Sports — Football

Nine players find the end zone; Minnesota dominates Northwestern State 66-0 in a weather-abbreviated matchup

John Nestor secures a touchdown from the opening play, and Minnesota racks up five first-quarter touchdowns in their 66-0 shutout victory over FCS Northwestern State on Saturday.

, and Administrator

2025 September 15 . 1:48 PM

1 min read

Routing Northwestern State with an impressive score, Minnesota's football team registers nine... — Routing Northwestern State with an impressive score, Minnesota's football team registers nine touchdowns in a weather-affected match, ultimately winning 66-0.

Nine players find the end zone; Minnesota dominates Northwestern State 66-0 in a weather-abbreviated matchup

The Minnesota Gophers put on a spectacular show in their home opener, crushing Northwestern State 69-0 on Saturday. The victory marked the team's most points scored in a game since 2001.

Quarterback Drake Lindsey had a strong outing, going 8 of 9 for 139 yards in his five series. Meanwhile, Darius Taylor, Minnesota's top ballcarrier, left the game early with an apparent injury, leaving a void that was admirably filled by ten running backs who combined for a total of 240 rushing yards. Grant Washington led the charge with 141 yards.

The Gophers' defence was equally impressive, holding Northwestern State to a mere 42 yards of offense and just two first downs. John Nestor set the tone early with a pick-six on the game's first offensive play, and Matt Kingsbury added to the score with a 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown, making it 35-0 before the first quarter ended. Nestor finished the game with two interceptions, and Kingsbury recovered two fumbles.

Minnesota's offence was spread out, with nine receivers catching passes in the game. The team also showcased their prowess in the trenches, amassing six tackles for loss and two sacks.

Northwestern State, who ended a 20-game losing streak by beating Alcorn State in their season opener, struggled offensively, with their first nine series resulting in two fumbles, two interceptions, and five three-and-outs.

Coach Chris Finch and the Gophers will look to build on this impressive performance when they play their first road game of the season next Saturday at California. The team will be aiming to maintain their perfect record and continue their impressive form.