After playing 13 consecutive quarters without an offensive touchdown late last season, the Gophers would have loved to turn Saturday's annual spring game into a scoring showcase.
Instead, it was more of the same.
Coach Jerry Kill rested the first-team defense because of injury concerns, yet the offense still managed just one touchdown and four field goals in 13 drives before an announced crowd of 4,752 at TCF Bank Stadium.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed because I like scoring touchdowns, and we've got to get that ball across [the goal line]," quarterback Mitch Leidner said.
"But at the same time, we learned a lot and we're going to get better watching the film."
Instead of dividing into two full teams, the Gophers held a 70-minute scrimmage pitting the offense against the defense.
Leidner led the first-team offense for six drives against the second-team defense, producing two field goals. He completed seven of 15 passes for 74 yards, with one interception and two sacks.
"I thought at times we put good drives together; we've just got to finish," Leidner said. "And there were a couple times when me and the receivers have to get on the same page. But I mean, that's why we've got however many months to work on that."