“The fourth quarter and that drive, that’s where you find out who you are as a team,” Lindsey said. “Your leaders got to really step up, and you’ve got to get it done. We did a really good job being gritty.”
For Purdue (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten), Browne complete 21 of 40 passes for 203 yards with two interceptions. He also frustrated the Gophers defense by escaping the pocket and rushing eight times for 61 yards, including a 12-yard TD scramble in the second quarter. Devin Mockobee rushed 21 times for 98 yards but threw an interception on a halfback option pass deep in Minnesota territory.
The Gophers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, avoiding a two-game losing streak. They are 2-2 in games against teams from Power Four conferences. They are two victories from gaining bowl eligibility.
“There’s incredible fight in that locker room, coaches and players,” Fleck said. ”I’m just proud to be a part of it."
Perich’s pick-six, in which he faked a blitz and dropped back into coverage before leaping to snatch the ball, put a charge in the stadium and secured a key win for the Gophers.
“Just reading the QB’s eyes,” the sophomore from Esko, Minn., said. “Ultimately, he threw it to me, and it was, ‘Just go make a play.’”