The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
42°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Minnesota runs past Georgia Tech 34-10 in Quick Lane Bowl

Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) breaks through the Georgia Tech defense for a 3-yard touchdown during the second half of the Quick Lane Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Detroit. (Carlos Osorio / AP)
Associated Press

DETROIT –Mohamed Ibrahim took full advantage of holes his teammates created to burst through the line or get to the outside.

And when defenders were in Ibrahim’s way, he simply lowered his shoulder to run over them.

Ibrahim ran for a career-high 224 yards and two touchdowns, leading Minnesota to a 34-10 victory over Georgia Tech on Wednesday night in the Quick Lane Bowl.

The Golden Gophers (7-6) won three of their last four games, and Ibrahim had a lot to do with that. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound redshirt freshman running back had 121 yards rushing in a win at Wisconsin that made Minnesota bowl eligible and ran for 155 yards last month in a victory over Purdue.

“He’s not the biggest, strongest or fastest,” coach P.J. Fleck said. “He has that too short, too small, too this, king of the toos, which is right up my alley. This kid’s got more heart, passion, courage and plays the game the right way more than anybody I’ve ever met.”

The Yellow Jackets (7-6) did not have the speed or strength to slow down Ibrahim, who was so effective Minnesota didn’t have to punt once. And, their triple-option offense was stunted in coach Paul Johnson’s finale .

“They did pretty much whatever they wanted,” said Johnson, who is retiring as Georgia Tech’s coach. “We never stopped the run and then we let them throw it over our head a couple times.

“I wasn’t expecting that, but that’s life and you move on.”

The Gophers limited Georgia Tech to 206 yards on the ground after it led the nation with 335 yards rushing per game.

Minnesota led 13-0 early in the second quarter after Tanner Morgan threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Johnson in the first quarter and Emmit Carpenter made two field goals. Ibrahim’s 3-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter made it 20-3.

The Yellow Jackets responded with Nathan Cottrell’s 20-yard touchdown run, but their defense allowed Ibrahim to score again on the ensuing drive. Morgan connected with Johnson on a 30-yard touchdown strike with 6:19 left.