There were two main objectives going into the Gophers’ final nonconference game of the season on Saturday:

1. Beat Nevada. 2. Avoid any serious injuries going into the rivalry game against Iowa next week.

The U completed the first goal with a 27-0 win over the Wolf Pack at Huntington Bank Stadium, but they weren’t so fortune with the second aim.

Top cornerback Justin Walley suffered a right knee injury in the first half and didn’t return.

Walley limed off the field and went into the injury tent midway through the first half. He then put on a brace and attempted to test out his knee, but didn’t play again. He changed out his pads at halftime and was seen limping along the sideline in the second half.

Given the attempt to come back, the hope for the U is Walley being scratched is a precautionary step going into the Battle for Floyd of Rosedale next Saturday in Minneapolis.

Walley is the U’s best cover corner, producing a 70-yard interception return in the 19-17 loss to North Carolina. Walley also had a pick in the 12-10 win over the Hawkeyes in Iowa City last October.

Without Walley, the Gophers turned to second-year corner Zaquon Bryan to play opposite Ethan Robinson.

The Gophers, however, did have two secondary members return on Saturday: safety Darius Green and nickel back Jai’Onte’ McMillan played. Green missed the first two games, while McMillan came back after getting hurt against the Tar Heels.

But on Robinson’s interception in the fourth quarter, he collided with safety Aidan Gousby, who was favoring his left shoulder and went into the injury tent.

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The bottom fell out of Gophers’ defense in 2023 and the Minnesota skidded to a 6-7 season, so their ability to bounce back under new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman represented the bigest question mark going into this season.

So far, so stifling.

With a 27-0 win over Nevada on Saturday, the Gophers’ D has produced two straight shoutouts, following a 48-0 suffocation over FCS-level Rhode Island a week ago. Even North Carolina was held to 252 yards yards in the U’s 19-17 loss in the season opener.

It’s the Gophers’ first consecutive shutouts since 1962.

Minnesota (2-1) was a 17-point betting favorite Saturday and used three interceptions and four sacks to frustrate the Wolf Pack.

Nevada (1-3) was picked to finish last in the Mountain West Conference this season and was held to under 200 yards Saturday.

Gophers running back Darius Taylor produced the most electric play of the game in the third quarter. He broke tackles in the box, bounced it to the outside and then cut it all the way back to the other sideline on an 80-yard touchdown run.

Taylor’s run tied for the sixth-longest rush in program history, joining two gallops from Laurence Maroney in the 2004 season.

Kerry Brown, a second-year safety, produced his first two collegiate interceptions, and Minnesota scored 10 points off the takeaways.

Nevada was driving in the fourth quarter, but cornerback Ethan Robinson’s interception in the end zone helped preserve the shutout.

Brown’s second pick came on a great read of Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis’s eyes in the first half. He stepped in front of a post route to pick it off and return it 16 yards.

Two plays later, Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer threw underneath to Taylor, who made a Nevada defender miss and scored from 10 yards out to make it 13-0.

The Gophers offense got the ball back at its own 32 with 1:55 left in the second half. With seven straight drop backs, including a 22-yard completion to Jameson Geers, the U was in position for Taylor to score a rushing TD from 4 yards out for a 20-0 lead at the half.

With the U defense playing lights out, the game was out of reach at the halfway point.

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Five people were injured in a crash Saturday, at 10:34 a.m. on Stacy Trail near Falcon Avenue in Stacy Minnesota, according to a press release from the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency Communications Center began received calls detailing  a “head-on” type crash, Saturday. Responders determined five people were injured, four of which were in the same vehicle.

An adult male suspect is currently detained at a local hospital and alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crash, according to the release.

A 6-year-old girl, who was a rear passenger in one of the vehicles, was flown from the scene to a trauma center, according to the release. She is currently in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. All other injured parties were taken to area hospitals and are expected to survive.

More information is expected once the suspect is medically cleared, though the investigation is ongoing.

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