MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota is back from an earlier-than-usual bye week, aiming to keep the passing attack on a productive track.After feasting on FCS foe Indiana State, Mitch Leidner and the Gophers had extra rest for their final nonconference game against Colorado State. Under new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, with a fully healthy left foot that hampered him for much of last season, Leidner has begun to look and feel like a fifth-year senior quarterback ought to.Im on a really good page with the receivers as well as the running backs and everybody on the offensive side of the football, Leidner said. Were a tight-knit group, and we really practice and work hard.The Gophers (2-0) will again be without tight end Brandon Lingen and wide receiver Rashad Still again on Saturday against the Rams (2-1) because of injuries, but freshman Tyler Johnson and junior Brian Smith have been helpful down-field complements to Drew Wolitarsky.Wolitarsky, who has 12 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns, has emerged as the go-to wide receiver the Gophers and Leidner need. The senior connection was in midseason form two weeks ago against Indiana State .Im seeing a different Mitch off the field and on the field as well, Wolitarsky said. The work this guy has put in is amazing and is definitely something I look up to and I know a lot of guys look up to.Here are some key things to know about the game:THE REMATCHThe Gophers used three field goals by Ryan Santoso, including an 18-yarder in overtime to beat the Rams in Fort Collins, Colorado last year. That snapped a program-record 10-game home winning streak for the Rams.The Rams returned 13 starters from a 7-6 team that finished 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference and lost to Nevada in the Arizona Bowl in coach Mike Bobos first season. This will be Colorado States first trip to a Big Ten stadium since playing at the Metrodome in 2005, a 56-24 victory by Minnesota.CLIMBING THE HILLCSU True freshman Collin Hill, in his first career start, completed 21 of 27 passes for 315 yards and four scores plus a 51-yard touchhown run in a win over FCS opponent Northern Colorado . Fourth-year junior Nick Stevens started the opener, a 44-7 loss to Colorado, but fifth-year senior Faton Bauta took over in the second half. Bauta, a graduate transfer from Georgia, took snaps the following week in a victory over UTSA, until Hill entered in the fourth quarter.There was a confidence level going up, like, `OK, were going to be able to complete some passes, Bobo said, adding: We said theres going to be some growing pains, but we thought the upside was too promising.THREE-WAY THREATShannon Brooks has been cleared to return from a broken foot, giving the Gophers their leading rusher from last season to join Rodney Smith and Kobe McCrary in a deep backfield. Smith and McCrary combined for 387 yards and five touchdowns rushing over the first two games.Weve got ways to get at least two of them on the field at the same time, coach Tracy Claeys said. You always want your best people on the field all the time.FRONT LINESThe Gophers, given a boost by two junior-college transfers in the starting lineup in right guard Vincent Calhoun and left tackle Garrison Wright and the arrival of new offensive line coach Bart Miller, have not allowed a sack yet. The Rams, who have switched their base defense to a 3-4 alignment, lost their entire starting defensive line from last season to graduation.Its one of those games youve got dig your cleats in the turf, Bobo said.CALL THE CARPENTERSantoso, a junior, preferred to switch to punter this season. Hes averaging 41.9 yards per attempt. Sophomore Emmit Carpenter has taken over as the kicker, and he hasnt missed yet on 10 extra points and four field goals.Hes just building confidence in himself to go out there and just be automatic every time, linebacker Jack Lynn said. So were 100 percent confident in his capabilities. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bucks Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. D. J. Wilson Bucks Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. https://www.bucksrookiesshop.com/Khris-Middleton-City-Edition-Jersey/ .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Thon Maker Bucks Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. George Hill Bucks Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. LOS ANGELES, California - The Texas A&M Aggies 2016 campaign came to an end Friday with the No. 7 USC Trojans advancing to the NCAA Championship third round on a penalty kick shootout, 4-3. The squads played to a 0-0 draw after a grueling 110 minutes of action at McAlister Field.The shootout opened with USC goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme making a save on Sarah Shaws offering. The Trojans got the upper hand with Mandy Freeman making her shot.Texas A&Ms Mikaela Harvey and USCs Kayla Mills were successful with their second-round shots.The shootout evened out in the third round as Brittany Crabtree scored for the Aggies and Danielle Rice made a save on Morgan Andrews shot.USC gained the advantage again in the fourth round as Grace Pipers shot hit the crossbar for the Aggies and the Trojans Amanda Rooney found the back of the net with her attempt.In the final round, Haley Pounds put pressure on the Trojans, making her kick, but Alex Anthony answered with the decisive shot.The Aggies had a streak of prevailing in 10 consecutive shootouts snapped. The streak included seven NCAA Championship matches.In what was her collegiate match, Rice had a stellar performance in goal. She made eight saves and snuffed out numerous crosses and set pieces to register her eighth shutout of the season and the 11th of her career. Prudhomme made four saves for USC to register her shutout, including a stonewall of a solid blast from Emily Bates late in the first overtime period to stave off the sudden death goal.Rice made a pair of impressive saves in the first five minutes of the contest to keep the Trojans off the board.In the second minute, the Aggie goalkeeper made a kick save on a shot by Alex Anthony. In the fourth minute Rice used her fingertips to make a save on a shot by Taylor McMorrow.USC had a shot by Rooney hit the crossbar and hit in front of the goal line in the 19th minute. A Trojans shot by Ashleigh Plumptre went inches wide of the left post in the 32nd minute.The Aggies had a pair of scoring opportunities snuffed out by Prudhomme in the opening act. Crabtree was on the shooting end of both Prudhommes save, including offers in the second and 19th minutes.Crabtree appeared to score in the last 10 minutes of the first half. With an emergence of the clans in the six-yard box, Crabtree put a ball iinto goal, but she was deemed to have kicked the ball out of the keepers hands.dddddddddddd.USC owned the advantages in shots (11-4) in the first half. Corner kicks (1-1) and shots-on-goal (2-2) were even in the opening stanza.Rice came up huge in the second half as she made five saves. Ultimately, it was a defensive save by McKayla Paulson with the game in its waning seconds that sent the match to overtime. Andrews lofted a howitzer from 20 yards which leapt over Rice who was five yards off the line, but Paulson booted the ball clear of the goal with three seconds left in regulation.The Maroon and White end the season with a 12-8-2 mark. They earned their 22nd consecutive NCAA Championship bid and advanced to the second round for the 19th consecutive season.USC (15-4-2) heads to an NCAA Championship third round match against Utah on Sunday. The Utes toppled the Florida State Seminoles, 2-1, earlier in the day.?Head Coach G Guerrieri Texas A&M Head Coach G Guerrieri Opening Statement... Congratulations to Southern California, they are a great team. I think we did a great job of being able to keep them contained. Dani Rice in our defense was fantastic throughout the match, to shut out and attack like that. Then their goalkeeper made a great save. One great save, and we hit the post on the other one, but she was up to the task and they deserved to win. I didnt think we deserved to lose, but I think a very good Southern California team now moves on.On the season... This, to an extent, was a little bit like a lot of our season. True grit, fight, determination and love for each other. We pulled through some tough times during the season, and some really tough times today during the match. We came up a bit short, but they should always be proud of the effort.On what you tell to returning players... Well be second guessing ourselves on different things. The biggest thing is were going to return the majority of this team. The majority of the players in this lineup come back, with three of our redshirts coming back next year. Well be excellent going forward, and these seniors have been a big part in helping propel this program to the top in the very near future. ' ' '