EAST LANSING, Mich. — Team guy that he is, Mariano Sori-Marin wasn't about to beat his chest and scream that the Gophers have arrived after their 34-7 dismantling of Michigan State in front of nearly 75,000 green-clad spectators whose reactions went from puzzlement to anger and finally to resignation as the game wore on.
Sure, Sori-Marin and his teammates celebrated afterward, but the "one-game, championship season'' mantra that coach P.J. Fleck stresses each week takes precedence in their public comments.
Still, there was a bit of confident edginess in how Sori-Marin responded when asked if the win over the Spartans was a case of the Gophers beating a "somebody'' after opening the season with three overmatched nonconference opponents.
"We had to go out there and execute the game plan in the best of our ability, and I think we did exactly that,'' he said. "I talked to you guys last week about getting more takeaways, and we did exactly that. … We also talked about limiting explosive plays because this was an operation that liked to get big chunk plays downfield. We knew we were going to have to stop them by making them drive the field, and we did exactly that.''
That detail-oriented approach on both sides of the ball has enabled the Gophers to move into the Top 25 in both of the major college football polls. They're No. 21 in the Associated Press poll of media members. In the USA Today/AFCA coaches poll, they're No. 23.
Minnesota's defensive effort nearly resulted in its second shutout this season. Michigan State ended the bid when it scored a touchdown against the Gophers reserves with 17 seconds left.
The Gophers forced three turnovers Saturday, and each came at an opportune time.
* With Minnesota up 17-0 in the second quarter, Michigan State reached Gophers territory and had a fourth-and-6 from the 46. The Spartans went for it, but Gophers cornerback Justin Walley intercepted a Payton Thorne pass.