By John Raffel

Ann Arbor, MI

Vincent Smith found three different ways to score Saturday afternoon.

But his Michigan teammates also found plenty of ways to put points on the scoreboard in a 58-0 waltz over Minnesota in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams.

It marked undefeated Michigan's first shutout of the season. Outside of a 35-31 win over Notre Dame the second week of the season, the Wolverines have outscored their other four opponents 151-20.

Michigan is 5-0 while Minnesota is 1-4. The game was also the battle for the Little Brown Jug, which belongs to Michigan ever since the Wolverines defeated Minnesota 29-6 in 2008, the last time the two teams met. The trophy has existed since 1903.

"They have an awfully good football team and an excellent trigger man and did a great job in executing," said Gopher coach Jerry Kill, while referring to Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, who gained 169 yards passing and 51 running.

"You have to have guys that make plays. Athletically, he's the best player on the field. We didn't have people athletic enough to tackle him. It was good execution on their part in putting him in good position. The coaches do a good job in doing what they need to do with that young man."

The Wolverines marched 80 yards on the first drive of the game to paydirt in seven plays with Smith running it in from three yards out.

Smith also threw for a TD and caught a touchdown.

"It shows the talent and diversity he has," Michigan cornerback Courtney Avery said of Smith's three touchdowns. "I've never seen that before."

"That's what we expect out of Vince," said Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, who had 108 yards rushing and one touchdown. "He's a hard worker."

On their next possession, the Wolverines drove 75 yards on six plays with Robinson scampering to the end zone from nine yards out.

On the first play of the second quarter, Smith, from his running back position, passed the ball to Drew Dileo 17 yards for the touchdown.

On their next drive, the Wolverines went 69 yards with Robinson passing to Smith for the 28-yard touchdown.

On Michigan's fifth drive, the Wolverines settled for a 25-yard field goal from Brendan Gibbons.

Robinson passed to Kevin Koger 18 yards for another Michigan touchdown on the Wolverines' sixth and final drive of the half.

Michigan wasn't forced to punt until the third quarter. Midway in the quarter, the Wolverines scored on a 1-yard run by Toussaint. Gibbons kicked a 32-yard field goal later in the quarter. He also booted a 38-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota had a 96-yard touchdown return on a kickoff by Marcus Jones nullified by a holding penalty late in the third.

Michigan's Courtney Avery returned a fumble 83 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Robinson was 15-of-19 for 169 yards passing and rushed for 51 yards for Michigan. Toussaint gained 108 yards on the ground.

"Getting off to a strong start has helped us work with the running game," said Michigan coach Brady Hoke, whose team netted 363 yards on the ground and 217 in the air. "Being able to throw the ball is a big part of our offense."

Max Shortell was 11-of-22 for 104 yards to lead Minnesota.

"We're having trouble making plays," said Kill, whose team had 73 net yards rushing and was hampered with nine penalties for 74 yards. "They have some athletic skills we couldn't match up very well with. It's not what the University of Michigan was doing but who they were doing it with. They have some very skilled athletes."

With tougher challenges coming up for Michigan including the Wolverines first road game next week at Northwestern, Hokes and his players remain unbeat.

"I'm looking forward to it," Toussaint said. "If we have a good week of practice, we'll be prepared."

"This is the first step in the goal for this program, winning the Big Ten championship," Hoke said.

Saturday's game attracted 111,106 fans.

 

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Vincent Smith's Versatility Sparks Michigan's Shellacking of Minnesota