Darius Taylor rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns to lead Minnesota to a 27-0 nonconference home win over Nevada on Saturday.
Taylor also had a receiving touchdown and Max Brosmer went 16-of-26 passing for 191 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Golden Gophers (2-1).
Brendon Lewis went 15-of-23 passing for 114 yards with three interceptions for Nevada (1-3), which had just 172 yards of total offense and committed eight penalties for 89 yards.
In addition to picking off Lewis three times, Minnesota’s defense also collected four sacks.
Leading 6-0 in the second quarter, the Golden Gophers earned some separation with a pair of touchdowns.
First, Max Brosmer hit Taylor for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 4:03 left in the first half to give Minnesota a 13-0 lead.
The score came two plays after Minnesota’s Patrick Garwo III intercepted a pass and returned it to the Nevada 16-yard line.
Then Taylor scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining until halftime to put Minnesota ahead 20-0.
The score capped off a 7-play, 69-yard drive that took only 1:23.
With 8:58 left in the third quarter, Taylor scored on an 80-yard touchdown run to give Minnesota a 27-0 lead.
Taylor broke through the Nevada front seven in the middle of the field, sprinted down the right sideline, then cut back across the field to the end zone.
Nevada put together a drive in the fourth quarter to the Minnesota 16-yard line, but it ended on an interception by Minnesota’s Ethan Robinson in the end zone off Lewis.
Minnesota took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of field goals by Dragan Kesich, one from 52 yards and another from 21.
Nevada had a chance to score in the second quarter after mounting an 11-play, 51-yard drive, but a 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
–Field Level Media