Max Shortell

The Gopher football team lost 21-13 Saturday afternoon on Homecoming to Northwestern. The Gophers had numerous chances in the final 5 minutes but Max Shortell's attempts at the end zone on 3rd and 4th and goal with just over 2 mintes left failed. Shortell started the game but was replaced by Marquis Gray in the 2nd quarter. Gray played until the end of the 3rd quarter when he aggravated his ankle injury.

The Gophers lost their Big Ten football opener 31-13 Saturday afternoon in Iowa City. Minnesota trailed 24-0 at halftime and never threatened to make it a game. Iowa outgained Minnesota 374 to 299 and the Gophers committed 4 turnovers compared to 0 for Iowa. Max Shortell threw for 197 yards and 2 touchdowns with 3 interceptions and he was the leading Gopher rusher with 46 yards.

Gopher starting quarterback Marquis Gray has been ruled out by the Gophers for Saturday's game at home against Syracuse because of a high ankle sprain to his left ankle. Sophomore Max Shortell will get the start at quarterback with Gray out. Gopher head coach Jerry Kill says there isn't a quarterback controversy with Shortell and Gray and that freshman Philip Nelson will be the backup to Shortell this Saturday.

Sophomore quarterback Max Shortell replaced an injured Marquis Gray in the first half and threw 3 touchdown passes in route to a 28-23 Gopher win over Western Michigan Saturday afternoon. Shortell was 10-17 passing for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns. Gray left the game with what he's calling a minor ankle injury. A.J. Barker led the Gophers with 5 catches for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns and Donnell Kirkwood led Minnesota with 110 yards rushing.

Michigan scored early and often in their 58-0 rout of the Gophers at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan Saturday afternoon. Michigan led 38-0 at halftime and outgained the Gophers 580 yards to 177. Denard Robinson threw for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for 51 yards and another score for the Wolverines. Max Shortell started at quarterback for the Gophers and threw for 104 yards on 11-22 passing.