MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Asad Abdul-Khaliq threw for two scores and ran for another Saturday night as Minnesota posted its first shutout in three years with a 42-0 blanking of Southwest Texas State.
Abdul-Khaliq, who was six of seven for 172 yards, got the Golden Gophers on the board just 23 seconds into the contest when he completed a 75-yard pass to tight end Ben Utecht.
The quarterback connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Hosack with 4:34 remaining in the opening quarter to make it 28-0.
Thomas Tapeh extended the Gophers' advantage to 35-0 on a two-yard run three seconds into the second quarter and Zack Kartak completed the scoring with a five-yard run with 49 seconds left in the third.
Minnesota outgained Southwest Texas State 395 yards to 129 in total offense. The Bobcats were limited to just 75 rushing yards and 54 passing yards.
The Gophers last shut out an opponent in 1999, when they defated Louisiana-Monroe, 35-0.
