Die Macht » thrilled for the Horfords and were thrilled

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota has quite the 1-2-3 punch in its running game this season.The Gophers hit Colorado State with two of them all afternoon and completed nonconference play unbeaten.Rodney Smith rushed 17 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Shannon Brooks returned from injury to net 85 yards and a score on 13 carries, helping Minnesota wear down the Rams on the way to a 31-24 victory on Saturday.Theyre both awfully good, coach Tracy Claeys said of his sophomore tailback tandem, so it doesnt matter which way it ends up.Brooks, the teams leading rusher last season, missed the first two games because of a broken foot. Kobe McCrary, who piled up 176 yards rushing two weeks ago against Indiana State, rushed for 13 yards on four carries.They had fresh legs coming in all the time, Rams safety Jake Schlager said, adding, They definitely used it to their advantage.Factor in quarterback Mitch Leidner, who took off 10 times for 50 yards and a touchdown, and the Gophers (3-0) have their running game going just the way they want it entering Big Ten play.Leidner is looking as spry as ever after suffering foot injuries in each of the last two Septembers that hampered his sophomore and junior years. He made some cuts and jukes for extra yardage that made Brooks and Smith proud.Ive never been healthy coming out of the nonconference so it feels really good, said Leidner, who completed 16 of 20 passes for 174 yards .Freshman Collin Hill, making his second start at quarterback for the Rams (2-2), cut Colorado States deficit to seven points with a 15-yard toss to Michael Gallup with 6:24 remaining. The Gophers followed with a three-and-out, but Hills fourth-down pass at the Minnesota 45 around the 2-minute mark was broken up by Adekunle Ayinde to quash the comeback.The Rams, who started three different quarterbacks over the first three games, have come a long way since a 44-7 loss to Colorado in their opener.I believe were close to becoming a pretty good football team, coach Mike Bobo said.Leidners underthrow toward the sideline was intercepted near midfield by Braylin Scott in the final minute of the first half, but Wyatt Bryan missed a 46-yard field goal as the clock expired to preserve a 17-7 lead for the Gophers.THE TAKEAWAYMinnesota: The Gophers were far from flawless, particularly on defense while giving up 11 gains of 15-plus yards, but they did precisely what they needed to do by entering conference play unscathed.Colorado State: Hill finished 15 for 30 for 182 yards and one touchdown with an interception and a fumble that led to 14 points for Minnesota, after a sharp debut against FCS foe Northern Colorado. The experience playing at a Big Ten stadium ought to help his development.FINISHING STRONGEmmit Carpenter, who has not missed a kick this season, made a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter. Thats the only time in 14 trips inside the 20-yard line the Gophers havent crossed the goal line.Once you get down there, its tough to stop Rodney, Shannon and Kobe, Leidner said. Thats a lot of horsepower coming at you.FEELING THE PRESSURESteven Richardson, who had four of Minnesotas 14 tackles for loss, sacked Hill on the first play from scrimmage. Hill absorbed several hard hits on the afternoon, none more jarring than the sack by Taiyon Devers that knocked the ball loose and his helmet off to give the Gophers possession at the Colorado State 33.Devers, one of four true freshmen who played on defense, has forced a fumble on all three of his sacks just 2 1/2 games into his college career.Collin hadnt played any speed like that, Bobo said.UP NEXTColorado State: The Rams host Wyoming in their Mountain West opener for the Bronze Boot, the trophy that has gone to CSU for three straight years. This game is the only trip for the Rams outside of Colorado for the first six weeks of the season.Minnesota: The Gophers play their first Big Ten game at Penn State. Minnesota is 2-4 there all time, having last visited in 2009 and last won in 2003. Custom Nets T-shirts . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Custom Nets Jerseys . 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WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics big man Al Horford,?responding to criticism for missing Monday nights game in?Miami after the birth of his second child, said Tuesday that he felt it was important to be there for his family.My familys very important to me, said Horford, who welcomed daughter Alia on Sunday. Im in more of a unique situation because this is our first year [in Boston] and my wife, we all moved in the middle of the pregnancy. And [there is] a lot going on. So I just felt like it was important for me to really be there, supporting her. And we have a son as well. So for her, its been a lot thrown at her these past few months.I know that it meant a lot for me to be there with her. ... So Im just very happy that the Celtics really take the time and they consider us not only as players but as people. And people that have families.Horford signed a four-year, $113 million contract this summer and had already missed nine games this season due to a concussion.?When the Celtics announced Monday morning that he would sit out, some fans grumbled on social media. The criticism seemed to diminish when the reason for Horfords absence was revealed.After the game -- a 112-104 victory -- Horfords decision was questioned during a segment on Comcast SportsNet, the broadcast home of the Celtics. Horfords sister, Anna, active on social media, responded swiftly to the criticism.Horford spent nearly all of his five-minute session with reporters Tuesday responding to the fallout.I dont really read into [the criticism]. I dont read Twitter and stuff, and the radio and all that, Horford said. I just kind of focus on the court, on my job here, and then, off the court, on my family.Everyboody has their opinion.dddddddddddd I respect anything that anybody has to say. I care a lot about the group and our guys. For my familys sake, it was important for me to be there for them. Just with our transition and everything. So thats that. Now I can put that behind me and get focused again on [Wednesdays game against the Pistons].Horford was the third player in the past six months whom the Celtics allowed to miss games for newborns (Jonas Jerebko and Avery Bradley?each welcomed children earlier in the calendar year).Coach Brad Stevens has stressed that family comes before all else for members of the organization.I think our greatest responsibilities are as sons, husbands, fathers. I think thats your No. 1 job, Stevens said. Were thrilled for the Horfords and were thrilled to have Al back at practice [Tuesday] and be ready to go [Wednesday]. Obviously, family is really important.Horford said his teammates were nothing but supportive before and after Mondays game.Added Horford: I was able to watch and I was just very proud with our guys, how they responded. I feel like in our short season already we havent been fully available, all of us, through all the games. Its just impressive to see a guy like Isaiah [Thomas] not making any excuses. And the list goes on. Not only Isaiah. All the other guys, but everybody just making sure they go in and they put in the work. And they dont make excuses.Horford reported that mother and baby are doing well.Everybodys healthy. That was the most important thing, Horford said. And [Alia has] been great so far. ' ' '