Young WRs hold up well in absence of their star

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: November 1, 2009 - 12:57 AM

The biggest question facing the Gophers football team as it entered Saturday's game against Michigan State? Most would have said how the Gophers receiving corps was going to function without its star.

If this wild 42-34 victory is any indication, the prospects are good.

The Gophers had a 7-0 lead when Brandon Green lined up on the right, ran a go, and hauled in Adam Weber's 37-yard pass with a defensive back all over him for his first touchdown of the season and the second of his career.

Then there was Da'Jon McKnight -- who hadn't caught a pass all season -- making four receptions for 98 yards, including a key 53-yard second-half reception. There were certainly some ups and downs. Troy Stoudermire, perhaps the most explosive of the Gophers' young wideouts, got open deep in the first half and dropped the ball. Minutes later, he dived and appeared to make a 7-yard TD catch, but it was overturned upon review. He later made a 48-yard reception -- but promptly got called for unsportsmanlike conduct, negating 15 yards.

"We knew we had to step up," McKnight said. "We challenged each other. We wanted to do this for Deck. We dedicated the rest of this season to Deck. We all wanted to do well."

Senior tight end Nick Tow-Arnett had a career day, too, catching a career-high eight passes for 81 yards and two scores. Running back Duane Bennett caught two passes for 121 yards and two scores on a night where just about everybody seemed to be making good plays.

Penalties, penalties

It snowed Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium. Big, yellow flags fell all over the field.

The Gophers, penalty-prone many times this season, truly outdid themselves against the Spartans, getting called for 17 penalties for 157 yards. It was a record-setting performance both in program terms and in Big Ten Conference game terms.

"Our guys made some mistakes in this game," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said. "I'll reserve judgment on the officiating; I don't think that will do me real good right now. Penalties are a part of the game. It's how you respond to those penalties that is important.''

Michigan State had nine penalties for 73 yards, including a few critical ones down the stretch. The Spartans' last penalty sealed their fate; Kendell Davis-Clark ran into Gophers punter Blake Haudan on fourth-and-2, negating any last chance Michigan State had to go for a tying touchdown. Instead, Bennett got three carries and the Gophers were able to run out the clock.

Gophers land four-star RB

The Gophers got some good news Friday night when Aldine, Texas, running back Josh Huff called Gophers coach Tim Brewster to tell him he was coming to Minnesota, according to GopherIllustrated.com. Huff had previously committed to Utah.

Huff becomes the 22nd member of Brewster's 2010 recruiting class, and is the member of the class to be rated four starts by Rivals.com. Huff is a productive, all-purpose back who has 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Etc.

• The Gophers are averaging 29.3 points at home, 15.5 points on the road.

• Weber's 62-yard TD pass to Bennett on the game's first play was the Gophers' longest play from scrimmage this season.

• It was the fifth time a Gophers quarterback had passed the 400-yard mark in a game.

• Trey Davis started at center for the Gophers.

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