Gophers special teams coverage sets tone early vs. Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – The Gophers introduced themselves to Maryland with authority on the opening kickoff.

Will Likely, a two-time, first-team All-Big Ten pick, caught the ball and ran to the 19-yard line, where Gophers freshman Thomas Barber pasted him.

"We always say when we go out there on special teams, either punt return or kickoff return, set the tone with the first play," Barber said. "So I just did my job and tried to make the play."

After Barber's hit, the teams traded three-and-outs. But then Ryan Santoso hit a high punt to the Maryland 15, where Likely camped under it without signaling for a fair catch.

Antonio Shenault met him almost immediately with another hard hit. Maybe it's no wonder the first big break Saturday came early in the second quarter, when Likely muffed a punt that Barber recovered at the Maryland 16-yard line. Three plays later, the Gophers scored their first touchdown in what ended up as a 31-10 victory.

Likely didn't play the rest of the day. Terrapins coach D.J. Durkin said he didn't have an update but added: "It definitely impacts us. Will's our leader. He's a really good football player."

Maryland entered with 187 points, its most through five games in program history. The Terps did most of that damage vs. a soft opening schedule, beating Howard (52-13), Florida International (41-14), Central Florida (30-24, overtime) and Purdue (50-7).

"A game-time decision," Durkin said.

Pigrome threw an interception to KiAnte Hardin on Maryland's second drive. The Gophers' main concern was limiting Pigrome as a runner, as he finished with 71 rushing yards.

"We were prepared for both," Gophers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. said. "We knew [Pigrome] likes to scramble a lot, and we didn't think he would be starting. But he came out and we had to just do our thing."

It marked the second week in a row the Gophers surrendered one touchdown. Iowa beat them 14-7 on Oct. 8, but that included two field goals and a two-point conversion.

The defense punctuated this performance with some points of its own. Pigrome tried to hit Teldrick Morgan on a slant, but right as Morgan touched the ball, linebacker Jonathan Celestin drilled him. The ball was tipped, and Winfield grabbed it and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown.

Besides quarterback Mitch Leidner (concussion), the Gophers were without right tackle Jonah Pirsig (sprained ankle) and linebacker Cody Poock (shoulder). Tight end Brandon Lingen returned after missing three games because of a broken clavicle.

The Gophers appeared to suffer only one new ailment, but it was a big one: tackle Garrison Wright limped off due to a lower left leg injury.