MINNEAPOLIS – Quarterback Mitch Leidner rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns to lift Minnesota to a 43-24 victory over San Jose State on Saturday.
Leidner was filling in for injured starter Philip Nelson, who was out with a bad hamstring. He also passed for 71 yards as the Golden Gophers improved to 4-0. Gophers coach Jerry Kill returned to the sideline a week after missing the second half because of an epileptic seizure and made it through the game without incident.
David Fales threw for 439 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for San Jose State (1-2). Chandler Jones had seven catches for 197 yards and three touchdowns for the Spartans, who were missing top receiver Noah Grigsby with a knee injury.
David Cobb rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns and the Gophers dominated the time of possession 40:38-18:58 to grind Fales and the high-flying Spartans into submission.
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