Minnesota beats Eastern Illinois 42-20 in opener

MINNEAPOLIS -- Mitch Leidner ran for two scores and threw a touchdown pass to Donovahn Jones , leading Minnesota to a season-opening 42-20 victory over Eastern Illinois on Thursday night. Leidner finished 9 for 17 with 144 yards, David Cobb carried 14 times for 71 yards and the defense delivered a punishing performance to overwhelm the Panthers, a perennial FCS power facing the Gophers for the first time. Jalen Whitlow , a transfer from Kentucky, went 14 for 23 passing for 110 yards and rushed 19 times for 77 yards. He had an interception, though, and took two sacks on a mistake-marred night for the Panthers. Eric Murray blocked a punt near the goal line for the Gophers that Logan Hutton grabbed for a three-touchdown lead. Minnesota's Berkley Edwards , the brother of former Michigan and NFL wide receiver Braylon Edwards, ran for two late scores in his first career game.