Final from TCF Bank Stadium. #TCUvsMINN pic.twitter.com/wTylGmI3Ib
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) September 4, 2015
The Gophers defense was tough on Heisman Trophy favorite Trevone Boykin, but Minnesota couldn’t knock off No. 2 TCU Thursday night. The Gophers fell 23-17 to the Horned Frogs.
Boykin completed 26 of 42 passes for 246 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran 18 times for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Aaron Green also ran 19 times for 88 yards, for the Horned Frogs, while Josh Doctson caught eight passes for 74 yards and a touchdown for TCU.
Minnesota stayed in striking distance most of the night, but they weren’t able to get anything going offensively against the Horned Frogs defense.
TCU wasn't held under 30 points all of last season. Good night for defense, but big mistakes on offense held the team down.
— Ben Gotz (@BenSGotz) September 4, 2015
Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner connected on 19 of 35 passes, for 197 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t much easier on the ground for Minnesota either.
While the Gophers ran for 144 yards, they averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. Rodney Smith led the way with 88 yards rushing on 16 carries.
KJ Maye led all Gophers receivers with four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
TCU took a 10-0 lead in the game in the first quarter when Boykin connected with Doctson on an 11 yard touchdown pass.
Minnesota fought back with a 42-yard Ryan Santoso field goal that made it 10-3.
After Boykin made it 17-3 with a 19 yard touchdown run in the third, the Gophers answered with a 12-play, 77-yard drive that was capped with a one yard touchdown run by Smith.
The Gophers tried to make it a game late. Leidner hit Maye on a 22-yard touchdown strike with 1:32 to play cutting the Horned Frogs lead to six.
But they were unable to recover the onside kick, preventing Minnesota from completing the comeback.
The Gophers (0-1) will play at Colorado State on Sept. 12.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter – TCU Jaden Oberkrom 53 yd field goal 3-0 TCU
1st Quarter – TCU Trevone Boykin to Josh Doctson 11 yd touchdown pass 10-0 TCU
2nd Quarter – MIN Ryan Santoso 42 yd field goal 10-3 TCU
3rd Quarter – TCU Trevone Boykin 19 yd touchdown run 17-3 TCU
3rd Quarter – MIN Rodney Smith 1 yd touchdown run 17-10 TCU
3rd Quarter – TCU Jaden Oberkrom 45 yd field goal 20-10 TCU
4th Quarter – TCU Jaden Oberkrom 33 yd field goal 23-10 TCU
4th Quarter – MIN Mitch Leidner to Kj Maye 22 yd touchdown pass 23-17 TCU
