Minnesota 51, UNLV 23: Marcus Jones and Martez Shabazz scored special teams touchdowns and Philip Nelson accounted for three scores as the Gophers began their season with a convincing home win over the Rebels.

Briean Boddy-Calhoun returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown for Minnesota, which outscored UNLV 35-10 in the second half. The Gophers were outgained 419-320, but won comfortably thanks to their three non-offensive touchdowns.

Tim Cornett (26-yard run) and Devante Davis (34-yard catch) scored first-half touchdowns for UNLV. Shaquille Murray-Lawrence sparked the Rebels’ offense with 108 yards on just four carries.

Jones opened the second half with a 98-yard kickoff return – the Gophers’ longest in seven years – to put Minnesota ahead 23-13. About seven minutes later, Minnesota’s Ra’Shede Hageman blocked a field goal, Shabazz scooped up the ball and ran 51 yards for a score.

Nelson ran for a 48-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and added a 10-yard touchdown pass to Maxx Williams in the final minute of the first half. The sophomore quarterback added a 5-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The loss was the 23rd straight road defeat for UNLV, a streak that dates back to a win over New Mexico in 2009. … Each team missed an extra point in the first half. … Boddy-Calhoun’s interception return was the longest by a Gophers player since 1969.