WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. _ When an opponent gives you the ball four times in the first half, it's just asking to lose.
And when you don't fully convert on those turnovers, you're leaving the door open for that opponent to rally.
That's just what happened Saturday afternoon as Minnesota lost its second consecutive game, 31-17 to Purdue in a thunderstorm-delayed game at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Markell Jones scored on 12-yard run with 1:17 left, and Purdue added a two-point conversion for a 24-17 lead after the Gophers went ahead 17-16 on Emmit Carpenter's 38-yard field goal with 2:26 to play.
The Gophers had one last gasp, and Conor Rhoda hit Rashad Still, who made a great catch for a 32-yard gain to the Purdue 32-yard line with 43 seconds left. But Rhoda's pass on fourth-and-5 from the 27 was intercepted by Ja'Whaun Bentley, who returned it 76 yards for a touchdown with 10 seconds left for the 14-point lead.
But it was the early opportunities lost that hurt Minnesota.
The Gophers (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) converted two of Purdue's four first-half turnovers into 14 points, but they couldn't cash in on two other giveaways and great field position in the second quarter. Minnesota started possessions at their 43-yard line and Purdue's 37 after recovering Boilermakers fumbles, but came away with nothing. One drive went three-and-out, and the other ended with Minnesota driving to the Purdue 8, only to have quarterback Conor Rhoda lose a fumble.
After dodging that would-be knockout blow, the Boilermakers (3-2, 1-1) scored 10 second-half points and emerged with the victory in front of 42,085 in a game that was delayed for 1 hour, 28 minutes when the thunderstorms, rain and lightning rolled in.
The wind _ gusting to 35 miles per hour _ played a big role on Purdue's first touchdown.
The Gophers, going into the wind, went three-and-out, and Jacob Herbers _ not Ryan Santoso _ was sent in to punt. Herbers' punt went only 11 yards, setting up Purdue at the Minnesota 37. Three plays and one Gophers facemasking call later, David Blough hit a wide-open tight end Cole Herdman for a 20-yard TD pass. Spencer Evans missed the extra-point attempt, leaving the score 6-0 just 2:17 into the game.
The Gophers feasted on Purdue's first turnover later in the first quarter. Gophers safety Adekunle Ayinde intercepted Blough at the Purdue 39, and Shannon Brooks broke free for a 40-yard gain to the 1 on second-and-12. On third-and-goal from the 3, Rhoda hit Tyler Johnson for a 3-yard TD pass and a 7-6 lead after Emmit Carpenter's extra-point kick.
Purdue responded by driving to the Minnesota 6. But Kamal Martin ended the Boilermakers' threat by intercepting Blough's third-down pass in the end zone on the first play of the second quarter
The Gophers quickly cashed that in for a 14-6 lead, with Brooks first breaking free for a 19-yard run. Rodney Smith followed with a spectacular 51-yard gain to the Purdue 10 that featured a 360-degree spin and four missed tackles. Brooks' 8-yard gain on an option pitch set up third-and-goal, and Rhoda found tight end Brandon Lingen in the back of the end zone for a 2-yard TD toss on a play-action fake.
Purdue replaced Blough with Elijah Sindelar on its next series. But the Boilermakers committed their third turnover when Barber tackled Terry Wright, who fumbled. Barber recovered at the Minnesota 43. The Gophers, however, couldn't cash that one in, going three-and-out.
Santoso's 54-yard punt pinned Purdue at its 1. The Boilers moved the ball to their 43, but Merrick Jackson stripped the ball from Sindelar, and Andrew Stelter recovered at the Purdue 37. The turnover was Purdue's fourth in four possessions.
A 15-yard Rhoda-to-Lingen hookup put the ball at Purdue's 18, and the Gophers moved to the 8 before Rhoda fumbled after being hit by.
Purdue began the second half with great field position and the wind at its back, starting at its 48 after a 23-yard kickoff return by D.J. Knox and a late hit penalty on Carter Coughlin. The Boilermakers went 52 yards in 10 plays, capped by Sindelar hitting Knox for a 22-yard TD pass that cut the Gophers' lead to 14-13 with 10:38 left in the third quarter.
After the Gophers punted, Purdue marched down the field again, with Sindelar hitting Jared Sparks on a flea-flicker for a 24-yard gain to the Minnesota 35. But a holding penalty and Coughlin's tackle for loss moved Purdue back, and the Boilermakers punted, pinning the Gophers at their 2.
The Gophers couldn't move the ball and were forced to punt. Santoso's 25-yard punt was downed at Minnesota's 30, and a Purdue holding penalty moved it back to the 40. The Gophers defense held, with Kamal Martin making a big third-down tackle, and Evans was wide left on a 52-yard field-goal attempt.
Purdue forced the Gophers to punt, and Sindelar led a 10-play, 78-yard drive that J.D. Dellinger capped with a 19-yard field goal to put the Boilermakers ahead 16-14 with 9:58 left.
Immediately after the field goal, officials suspended the game as thunderstorms approached. The�� stands were evacuated, and fans went into Mackey Arena next door.
When the game resumed, the Gophers went on a methodical drive, with Brooks twice converting on fourth down, the last of which moved the ball to the Purdue 37. On third-and-10, Brooks went on a sweep right for 10 yards to the Purdue 27. The drive stalled at the 20, but Carpenter gave the Gophers a 17-16 lead with 2:26 left.
But Purdue had the final answers.
