MINNEAPOLIS, MN — One week after Mississippi State sent Minnesota crashing back to earth, Russell Warner got exactly the response he needed from his Golden Gophers.
Minnesota returned to Huntington Bank Stadium and took care of business against Akron with a convincing 31–14 victory, improving to 2–1 through the opening three games of the Warner era. It was not always the prettiest offensive performance, particularly early, but Minnesota controlled almost every meaningful aspect of the game, piling up 501 yards of offense, running 80 plays and holding the football for 24:09 compared with just 11:51 for the Zips.
More importantly, there was no repeat of the self-inflicted disaster that doomed the Gophers against Mississippi State. After throwing three interceptions in the 37–10 defeat a week earlier, sophomore quarterback Drake Lindsey responded with a much calmer afternoon, completing 27 of 40 passes for 255 yards, one touchdown and, perhaps most importantly, zero interceptions. Lindsey did not need to carry the offense on his shoulders this time around. He simply needed to distribute the football, protect it and allow Minnesota's biggest offensive weapon to take over.
That weapon was once again Darius Taylor.
The senior running back delivered his best performance of Warner's young tenure, carrying 28 times for 202 yards and a touchdown while averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. Taylor was not simply running through enormous holes, either. He accumulated 124 yards after contact, broke five tackles and produced four runs of at least 20 yards, repeatedly punishing an Akron defense that had little answer for him as the afternoon progressed.
Taylor's performance helped Minnesota rush for 246 yards on 40 carries, with A.J. Turner providing another 41 yards on seven attempts. The Gophers could dictate the game on the ground, and that allowed Lindsey to play a far more controlled game than he had against Mississippi State. Seven different Minnesota players caught passes, led by Jalen Smith's 10 receptions for 84 yards, while Javon Tracy added five catches for 81. Kaden Helms contributed four receptions for 50 yards and Perry Thompson caught four for 32, including Lindsey's only touchdown pass.
Despite the eventual margin, Minnesota did not race away from Akron early. The Gophers repeatedly moved into scoring position without finishing drives, leaving sophomore kicker Kyle Mount with an unusually heavy workload. Mount opened the scoring with a 29-yard field goal midway through the first quarter before Minnesota's defense produced a safety late in the period to give the Gophers an unusual 5–0 advantage.
Mount added a 21-yarder in the second quarter before Lindsey finally produced Minnesota's first offensive touchdown, finding Thompson from 13 yards out with 3:58 remaining before halftime. That sent the Gophers into the locker room firmly in control, even if the 15–0 scoreline did not entirely reflect how comprehensively they had controlled possession.
Mount would remain busy throughout the second half and ultimately finished 5-for-6 on field-goal attempts, connecting from 29, 21, 35, 38 and 22 yards while also converting both of his extra points. His reliability ensured Minnesota continued adding points whenever drives stalled, but six field-goal attempts against Akron will also give Warner something to address. The Gophers consistently moved the football but too often settled for three instead of seven, finishing with only two touchdowns from six red-zone opportunities.
Third down remains another area that will concern the Minnesota staff. After the disastrous 0-for-15 performance against Mississippi State, the Gophers improved to only 4-for-15 against Akron, leaving them 4-for-30 across the last two games. Warner compensated by being aggressive on fourth down, where Minnesota converted four of five attempts, but those numbers will become increasingly difficult to survive once the level of opposition increases.
Fortunately for Minnesota, its defense ensured those offensive imperfections never threatened the outcome.
Akron managed only eight first downs and ran just 35 offensive plays. Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger completed 7 of 13 passes for only 81 yards and was intercepted twice as Minnesota completely shut down the Zips' passing attack. John Nestor recorded one of those interceptions, while Anthony Smith registered Minnesota's lone sack and also recorded a tackle for loss. Maverick Baranowski forced a fumble as the Gophers consistently created disruption whenever Akron attempted to throw the football.
The one significant blemish came on the ground. Akron averaged 8.9 yards per carry and produced several huge runs, with Jordan Gant rushing 12 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. Poffenbarger also added 48 rushing yards, including a 56-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Those explosive plays inflated what otherwise looked like a dominant defensive performance and will certainly give Warner and defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter something to correct on film.
Outside of those breakdowns, Akron accomplished very little. The Zips converted only one of six third downs, turned the football over twice and were almost completely incapable of sustaining drives. Minnesota's ability to keep its offense on the field eventually became overwhelming, with the Gophers running 45 more plays than their opponent.
The second half therefore became less about whether Minnesota would win and more about how comfortably it would finish the job. Mount continued chipping away with field goals while the defense repeatedly handed the football back to Lindsey and the offense. Akron eventually found the end zone late through Gant, but by then the result had long since been decided.
Fittingly, Taylor provided the final statement.
With 1:04 remaining, Minnesota's workhorse powered into the end zone from 13 yards out to complete his 202-yard afternoon and put the finishing touches on the 37–8 victory. It was an emphatic ending for the player who increasingly looks like the centerpiece of everything Warner wants this Minnesota offense to become.
There are still obvious areas for improvement. Minnesota cannot continue converting third downs at its current rate. Warner will want touchdowns rather than repeatedly asking Mount to rescue drives with field goals. And a defense preparing for Big Ten football cannot afford to surrender the kind of explosive rushing plays Akron produced.
But after what happened against Mississippi State, this game was primarily about how Minnesota responded.
Lindsey protected the football. Taylor dominated. The defense forced turnovers. Mount converted his opportunities. Minnesota controlled possession and produced more than 500 yards of offense.
Three games into Warner's tenure, the Gophers are 2–1, and while the loss to Mississippi State exposed just how far this program still has to go, Saturday offered another glimpse of the formula Warner believes can take it there.
Give the football to Darius Taylor. Keep Lindsey comfortable. Control the clock. Win the turnover battle. Make the opponent chase the game.
Against Akron, Minnesota did exactly that.
