Sports

Minnesota QB looks to rebound from rough opener

Photo: Associated Press

Sep 5, 2012 at 10:53 am

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The passes that didn't sail 10 feet over a wide-open receiver's head fluttered and wobbled out of MarQueis Gray's hand like he was a nervous freshman making his first collegiate start.

On a Minnesota offense full of fresh-faced youngsters, the senior quarterback looked shakier than any of them in the season opener against UNLV. If the Golden Gophers are going to improve in coach Jerry Kill's second year on the job, Gray knows it has to start with him.

The Gophers survived, 30-27 in triple overtime, thanks in large part to Gray settling down and throwing two big touchdown passes to John Rabe. He finished 17 of 30 for 269 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, solid numbers that belie the difficulty he had in regulation.