The Gophers didn't wait long Thursday night trying to get the ball to Berkley Edwards.
They won the coin toss, elected to receive and had Edwards split wide right on their second play. Quarterback Mitch Leidner threw Edwards a basic screen pass, and the ball slipped right through the redshirt freshman's hands.
Asked later if there were opening-night nerves, Edwards said: "There was for me. I'm not sure about anybody else."
But Edwards settled in and delivered two fourth-quarter touchdown runs, including a 42-yard scamper around the left edge. He finished with four carries for 60 yards and one reception for 2 yards in a 42-20 season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois.
"He's lightning in a bottle," coach Jerry Kill said. "He can flat run. I don't know what else you can say. We've got to continue to find ways to get him the ball, and this is the first game he's ever played.
"He could have gotten discouraged. He dropped a ball there early, but he came right back and we started feeding him the ball, and he did very well. We need that right now. We've got some good backs, but having someone who can get it over with early is a good thing for us."
Wolitarsky sidelined
Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky missed the game because of an injury below his right shoulder that the team doesn't consider serious.
The Gophers actually considered having Wolitarsky suit up but decided it against it Thursday as a precaution.