University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHERS SUFFER HEARTBREAKING LOSS TO PURDUE IN OVERTIME
9/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Golden Gophers took a 28-17 lead with just over eight minutes left in the game when Ron Johnson caught his second touchdown pass of the day from Travis Cole to cap an eight-play, 80-yard drive. On the ensuing possession, Purdue quickly went on a 69-yard, 10-play scoring drive capped by a Seth Morales touchdown catch from Hance.
After a Minnesota punt, Purdue got the ball back on their own six-yard line with 19 seconds left in the game and no timeouts. Hance completed a 27-yard pass to Standeford and a 39-yard pass to Taylor Stubblefield. Purdue managed to get its field goal unit on the field and Dorsch nailed a career-long 48-yard field goal as time expired.
After Purdue scored to open the overtime, Cole tossed a pass to Tony Henderson in the corner of the endzone for an apparent touchdown but he was ruled out of bounds. On third down, Cole was intercepted in the endzone by Stuart Schweigert to end the game.
Minnesota grabbed a quick 7-0 lead after the first quarter, thanks in part to a blocked punt by junior cornerback Michael Lehan. Lehan raced around the end of the Purdue line to block the punt inside the Boilermaker 15-yard line. Freshman Justin Isom made the recovery, and three plays later, Cole connected with Johnson for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Johnson, who extended nation-leading streak of 38 consecutive games with at least one reception, finished the game with eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
Purdue tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass to junior Seth Morales from freshman quarterback Brandon Hance. Two possessions later, the Boilermakers drove 80 yards, capped by a 31-yard halfback pass from junior running back Montrell Lowe to Hance for the score.
Minnesota responded immediately by sprinting the ball 73 yards in just over a minute. Junior running back Tellis Redmon captained the drive a 43-yard scamper down to the Purdue 26-yard line. Redmon finished the day with 152 yards on 24 carries. Redmon finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to tie the game at the half, 14-14.
Minnesota scored the only points of the third quarter when Redmon completed a one-yard touchdown pass to Ben Utecht on fourth down. The drive began after Lehan picked off a Hance pass and returned it 56 yards.
Minnesota looks to get back in track next weekend when it travels to Illinois on Saturday.
