By: Nate

The Gophers scored two special teams touchdowns Thursday night and one more on defense and defeated Nevada-Las Vegas 51-23 at TCF Bank Stadium.

Minnesota trailed UNLV 6-3 after the first quarter and led by just three at halftime.  Then junior Marcus Jones led off the second half with a 98-yard kick return touchdown, and the Gophers led by two scores the rest of the game.  

Sophomore quarterback Philip Nelson completed 10 of 22 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown and threw one interception.  He also ran for two touchdowns, including a 48-yard score in the second quarter that gave the Gophers a 13-10 lead.  

The 51 points was the most the Gophers have scored at TCF Bank Stadium and the most in Jerry Kill's tenure.