The Sports Xchange
Sep 10, 2016

Senior quarterback Mitch Leidner equaled his career high of four touchdowns passes as Minnesota rolled to a 58-28 victory over Indiana State on Saturday in non-conference play at Minneapolis.

Leidner completed 20 of 30 passes for 295 yards for the Golden Gophers (2-0), who accumulated 593 total yards. Junior college transfer running back Kobe McCrary rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries and senior receiver Drew Wolitarsky caught eight passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Isaac Harker passed for 237 yards and three touchdown for the FCS Sycamores (1-1), who dropped to 0-16 all-time against Big Ten programs. Senior receiver Robert Tonyan Jr. had eight receptions for 90 yards and three scores.

Leidner threw three first-half touchdown passes as Minnesota held a 38-7 lead. Wolitarsky had scoring catches of 20 and 6 yards as the Golden Gophers took a 21-7 lead while true freshman wideout Tyler Johnson added a 13-yard scoring grab and McCrary scored on a 6-yard run prior to halftime.

Leidner connected with sophomore running back Rodney Smith on a 22-yard touchdown with 5:21 left in the third quarter. Harker tossed his second touchdown pass of the stanza -- a 2-yarder to Tonyan -- to pull Indiana State within 48-21 with 1:40 remaining in the quarter.

McCrary's 50-yard scoring dash pushed the Golden Gophers' lead to 58-21 with 9:19 remaining.

Minnesota sophomore Emmit Carpenter kicked three field goals -- 42, 44 and 45 yards.