Drake Lindsey passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns and Koi Perich returned an interception 27 yards for a score as Minnesota defeated Purdue 27-20 on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Minnesota (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) stopped a two-game skid in the series against Purdue (2-4, 0-3).
The Golden Gophers outscored the Boilermakers 14-0 in the fourth quarter, with Perich giving the hosts the advantage for good with 7:40 left.
On the first play after Minnesota tied the game at 20 on a 4-yard scoring connection from Lindsey to Jameson Geers, Perich snagged a Ryan Browne pass and raced to the end zone. Browne didn’t appear to see Perich behind the line of scrimmage.
Purdue drove 15 plays to the Minnesota 7-yard line on the ensuing possession. But Jai’Onte’ McMillan broke up a pass intended for Michael Jackson III in the end zone with 1:56 to go.
The visitors got the ball back at their own 39 with 15 seconds left but didn’t threaten.
The Boilermakers outgained the Golden Gophers 456-262, including 253-30 on the ground.
Lindsey finished 21-for-45 passing for 232 yards and an interception. Darius Taylor had six catches for 67 yards and Lemeke Brockington caught four passes for 61 yards and a score.
Browne was 21-for-40 passing for 203 yards and two interceptions. Devin Mockobee gained 98 yards on 21 carries and Corey Smith had six catches for 57 yards.
The Boilermakers took a 20-13 lead on Spencer Porath’s 20-yard field goal with 8:20 remaining in the second quarter.
Purdue stayed afloat behind a versatile ground attack that humbled one of Minnesota’s early-season strengths.
The Golden Gophers entered the game with the nation’s ninth-best run defense, limiting foes to 79 yards and 2.8 yards per carry.
The Boilermakers eclipsed that in the first half, rushing for 178 yards on 23 carries.
Malachi Singleton (five carries, 73 yards) provided a big chunk of that total with a 40-yard touchdown run to cap the first possession of the game, punctuating a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
Browne added a 12-yard scoring run with 1:52 left in the second quarter that gave the Boilermakers a 17-10 lead.
Minnesota drove for a 29-yard Brady Denaburg field goal as time expired in the second quarter to draw within 17-13.
