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Gophers dispatch UNLV 51-23

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Philip Nelson
Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson (9) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a 5-yard touchdown against UNLV in the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game in Minneapolis, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013. Minnesota defeated UNLV 51-23.
Andy Clayton-King/AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota's Marcus Jones returned the second half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and the Gophers pulled away for a 51-23 victory over UNLV on Thursday, the 23rd loss in a row on the road for the Rebels.

Minnesota, which scored twice on special teams, turned a tight game into a romp without any scoring by the offense for the first 23-plus minutes after the intermission. Ra'Shede Hageman blocked a field goal that Martez Shabazz picked up and raced for a 78-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and Briean Boddy-Calhoun scored on an 89-yard interception return in the fourth.

UNLV's Tim Cornett rushed 20 times for 82 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown run to cap a commanding opening drive for the Rebels. Shaquille Murray-Lawrence gained 108 yards on four carries for UNLV, which last won away from Las Vegas was Oct. 24, 2009, at New Mexico.

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Philip Nelson
Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson (9) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a 5-yard touchdown against UNLV in the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game in Minneapolis, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013. Minnesota defeated UNLV 51-23.
Andy Clayton-King/AP