Brosmer, a graduate transfer who led the FCS in passing yards per game last year at New Hampshire, completed 24 of 30 passes and helped the Golden Gophers (1-1) dominate 2-1 in time of possession.
Darius TaylorMinnesota’s best runner last year, who missed the season’s opening game due to injury, ran for 64 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 48 yards.
Minnesota’s defense held the Rams to 135 total yards and forced three turnovers. Sophomore quarterback Devin Farrell threw for just 76 yards for Rhode Island (1-1), which beat Holy Cross 20-17 in its opener.
The Gophers took control of the game when Brosmer led them on two long offensive surges that lasted nearly 15 minutes and kept the Rams offense off the field for most of the second quarter.
The Gophers picked up the pace in the second quarter and Brosmer came into his own, completing five of six passes — with one drop — to get the Gophers to the Rhode Island 5-yard line. From there, the running game took over, with Taylor smashing his way into the end zone from one yard out to give Minnesota a 10-0 lead with 11:05 left in the first half.
Farrell returned after a drive and brought the ball to midfield, but a long shot intended for Shawn Harris was intercepted by Aidan Gousby at Minnesota 15.
Brosmer then orchestrated a 14-play march over 85 yards that lasted almost eight minutes and ended with a Marcus Major 2-yard touchdown run.
The second half began in the same manner, with Minnesota taking the opening kickoff and driving 73 yards in 12 plays. Brosmer capped it off with his first touchdown pass for the Gophers, a 6-yard pass to Christian Driver This gave them a 24-0 lead.
That lead was extended to 31-0 when Brosmer made the last pass of the day, a 29-yard touchdown pass on a fade route to Le’Meke Brockington.
The Gophers defense even got on the scoreboard when Safety Jack Henderson carried an intercepted pass 25 yards back for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The conclusion
Rhode Island: There isn’t much positive to take away from this, but a return to FCS competition would be welcome.
Minnesota: Brosmer looked like a great quarterback even though it was against an FCS opponent. Will he be able to do the same when the schedule gets more challenging in the class?
Next
Rhode Island hosts Campbell on Saturday night in the CAA opener for both teams.
Minnesota: Nevada hosts on Saturday afternoon. It is the Gophers’ last non-conference game before a home game against Iowa opens the Big Ten calendar a week later.
