Minnesota punt returner Javon Tracy returned punts for 87- and 69-yard touchdowns for the Golden Gophers Thursday night in a 59-7 victory against Eastern Illinois. (Photo by GopherSports.com)
Barry Bottino
Whether by air, by ground or by special teams, FBS Minnesota used big plays galore Thursday night to subdue Eastern Illinois, 59-7, in a non-conference game in Minneapolis.
While outgaining EIU, 495-111, Minnesota’s Javon Tracy returned two punts for touchdowns and the Gophers (1-0) piled up 11 offensive plays of at least 15 yards.
“Way too many mistakes for us in all phases,” Eastern head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “There are a lot of things we need to clean up.”
Eastern, which received a $500,000 guarantee for playing the Gophers, managed only four first downs and 2.56 yards per play. The Panthers fell to 1-1 this season.
Trailing 21-0, Eastern scored its only touchdown on an 11-play, 75-yard drive, which was capped by quarterback Cole LaCrue’s 8-yard scoring pass to running back Tyren Buggs early in the second quarter.
“When I got the ball, I saw a lot of green grass,” Buggs said. “I said, ‘I’ve got to hit it.’”
Wilkerson said he was able to find several positives in the defeat.
“We did have the one touchdown, and we didn’t turn the ball over for the second straight week,” Wilkerson said.
Minnesota followed with 38 unanswered points on the strength of 348 passing yards and 24 first downs.
Game changers
14:24, 2nd quarter: Gophers RB Darius Taylor rushed 27 yards for a score to put Minnesota up 21-0.
9:00, 2nd quarter: Buggs caught an 8-yard pass out of the backfield from LaCrue for EIU’s lone touchdown.
13:42, 3rd quarter: Tracy returns a punt for a 69-yard touchdown for his second return TD of the game.
What it means
Eastern fell to 0-12 all-time against programs from the FBS Big Ten Conference.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Eastern Illinois players in the game:
Buggs, RB: The transfer scored EIU’s lone TD and led the Panthers in receiving with 38 yards.
LaCrue, QB: The second-year starter completed 7 of 12 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with 22 rushing yards.
Burt, LB: The junior had a team-high six tackles, including two tackles for loss.
What’s next?
Eastern plays its home opener at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12 at O’Brien Field against regional rival Indiana State.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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