MarQueis Gray broke the Minnesota Golden Gopher single season rushing record by a quarterback in a 27-7 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.
Gray passed Billy Cockerham’s record of 831 yards on a 16-yard touchdown run with 12:40 remaining in the first half. He finished the game with 167 rushing yards and 966 rushing yards on the season. He added a second rushing touchdown in the second half.
He also threw for 85 yards on 7-of-14 passing and a touchdown.
“He some awfully good decisions today,” Gopher head coach Jerry Kill said. “He is certainly getting better. (Quarterback coach Jim) Zebrowski has done a good job with him.”
The Gopher defense held the Illini offense to 160 total yards. It may have been at its best this season in the first quarter when it held the Illini to minus-one yard total and at one point had it at minus-23 rushing yards.
“The first half is as good as we played all season,” Kill said. “We all know winning solves a lot of things.”
The Gophers finished with a 333-160 advantage in total yards, including a 248-82 advantage on the ground.
“I couldn’t be happier for the senior group,” Kill said. “They set the tone for us going forward.”
Sophomore defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman had his best game as a Gopher with two sacks in the first half and a forced fumble that led to the first touchdown of the game.
“He had some good plays,” Kill said. “We needed that from him. I know he came here as a tight end and has been moved around.”
Hageman stood out on defense in the first half and senior Kim Royston took over in the second.
He played his last game as a Gopher compiling 13 tackles, including a sack and several big stops that help stall Illini drives.
Jordan Wettstein has taking over the kicking duties and responded with a pair field goals over 40 yards, including a 51-yarder at the end of the first half.
“We never put a limit on people,” Kill said about what Wettstein’s limit is. “We didn’t kick the ball off well at Northwestern. We challenged him and he came through.”
The Gophers (3-9 overall, 2-6 conference) defeated the Illini (6-6, 2-6) for the second consecutive season.
Players of the Game
Offense: MarQueis Gray. The quarterback from Indianapolis, Ind. threw for 85 yards and a touchdown while running for 167 yards and two scores.
Defense: Ra’Shede Hageman. The defensive lineman from Minneapolis recorded two sacks and forced a fumble.
Special Teams: Jordan Wettstein. The kicker from De Pere, Wisc. converted two field goals, including a 51-yarder.
Boxscore
Illinois 0 0 7 0 – 7
Minnesota 0 20 7 0 – 27
First Quarter
None
Second Quarter
Min – Gray 16 (Wettstein kick), 12:40.
Min – Rabe 8 pass from Gray (Wettstein kick), 6:59.
Min – FG Wettstein 44, 1:17.
Min – FG Wettstein 51, 0:01.
Third Quarter
Min – Gray 14 (Wettstein kick), 8:59.
Ill – Pollard 11 (Dimke kick), 4:25.
Fourth Quarter
None
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