The Gophers won a close game 28-21 to FCS team South Dakota State on Thursday at TCF Bank Stadium to start the 2019 season.
Junior Cade Johnson returned the kickoff 99 yards to the end zone, but a holding penalty pulled what would have been the Jackrabbits’ first lead back to the 14-yard line.
Senior cornerback Chris Williamson ran in a 43-yard interception return to extend the Gophers lead after redshirt freshman linebacker Maiano Sori-Marin and sophomore safety Antoine Winfield Jr., combined to pressure Gibbs.
Johnson then dusted off his high school quarterback skills, taking the handoff and then tossing the ball to Morgan in the end zone for the conversion.
The Gophers defense, assumed the team’s liability ahead of the season, allowed 367 yards of total offense, limiting the Jackrabbits to 3-for-9 on third downs and 1-for-2 on fourth.
The Jackrabbits had two touchdowns called back, and the Gophers needed a fourth-quarter fumble recovery and fancy two-point conversion to send the announced 49,112 fans watching home satisfied.
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