Hayo Carpenter Has Big Game in Playoff Win

Minnesota commit Hayo Carpenter, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound wide receiver from College of the Canyons (CA) CC, had 10 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns, breaking his own school record for receiving yards in a 36-27 win over El Camino College in the Southern California Playoff Semifinals. The Cougars (12-0) will face No. 3 seed Mt. San Antonio College (11-1) Saturday in the championship game.

Hayo Carpenter returned from a 72-hour suspension for what Cougar head coach Garett Tujague characterized as "conduct unbecoming of a Cougar."

Carpenter was named the National Division, Northern Conference Offensive Player of the Year and last week was selected as the All-Western State Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Carpenter caught 65 passes for 1,188 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman and has raised his numbers this season as a sophomore. Carpenter has 89 receptions for 1,590 yards and 15 touchdowns through 11 games. He has three rushing attempts for 11 yards and has been a standout punt and kickoff returner. He has returned 12 punts for 239 yards and one touchdown and has nine kickoff returns for 202 yards and one score.

Carpenter, a five-star recruit, is the second wide receiver commit for the Gophers, joining Florida wideout Victor Keise. He caught a 56- and 60-yard touchdown passes in a semifinal win.

The Cougars host No. 3 seed Mt. San Antonio College (11-1) next Saturday in the Southern California Championship. The winner of that title game will face Northern California's Butte College of Oroville (11-0) in the state championship Dec. 13 at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.