EVANSTON, Ill., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Asad Abdul-Khaliq and Jared Ellerson hooked up on touchdown passes of 96 and 82 yards Saturday afternoon as No. 16 Minnesota beat Northwestern, 42-17.
In the win, the Golden Gophers (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) rallied from a 14-point deficit and matched their best start since 1960, when it won the national championship and shared the Big Ten title.
While Abdul-Klaliq threw four touchdown passes, running back Marion Barber III continued his stellar season with a pair of 31-yard touchdown runs. He already has rushed for 13 scored this year, tying the school mark held by Jim Perkins and Darrell Thompson.
In the comeback, the Golden Gophers continually hurt the Wildcats with their quick-strike ability. Northwestern trailed only 21-17 at halftime, but could not counter the Gophers in the second half.
