Gutierrez Jump Starts San Diego State : Nonconference: He passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns in 48-17 victory over Minnesota.

Tim Gutierrez completed 32 of 48 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns in his first college start, reducing Marshall Faulk to a secondary role, as San Diego State beat Minnesota 48-17 Saturday night.

Faulk, the two-time national rushing leader, gained 81 yards on 22 carries and scored one touchdown for the Aztecs (3-1). It was his fourth-lowest career rushing output, not including two games cut short by injury. He also caught four passes for 50 yards.

The Golden Gophers (1-3), third in the nation with 353 passing yards per game coming in, were held to 205 yards passing. Tim Schade completed 18 of 42 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns with one interception before being replaced by Scott Eckers in the fourth quarter. Eckers also threw an interception.

Gutierrez and Darnay Scott combined on touchdown pass plays of 12 and 27 yards on consecutive possessions in the second quarter. He also combined with Jake Nyberg on a 20-yard touchdown pass play and Will Tate for an 11-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Faulk scored on a two-yard run in the second quarter after Leonard Jones intercepted a pass by Schade.

Gutierrez is filling in for senior David Lowery, who started 23 consecutive games before fracturing his right leg in last week’s 38-31 win at Air Force.

Gutierrez stepped in with 12:40 left in the Air Force game and passed for 217 yards and two touchdowns, rallying San Diego State to 24 points in a row.

The Aztecs had to rally against the Golden Gophers, who went ahead 10-0 in the first 4:59 on Mike Chalberg’s 44-yard field goal and Schade’s 24-yard touchdown pass play to Chris Darkins.

San Diego State then scored on four consecutive possessions and six of seven, including four field goals by Peter Holt, to take a 26-10 halftime lead. They failed only when Holt missed a 45-yard field goal attempt.

Faulk had his longest run of the year, 32 yards to the Gophers’ 27, to set up Holt’s 40-yard field goal with 8:09 left in the quarter.

Holt’s second field goal, from 34 yards, was set up when Eric Sutton recovered a fumble by Antonio Carter.

Gutierrez and Scott combined on a 12-yard touchdown pass play three minutes into the second quarter to cap a 13-play, 83-yard drive and give the Aztecs the lead for good, 13-10. Scott got behind Terrance Blayne on the next drive and caught a 27-yard scoring pass.

A 16-yard punt by Ron Holty gave the Aztecs the ball at the Gophers’ 38, and Holt kicked a 33-yard field goal with three minutes left in the first half. He added a 45-yarder with 1:03 left.

Schade also combined with Mark Tangen on a six-yard touchdown pass play early in the fourth quarter.