing touchdowns.

Gophers Start the Game on the Run

The Gopher offense started the game with some nice efforts by starting back Sean Tyler on the first series. He used great vision in finding holes in the Eagles’ defense, rushing for 51 of his game, totaling 96-yard rushing yards in that series. The drive, unfortunately, ended when quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was stopped for a two-yard loss on fourth down at the Eagles’ four-yard line.

On Minnesota’s second possession, Tyler again found running room as he scampered for 23 yards on four carries. Kaliakmanis added 38 yards through the air. Including a nifty catch and run for 22 yards by receiver Corey Crooms.

But once again, the drive would stall, this time at the Eastern Michigan six-yard line. However, early in the second quarter, the Gophers were able to manufacture some points out of the drive courtesy of a 24-yard field goal by kicker Dragan Kesich. The Gophers led 3-0.

The Eagles Take Their Shot

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Gophers RB Darius Taylor (1) – Abbie Parr/AP Photo

Now it was the Eagles’ turn to get hot. Starting at their own 25-yard line, they mixed some dynamic runs by star running back Samson Evans with three completions by quarterback Adam Smith to march the ball all the way down to the Minnesota two-yard line.

They were especially effective in using the superior height of their receivers to make catches over the Gophers’ defensive backs. This drive also stalled and Eastern Michigan had to settle for a Jesus Gomez 20-yard field goal knotting the score at 3-3.

This is when the Darius Taylor Show started, and it led to the game’s first touchdown. Minnesota started at their own seven-yard line and marched down the field aided by Taylor’s 37 rushing yards. Kaliakmanis and Crooms combined on a nifty 13-yard throw and catch, and Eastern Michigan was flagged for two 15-yard pass interference penalties.  This all culminated with a 2-yard touchdown run by Taylor that put the Gophers up 10-3 with 3:57 left in the half.

Gophers Score the First TD of the Game

Eastern Michigan got the ball back, and mixing equal parts pass and run, they drove the ball down to the Minnesota 19-yard line. The drive was also kept alive by a 10-yard holding penalty on Gophers defensive back Aidan Gousby. On fourth down, Gomez would nail a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Minnesota went into the halftime locker room leading 10-6.

Minnesota received the second-half kickoff, and Tyler returned the kick to the Minnesota 25-yard line. This set up another long possession, highlighted by 52 combined yards for Taylor and a nice 12-yard scamper by Tyler. Unfortunately, the Gophers had to once again settle for a Kesich field goal, which elevated Minnesota to a seven-point lead.

Minnesota Scores Again

An Eagles possession yielded nothing, and they were forced to punt to the Gophers, who took possession of the ball at their own 36. Kaliakmanis led off the drive with a crisp 20-yard throw to Daniel Jackson for a first down. On the next play, Eastern Michigan was flagged for a pass interference penalty on Brevyn Spann-Ford which brought the ball down to the Eagles 29-yard line.

The Gophers would keep it on the ground with four straight carries by Taylor, which brought the ball to the Eastern Michigan one yard. From there, Kaliakmanis would sneak it in to give Minnesota a 20-6.

Dramatic Punt Block

The Eagles would go three and out on their next series, and Minnesota would take possession of the ball at their own 19-yard line. After moving the ball all of the way down to the Eastern Michigan 30-yard line, Tyler would cough up the ball on a first-down run, and the Eagles would take possession with 11:50 left in the game.

An Eagles penalty and a Tre’Von Jones sack of quarterback Adam Smith had Eastern Michigan marching backward to their own 22-yard line. On their punt attempt, three Gophers players broke through the protection, and backup linebacker Eli Mau was credited with a blocked punt.

The ball rolled around in the back of the end zone, where it was recovered by Minnesota’s Joey Gerlach. The officials initially ruled it a touchdown, but further review showed that he had stepped on the end line as he was reaching for the ball, so the Gophers were awarded a safety, and the Eagles would have to kick the ball back to the Maroon and Gold. Minnesota now led 22-6.

Gophers Add One More Field Goal

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Gophers DL Kyler Baugh (93) – Ryan Burns/247Sports

The teams exchanged interceptions on their next possessions. After the Minnesota interception by Devon Williams brought the ball to the Eagles’ 49-yard line, the Gophers would commence on their final drive of the night.

Having worn the defense down, Quinn Carroll, Tyler Cooper, and the rest of the Gophers’ offensive line were having their way with the Eagles front seven. Taylor took advantage of this, and in eight carries, he helped the Gophers move the ball to the Eagles seven. But once again, the drive stalled, and Kesich was brought in for a 20-yard field goal. He calmly converted the kick, stretching the Gophers lead to 25-6.

The night appropriately ended with a Kyler Baugh sack of Smith as time expired. The Gophers won in dominant fashion against an overwhelmed foe. Next week, they travel to North Carolina to face the 20th-ranked Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. North Carolina is led by their Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback, Drake Maye. This will be a huge test for the Gophers, and it will take a consistent, mistake-free game to upset this highly-ranked squad.