The Gophers needed one of their best players to step up in a big moment on homecoming against Purdue on Saturday night.
They required Koi Perich to make one of the splash plays that the Esko, Minn., native made almost routine during his all-Big Ten freshman season a year ago.
The sophomore did it with a fourth-quarter interception that he returned 27 yards for a touchdown to give Minnesota a 27-20 win at Huntington Bank Stadium.
After five picks last season, Perich’s first one of the year was also his first career touchdown. The game-changing play also has a slice of redemption for Perich, who had to overcome a muffed punt that loomed large in the 27-14 loss to California on Sept. 13.
The Gophers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) battled back to win in front of more than 200 former players, including the 1960 national championship team being honored.
Minnesota tied the game at 20-20 with less than eight minutes to go, with Drake Lindsey connecting with Jameson Geers on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Lindsey scrambled for a conversion on fourth and two to keep the drive alive.
The Boilermakers (2-4, 0-3) have lost four straight games and, at times, gifted the game to Minnesota with three interceptions and nine penalties, including two facemask calls on the game-tying drive.
Purdue lost despite having nearly 200 more yards of total offense.
The Purdue pass defense was one of the worst in the country, and Lindsey was able to find enough success, completing 21 of 45 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Purdue’s rushing offense was 110th out of 136 programs in the nation, but blew past its 115-yard per-game average with 178 in the first half and 253 in the game.
Boilers tailback Devin Mockobee continued to rack up big gains against the Gophers. He put up 5.9 yards per carry in games against Minnesota in 2022 and ’23 and had 4.7 on Saturday night.
He finished with 98 yards on 21 carries. Minnesota struggled to run the ball again, with Darius Taylor managing only 32 yards on 14 carries.
The Gophers’ defense struggled to get off the field in conversion situations in the first half, and it cost them 14 points.
On fourth and 2 on the opening drive, athletic backup quarterback Malachi Singleton ran a draw and found a huge hole up the middle, broke one arm tackle from Devon Williams and a shoestring tackle from Maverick Baranowski near the goal line for a 40-yard touchdown run.
On third and goal from the 12 just before the half, starting quarterback Ryan Browne eluded a sack from Anthony Smith, broke contain, found the edge and scored by touching the football to the pylon.
The Gophers’ offense had nothing working until they started calling screen passes to Taylor, including a 40-yard completion. Then Lindsey threw a receiver screen to Le’Meke Brockington for a 24-yard touchdown.
Brady Denaburg made two field goals — 46 and 29 yards — to help trim Purdue’s lead to 17-13 at the half.
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