Minneapolis, MN -- (Sports Network) - DeLeon Eskridge ran for a pair of touchdowns as the Minnesota Golden Gophers cruised to a 37-3 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls in non-conference play at the Metrodome.

Eskridge posted a game-high 78 yards on 19 carries in his first-ever start for the Golden Gophers (4-0) as they remained undefeated. Quarterback Adam Weber converted 19-of-24 passing for 235 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the victory as well.

The Owls (1-3) generated just 276 yards of offense on the afternoon as Rusty Smith hit on 17-of-34 passing for 153 yards, but was sacked once and picked off four times in the losing effort.

Minnesota ran out to an early 7-0 lead at the 12:29 mark of the first quarter when Shady Salamon crossed the goal line from three yards out. Four minutes later a 34-yard field goal by Joel Monroe put the Gophers ahead by a score of 10-0.

The Owls scored their only points of the contest nine seconds into the second period as Warley Leroy knocked through a 35-yard field goal.

Weber's 31-yard TD pass to Eric Decker later in the frame provided the home team with a 16-3 edge at the break following a failed PAT.

The only scoring of the third quarter came courtesy of a one-yard TD run by Eskridge, capping a six-play, 41-yard drive that ate up less than three minutes.

Another one-yard touchdown run by Eskridge at the 12:37 mark of the fourth boosted the score to 30-3, while a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown by Minnesota's Simoni Lawrence finished off FAU with a final of 37-3.

The Gophers, who scored on 4-of-5 opportunities in the red zone, limited the visitors to just 3-of-14 on third down and 0-of-2 on fourth down on the afternoon.

Last season the Owls won the meeting with Minnesota at home by a score of 42-39 as the home team forced seven turnovers, four of which were interceptions thrown by Weber.