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7–59
Final
 Huntington Bank Stadium, MinneapolisMINN -42.5
FINALEastern Illinois 7, Minnesota 59MINN covered -42.5CLOSED MINN -42.5

Highlights

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Win probability

EVERY PLAY · ESPN MODEL
MINN WINNING
EIU WINNING
KICKQ2Q3Q4FINAL

KICKOFF: MINN 98% · BIGGEST SINGLE-PLAY SWING: 1 PTS

Scoring plays

10 SCORES
Q1
Rushing Touchdown

Darius Taylor 1 Yd Run (Daniel Jackson Kick)

4:29
0-7
Punt Return Touchdown

Javon Tracy 87 Yd Punt Return (Daniel Jackson Kick)

2:14
0-14
Q2
Rushing Touchdown

Darius Taylor 27 Yd Run (Daniel Jackson Kick)

14:20
0-21
Passing Touchdown

Tyren Buggs 8 Yd pass from Cole LaCrue (Drew Schiller Kick)

9:00
7-21
Rushing Touchdown

Darius Taylor 3 Yd Run (Daniel Jackson Kick)

3:15
7-28
Passing Touchdown

Pierce Walsh 1 Yd pass from Drake Lindsey (Daniel Jackson Kick)

0:06
7-35
Q3
Punt Return Touchdown

Javon Tracy 69 Yd Punt Return (Daniel Jackson Kick)

13:26
7-42
Field Goal Good

Daniel Jackson 31 Yd Field Goal

3:17
7-45
Q4
Rushing Touchdown

Max Shikenjanski 2 Yd Run (Daniel Jackson Kick)

12:29
7-52
Rushing Touchdown

Xavier Ford 1 Yd Run (Beckham Sunderland Kick)

0:25
7-59

What happened

ESPN RECAP

Minnesota breezes by Eastern Illinois 59-7 in the opener behind Javon Tracy's two punt return TDs

MINNEAPOLIS -- , Javon Tracy set the program record with two punts for touchdowns and Darius Taylor rushed for three first-half scores as Minnesota opened with a 59-7 romp past FCS opponent Eastern Illinois on Thursday. Drake Lindsey completed 19 of 24 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown to tight end Pierce Walsh , who posted his first career score with six seconds left before halftime to give the Gophers a 35-7 lead. Backup quarterback Max Shikenjanski and deep reserve Xavier Ford each had rushing touchdowns in the second half and Daniel Jackson made his first college field goal on a night full of highlights for the home team, as head coach P.J. Fleck's 10th season started with ease.

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Top performers

EIU
PASSINGCole LaCrue7/12, 51 YDS, 1 TD
RUSHINGCole LaCrue5 CAR, 22 YDS
RECEIVINGTyren Buggs2 REC, 38 YDS, 1 TD
MINN
PASSINGDrake Lindsey19/24, 264 YDS, 1 TD
RUSHINGDarius Taylor14 CAR, 56 YDS, 3 TD
RECEIVINGJavon Tracy5 REC, 98 YDS

Team stats

EIU · MINN
110
TOTAL YARDS
495
59
PASSING
348
51
RUSHING
147
4
1ST DOWNS
24
3-13
3RD DOWN EFFICIENCY
10-15
0
TURNOVERS
1
6-35
PENALTIES
2-10
23:39
POSSESSION
36:21

HUNTINGTON BANK STADIUM, MINNEAPOLIS · ATTENDANCE 41,048

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