GOPHERS 51, UNLV 23

The recap: UNLV led 13-10 before the Gophers drove for a late first-half touchdown. Marcus Jones took the second-half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, opening the floodgates.

What was learned: The Gophers scored two special teams touchdowns, including a 51-yard blocked field goal return by Martez Shabazz, but their offense and defense were inconsistent.

You might have missed: The Gophers were flagged for just one penalty for 5 yards after committing 11 penalties in last year's triple-overtime victory over UNLV. … Junior college transfer Damien Wilson finished with seven tackles in his Gophers debut. His backup at middle linebacker, Jack Lynn, played more sparingly but added two strong tackles of his own. … Sophomore defensive end Alex Keith led the Gophers with two tackles for a loss, including the team's only sack. … The Gophers punted three times. Peter Mortell had his first punt (a 32-yarder) partly blocked but came back with punts of 40 and 43 yards, for an average of 38.3.

UP NEXT New Mexico State

• 7 p.m., Sept. 7, Aggie Memorial Stadium

• TV: None. Radio: 100.3-FM

• Records: Gophers 1-0, New Mexico State 0-0

• The skinny: This game won't be televised live, but Fox Sports North will show it on tape delay Sept. 8 (at 10 a.m.) and Sept. 9 (at 2 p.m.). The game can be viewed live on computers and mobile devices with BTN2Go. … After finishing 1-11 last season, the Aggies are 43-point underdogs heading into Saturday's season opener at Texas. Doug Martin is in his first season as New Mexico State's coach. Now that the Western Athletic Conference has discontinued football, the Aggies are playing as an independent.

JOE CHRISTENSEN