Every Saturday night during the college football season, BTN.com web editor Brent Yarina hands out his weekly Big Ten game balls. The series is called “U.S. Marines Corps: Leaders of the Week,” and it’s designed to spotlight the Big Ten’s top individual performances. Who took home the honors from Week 4? Find out in this post.

Wrapping up today’s action, Minnesota held off Syracuse, 17-10, and Louisiana Tech dropped Illinois, 52-24. As he’s done all day, BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart offers his thoughts and analysis from the action under the lights in this post. See his early game thoughts and afternoon thoughts.

Donnell Kirkwood rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns and the Minnesota defense showed it is no longer the pushover it has been for decades in a 17-10 victory over Syracuse on Saturday night. The Golden Gophers forced four turnovers and Max Shortell threw for 231 yards in place of injured starter MarQueis Gray to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2008.

Donnell Kirkwood led Minnesota in the quarter. He ran for 34 yards and one touchdown, and the Golden Gophers now lead 14-3. Minnesota opened up the lead, 14-3, after marching down the field for a 12-play, 87-yard drive that ended when Kirkwood pounded in a one-yard touchdown run.

Minnesota and Syracuse combined for a total of no points and one turnover in a sloppy second quarter and the margin is still four, as the Golden Gophers lead 7-3.