Drake Lindsey produced nine of Minnesota's twelve explosive plays
The scoreboard says rout. The interesting part is HOW — and whether it means anything.
This one was over early. Minnesota dismantles Eastern Illinois, 59-7 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Minnesota led from start to finish and never let Eastern Illinois within striking distance. Darius Taylor ran 14 times for 56 yards and three scores and caught three passes for 31 yards.
The big plays only went one way
Minnesota produced 12 plays of 15+ yards to Eastern Illinois's 2, led by Drake Lindsey (involved in 9), Javon Tracy (involved in 3) and Darius Taylor (involved in 2). Minnesota scored on 70% of its drives to Eastern Illinois's 23%: Drake Lindsey (6 pts), Darius Taylor (18 pts) and Max Shikenjanski (6 pts). Stacked together, it was never close.
How the two sides actually played on the night.
The difference-makers
Drake Lindsey threw for 264 yards on 24 attempts with one touchdown and ran two times for 6 yards, including that score from inside the 20, five third-down conversions and a hand in nine plays of 15 yards or more. Darius Taylor ran 14 times for 56 yards and three scores and caught three passes for 31 yards, with two of them from inside the 20 and two third-down conversions. Javon Tracy caught five passes for 98 yards, including three third-down conversions and a hand in three plays of 15 yards or more. For Eastern Illinois, Cole Lacrue threw for 51 yards on 12 attempts with one touchdown and ran five times for 22 yards, with that score from inside the 20 and three third-down conversions. Tyren Buggs caught two passes for 38 yards, one of them for a touchdown — that score from inside the 20 and two third-down conversions. Zeke Lewis caught one pass for 10 yards. TJ Bush Jr. was the disruptive one for Minnesota: 1 sack, 1.5 TFLs, 3 tackles.
What Eastern Illinois has to fix
Eastern Illinois was not without production. Cole Lacrue threw for 51 yards on 12 attempts with one touchdown and ran five times for 22 yards, but it arrived in a game that was already gone.
Who got home
Two names to keep: TJ Bush Jr. (1 sack, 1.5 TFLs, 3 tackles) for Minnesota and Nate Cleveland (1 forced fumble) for Minnesota.
How we got here
Minnesota struck first through Darius Taylor, led 35-7 at the half and the final points came on a late touchdown by Xavier Ford.
What it means
Historically similar games since 2019 — close margin, both offenses held far below norm — and how often that offense outperformed this level the following week.
Business handled for Minnesota. The question now is whether the opponent told us anything. Cole Lacrue was responsible for 6 of Eastern Illinois's points; there was not enough behind him.
Discussion
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