Cobb's career day overshadowed by Gophers' injuries

The Gophers had a first half Saturday that matched the picture-perfect weather at TCF Bank Stadium. Sunshine lingered through the second half, but it turned into 30 stormy minutes for Jerry Kill's football team.

Up 28 points at halftime, the Gophers turned suddenly lethargic, as Middle Tennessee State climbed back into the game.

It turned worse when Mitch Leidner was forced to leave in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury, but the Gophers held on for a 35-24 victory, before an announced crowd of 47,223.

David Cobb rushed for a career-high 220 yards and two touchdowns, but the Gophers (2-0) were holding their breath, with Leidner heading to get his knee examined. It's uncertain whether he will be ready for next week's game at Texas Christian.

"I am concerned, and I don't know anything [about the injury]," coach Jerry Kill said. "They're taking him to get an MRI, and that's all I know right now."

Leidner got hit on the side of the knee as he released an errant third-down pass, with the Gophers leading 35-17.

"He just stepped into the throw and got hit," Kill said. "The offensive lineman got pushed back. We'll have to see it on film. He limped off the field, and I know how tough a kid he is, so we'll have to see."

Leidner, a sophomore from Lakeville, entered the season as the only quarterback on the roster who had taken a college snap. In last week's opener against Eastern Illinois, he had a shaky start but settled in to help lead the 42-20 victory. Saturday, in his sixth career start, he completed five of 11 passes for 67 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Streveler, a redshirt freshman from Crystal Lake, Ill., played one series against Eastern Illinois, completing his only pass for 12 yards and rushing five times for 21 yards. He didn't have a passing attempt Saturday.

"When he got in today, we were just trying to get out of the game," Kill said. "It's one of those deals, you put the next [player] in, if that's what we need to do. I hope that's not the case right now, and that's nothing against Chris. You don't want anybody getting injured."

Tight end Maxx Williams added: "Hey, we've got faith in Mitch, we've got faith in Strev. It doesn't really matter."

By the end of this one, several players were banged up. Guard Zac Epping (left ankle), reserve linebacker Nick Rallis (left knee), reserve safety Daletavious McGhee (right shoulder) were all nicked.

Kill also said three or four defensive backs, including Eric Murray, missed time in the third quarter because of cramps.

"It's a concern, to be honest with you, because you can't have your good players cramping up," Kill said. "It wasn't that hot or anything. We'll have to take a good look at it."

The Gophers played terrific defense in the first half, holding Middle Tennessee State's no-huddle offense without a point. Jalen Myrick returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown, giving the Gophers a 14-0 lead, and they forced another turnover on Middle Tennessee's next possession.

Defensive end Theiren Cockran got a hand on Austin Grammer's throwing arm as he released a pass, and it floated right to linebacker Damien Wilson.

Offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover went for the jugular on the next play, and Leidner hit Williams in stride for a 27-yard touchdown. Cobb's 7-yard touchdown made it 28-0, and the Gophers looked poised to add another score before halftime, when Leidner threw an interception into the end zone.

"We came out a little lackadaisical, got a little comfortable on both sides of the ball, including special teams," Cobb said. "It's one of those things where you start fast, you want to finish faster."