Aug 30, 2001

Final Stats| Quotes| Notes

By JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press Writer

TOLEDO, Ohio - Chester Taylor rushed for 186 yards and scored four touchdowns as Toledo beat Minnesota 38-7 Thursday night, the Rockets' second straight season-opening victory over a Big Ten team.

The Rockets, using a new spread offense, scored the first four times they had the ball. With four receivers spreading out Minnesota's defense, Taylor had no trouble finding space to run.

His second touchdown came when he bounced off a defender inside, spun outside and raced 65 yards to put Toledo ahead 17-0 with 59 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Golden Gophers, with eight new starters on defense, had no answer for the no-huddle offense. Taylor had 106 yards by halftime and quarterback Tavares Bolden controlled the ball with short passes.

Taylor's backup, Antwon McCray, finished with 120 yards on 14 carries.

The Rockets put the game away on the first possession of the second half with an 80-yard drive.

Bolden's 10-yard scoring pass to Taylor gave Toledo a 31-0 lead before a school-record crowd of 34,950.

Toledo didn't punt until midway through the third quarter.

Minnesota was no better on offense, crossing midfield just once in the first half. The Rockets held all-Big Ten receiver Ron Johnson to seven catches and 72 yards.

Asad Abdul-Khaliq was ineffective at quarterback for the Gophers, who averaged 31 points last season and returned nine starters on offense.

Travis Cole, who split time with Abdul-Khaliq last season, played the entire second half.

Toledo's defense held Minnesota running back Tellis Redmon, who ran for 1,368 yards a year ago, to 68 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Rockets stunned Penn State last year on the road with a 24-6 victory that propelled them to a 10-1 season.

Toledo is 3-1 against the Big Ten since 1997, with a victory over Purdue and a 1998 loss to then-No. 1 Ohio State.