The Sports Xchange
Sep 10, 2017

Running back Shannon Brooks scored on three short touchdown runs as Minnesota used a potent rushing game and capitalized on three turnovers by Oregon State on Saturday night in a 48-14 rout in Corvallis, Ore.

Brooks carried 17 times for 91 yards as Minnesota outgained Oregon State by a margin of 253-80 on the ground.

Brooks scored from 2 yards out early in the second quarter as Minnesota (2-0) bolted to a 17-0 lead. He added a second 2-yard run late in the third quarter for a 34-14 lead and scored from 1 yard out with 5:24 remaining in the fourth.

Brooks was not even Minnesota's top rusher.

Rodney Smith carried 30 times for 92 yards and a touchdown as the Golden Gophers maintained possession for 38-plus minutes.

Tyler Johnson caught four passes for 127 yards, including an impressive 67-yard TD reception for Minnesota's first touchdown.

Minnesota quarterback Conor Rhoda was 7-of-8 for 158 yards as the Golden Gophers ran the ball 58 times.

Oregon State's Jake Luton completed 16-of-28 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown. The Beavers (1-2) gave up 411 yards of total offense and lost three fumbles.

The Golden Gophers held a 17-14 lead after a 2-yard run by Oregon State's Trevorris Johnson with 8:33 remaining in the first half. They carried a 20-14 lead on a 49-yard field goal by Emmit Carpenter with 2:41 left before halftime and scored four rushing touchdowns in the second half.