No plans to change two-QB system

MarQueis Gray was impressive -- leading the Gophers to their only score -- in his backup role to Adam Weber. But Tim Brewster says he's not ready to switch.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: October 25, 2009 - 12:49 AM

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COLUMBUS, OHIO - Tim Brewster couldn't have been more emphatic: Adam Weber is the Gophers' starting quarterback.

That the coach was asked is not a surprise. Weber, the third-year starter, struggled again Saturday. After many of his receivers spent the first half dropping key passes, Weber lost one fumble and threw two interceptions in the second half. Ohio State turned all of those mistakes into points in a 38-7 victory.

Freshman MarQueis Gray drove the Gophers to their only score, a seven-play, 78-yard drive that ended with his 16-yard pass to Troy Stoudermire with 4:15 left in the fourth quarter.

But, after the game ended, neither Gray nor Brewster acted as though that drive was enough to prompt a change in the starting lineup. The drive came against a Buckeyes defense playing several backups with a 38-point lead.

"I don't know if significantly more," Brewster said when asked if Gray's play earned him a lot more playing time. "We'll see. He's involved in our plan. Whether or not we expand that plan ... or what we decided to do against Michigan State remains to be seen."

Weber came out rather well, completing five of nine first-quarter passes. But he wasn't getting a lot of help. The Gophers' first drive stalled after consecutive catchable passes were dropped by Eric Decker and Brandon Green on second and third down.

The next time the Gophers got the ball, they moved from their 20 into Buckeyes territory -- with Weber hitting on two passes, including a 16-yarder to Decker.

But Decker was hurt on the play, then a couple of penalties, including a false start on third-and-5, stalled the drive.

Gray, who entered the game having thrown only one pass, was clearly going to be a bigger part of the game plan this week. He had a 25-yard run on the Gophers' first drive. And he completed his first college pass, an 8-yarder to Decker, two plays into the second drive.

Gray finished the game with 11 runs for 81 yards, with most of that production coming on the Gophers' fourth-quarter scoring drive. He opened that possession with a 27-yard run and completed all four of his passes on the drive, including that 16-yarder to Stoudermire on a post route.

"It was amazing to see him come up and drive us down in the fourth quarter," Stoudermire said. "It was a blowout game, but he took pride to take us down the field and score a touchdown. I thought it was great for MarQueis."

Said Gray: "It felt really good [to score]. But a win would have felt better. I know my role in this offense, and I'm just trying to help this team win."

Brewster said the Gophers would continue to use both quarterbacks going forward, but wouldn't say how much more action Gray would get. Weber will remain the starter.

"We've used two quarterbacks in just about every game," Brewster said. "We're going to continue to use two quarterbacks."

Gray appears OK with that.

"This is Weber's third year," he said. "He knows what he's doing, he knows how to get our team riled up, being able to move the ball. I'm not worried about [him]."

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