How they scored: Purdue-Minnesota
After trailing 17-16 in the game's final minutes, Purdue beat Minnesota in a weather-delayed 31-17 thriller.
Markell Jones scored the go-ahead TD with 1:17 left, then Ja'Whaun Bentley iced it with a 76-yard interception return as Purdue overcame a four-turnover first half and a late surrendering of the lead.
Purdue 7, Minnesota 0 — 12:43 first — After the defense forced a three-and-out to open the game, Purdue took over at Minnesota's 37-yard line after a shanked punt. After a facemask penalty on the Gophers set the Boilermakers up at the 20, David Blough hit a wide-open Cole Herdman for the game's opening score. Spencer Evans' PAT was no good.
Minnesota 7, Purdue 6 — 4:56 first — After David Blough was intercepted on third-and-10 at Purdue's 39, Shannon Brooks broke off a 40-yard run that set up Conor Rhoda's three-yard third-and-goal TD pass to Tyler Johnson.
Minnesota 14, Purdue 6 — 12:13 second — After David Blough threw an ugly interception on third-and-goal on the first play of the second quarter, Minnesota broke off runs of 19 and 51 yards, then scored on a two-yard third-down TD pass to strike quickly after the Boilermakers' second turnover.
Minnesota 14, Purdue 13 — 10:38, third quarter — Purdue made it a new ball game, with Elijah Sindelar hitting D.J. Knox for a 22-yard catch-and-run after the Boilermakers opened with great field position after Knox drew a personal foul at the end of a 23-yard kickoff return.
Purdue 16, Minnesota 14 — 9:58 fourth quarter — After seeing golden opportunities go by the wayside, Purdue finally took the lead with J.D. Dellinger's 19-yard field goal, capping a 10-play 78-yard drive. Big plays: A 35-yard catch and run by Jackson Anthrop and a 24-yard run by D.J. Knox one play after a holding call set Purdue back after it had reached field goal range.
1
Minnesota 17, Purdue 16 — After a weather delay of roughly an hour-and-a-half, Minnesota drove 60 yards in 7:32 to retake the lead on Emmitt Carpenter's 38-yard kick.
Purdue 24, Minnesota 17 — 1:17 fourth — After Minnesota retook the lead, Purdue struck quick, needing just four plays to cover 56 yards, notably a 33-yard completion to Anthony Mahoungu. Markell Jones scored on a 12-yard run, then Sindelar hit Gregory Phillips for the two-point conversion.
Purdue 31, Minnesota 17 — 10 seconds left — On fourth-and-three in Purdue territory, Ja'Whaun Bentley put an exclamation point on the win, with an interception and 76-yard scoring return.
Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?
Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook
More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast
Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2017. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.