Michigan 42, Minnesota 13
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint ran for two touchdowns and tight end Devin Funchess had seven catches for 151 yards to pace Michigan to a 42-13 win over Minnesota on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in the 100th anniversary of the Little Brown Jug rivalry series between the two teams.
However, the trophy game was overshadowed by the news earlier in the afternoon that Minnesota coach Jerry Kill would not be on the sidelines with the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Conference game.
Less than three hours before kickoff, Minnesota's athletic department announced that Kill had suffered a seizure Saturday morning and did not travel to Ann Arbor with the Golden Gophers.
"Coach Kill was not feeling well on Friday morning and decided to meet the team in Ann Arbor on Saturday," Minnesota's athletic department said in a statement, posted on the athletics website. "He then suffered a seizure on Saturday morning and will remain at home in Minnesota for today's game."
Golden Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys served as Minnesota's acting head coach in place of Kill, and worked from the press box at Michigan Stadium.
With Philip Nelson nursing a hamstring injury, Minnesota's Mitch Leidner made his second start of the season at quarterback, but the redshirt freshman struggled early.
Michigan linebacker James Ross III recovered a fumble by Leidner less than two minutes into the game, which set up Michigan's first touchdown. Toussaint's 8-yard scoring run at 4:24 of the first quarter gave the Wolverines a 7-0 lead.
Leidner's 7-yard touchdown pass to Maxx Williams tied the game at 7-7 with 52 seconds left in the first, as the Golden Gophers (4-2, 0-2 Big Ten) had five third-down conversions in the 16-play scoring drive.
Facing third-and-14 with less than two minutes left in the second, the Wolverines (5-0. 1-0) took a 14-7 lead on Devin Gardner's 24-yard touchdown pass to Funchess with 1:25 left in the half.
Derrick Green's 2-yard run less than five minutes into the second half helped Michigan take a 21-7 lead, and with 4:26 left in the third quarter, Chris Hawthorne's 44-yard field goal cut the Wolverines' lead to 21-10.
Toussaint scored on a 12-yard run with 11 seconds left in the third, and Hawthorne kicked his second field goal (21 yards) to cut Michigan's lead to 28-13 less than five minutes into the fourth.
Gardner added a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:36 left and Blake Countess scored on a 72-yard interception return with 1:19 left.
NOTES: Michigan receiver Jeremy Gallon has posted a reception in 31 straight games. ... Minnesota was seven for 10 on third-down conversions in the first half. ... Announced attendance at Michigan Stadium on Saturday was 111,079, and Michigan hosted its 248th consecutive game with more than 100,000 in attendance.
