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University of Minnesota Athletics
Football Drops Big Ten Opener at Purdue, 28-15
9/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Purdue got on the board first, on the game's opening drive, going 77 yards on 13 plays in 5:31, ending in a two-yard touchdown run by running back Joey Harris. The Golden Gophers got the ball on their first drive and promptly threw a 45-yard strike to Antoine Burns who made a spectacular one-handed catch. Minnesota later apppeared to score on the drive when Aaron Hosack was ruled to be out of bounds in the Purdue endzone on a pass from Asad Abdul-Khaliq.
After two fruitless drives, the Boilermakers began a drive of their own only to see safety Eli Ward force a fumble on the Minnesota 38. Justin Fraley recovered the ball on the play, but the Golden Gopher offense sputtered, going three-and-out. After Purdue's ensuing drive stalled, wide receiver Jermaine Mays blocked the PU punt, giving the Maroon and Gold the ball at the Purdue 33. It was Mays' second blocked punt of his career. Minnesota capitalized on punt block with Dan Nystrom's 38-yard field goal to make the score 7-3.
Purdue fumbled again on the kickoff with linebacker Bradley Vance pouncing on the loose ball. Minnesota missed its opportunity to score off the turnover as Nystrom missed from 36 yards for his first missed field goal attempt of the year. Purdue took over, but once again put the ball on the ground as Ward tallied his second forced fumble of the game with Dan Kwapinski recovering. Nystrom later made the score 7-6 with a 49-yard field goal for his 300th point as a Golden Gopher.
After a three-and-out Boilermaker drive, Minnesota took its first lead of the game late in the second quarter with a 28-yard field goal by Nystrom. With the kick, Nystrom tied Chip Lohmiller's school record for career field goals at 57. The two teams went into the lockerroom with Minnesota holding a 9-7 lead. Purdue out-gained the Golden Gophers 191-158 in the half, but Minnesota led in time of possession with 16:23 to PU's 13:37.
On the first play of the third quarter, PU safety Ralph Turner picked off Abdul-Khaliq and returned the ball 23 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. After several scoreless drives, Purdue made the score 21-9 with a three-yard touchdown run by Harris, his second of the game. The touchdown capped off a six-play, 55-yard drive that took 2:28.
On Minnesota's next drive, Purdue linebacker Gilbert Gardner hit Abdul-Khaliq, forcing a fumble which Turner returned 35 yards to the Minnesota four-yard line. From there, PU quarterbakc Kyle Orton threw a four-yard pass to Shaun Phillips to close out the third quarter at 28-9.
In the fourth quarter, Minnesota saw two drives stall due to several dropped balls by Golden Gopher receivers and tight ends. The Maroon and Gold finally got on the board at 5:31 in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Abdul-Khaliq to Antoine Burns. The six-play, 72-yard drive was set up by a 47-yard strike from Abdul-Khaliq to Hosack. Minnesota missed the two-point conversion to make the score 28-15.
The Golden Gophers attempted the onside kick, but Purdue got possession of the ball and drove down the field only to miss a 36-yard field goal. Minnesota took over with six seconds remaining, but it was too late for any last-second heroics.
Abdul-Khaliq struggled in the passing game, going 16-of-48 for 233 yard with one touchdown and one interception. Purdue out-rushed Minnesota 153-83 as all Minnesota backs were held under 50 yards. Safety Justin Isom led the Golden Gopher defense with nine tackles while defensive end Charlton Keith tallied two sacks.
The Golden Gophers return home next week to host Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., at the HHH Metrdome.
