Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Match Player Stats On Nov 07, 2020

Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for four touchdowns for the second straight week, Tanner Morgan threw for two more and Minnesota's defense held shorthanded Illinois in check Saturday for its first win, a 41-14 Big Ten Conference mismatch at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

Ibrahim collected 224 yards on 30 carries for the Golden Gophers (1-2), tying his career high and making him just the second back in program history with consecutive 200-yard games.

Morgan completed 17 of 27 passes for 216 yards, tossing an interception. Rashod Bateman was Morgan's main target, catching a career-high 10 passes for 139 yards and a score.

But Minnesota's defense made the difference. After allowing 94 points in season-opening losses to Michigan and Maryland, the Golden Gophers limited the Fighting Illini to 287 yards and 14 first downs, recording four sacks and forcing two turnovers.

Illinois (0-3) got 108 yards and a touchdown from Mike Epstein in 11 carries, but little else went right.

Quarterback Coran Taylor, making his first career start because three quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart were out with injuries or COVID-19, completed only 6 of 17 passes for 106 yards.

Minnesota established a 21-0 second quarter lead. Treyson Potts' 9-yard touchdown run initiated scoring with 3:29 left in the first quarter. That was followed by Morgan's 5-yard scoring strike to Bateman on a fade pattern and a 1-yard touchdown run by Ibrahim.

After Epstein got the Illini on the board with a 1-yard scoring jaunt with 5:32 remaining in the first half, the Gophers restored a three-touchdown lead. Ibrahim capped a drive of more than five minutes on a 2-yard run with 24 seconds on the clock, putting Minnesota ahead 28-7 at halftime.

Ibrahim added another 1-yard touchdown plunge with 21 seconds left in the third quarter for a 35-7 advantage. After Taylor found Josh Imatorbhebhe for a 52-yard scoring strike early in the third quarter, Ibrahim cleared 200 yards with a 52-yard run to the 5.

Three plays later, Ibrahim found the end zone from the 4 to cap the day's scoring.

--Field Level Media