Difference makers: Gardner Minshew, Tay Martin connect for two TDs in blowout win

Tay Martin

Good things usually happened when Gardner Minshew threw it up to the sophomore wide receiver Saturday night. Martin brought down his first two touchdown receptions of the season in the first half against the Spartans, reeling in a 15-yarder just 2:05 into the opening quarter and a 28-yarder – on fourth down – later on in the period.

Gardner Minshew

He was interception-prone in his first Martin Stadium start, but the graduate transfer was still responsible for three first-half touchdowns. Two of those were passes to Martin and the other was a run as seconds dripped off the clock near the end of the first half. Minshew motioned a handoff to Max Borghi, then pulled the ball back into his arms before running in for the 1-yrd score.

Jahad Woods

It was a good night for most of the Cougars’ defensemen, but Woods, a redshirt sophomore middle linebacker finished with six total tackles – which ranked second on the team behind safety Skyler Thomas – including one sack, and was a punishing presence in the second level all night.