This browser does not support the Video element.
P.J. Fleck reacts to 21-17 win over UCLA at Rose Bowl
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck speaks with reporters after a 21-17 win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl Stadium Saturday night.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota football team is 4-3 on the season after a 21-17 win over UCLA Saturday night at Rose Bowl Stadium.
It’s the Gophers’ first win at that venue since 1962. They improve to 4-3 on the season and 2-2 in Big Ten play. It took a late touchdown from Darius Taylor to get there. More than 15,000 fans made the trip to Pasadena, and P.J. Fleck said after the win they're getting a group game ball.
"I’m not giving out 15,000 game balls, I’ll get the bill for that one. Consider it an IOU, just as good as money. We’re going to keep a game ball that says ‘The Fans’ on it from this date," Fleck said. "I hope everybody who came here for the reasons they came here for had a glimpse of that. Just proud to be the head coach of that football team."
This browser does not support the Video element.
Gophers players react to 21-17 win over UCLA at Rose Bowl
Gophers players Max Brosmer, Darius Taylor, Daniel Jackson, Cody Lindenberg, Anthony Smith and Koi Perich react after a 21-17 win over UCLA at Rose Bowl Stadium Saturday night.
The key play
Trailing 17-14 with under a minute to play, the Gophers faced a 3rd-and-goal from the 5-yard line. Max Brosmer hit Darius Taylor for the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds to play. Taylor finished the night with only 47 total yards, but had two touchdowns.
"That last play, I don’t think you know how hard that is. He went through four reads, O-line held up, pressure in his face, Darius was his last option and Darius does the rest," Fleck said.
Koi Perich continues to make plays
The freshman from Esko did it again Saturday night, making two huge plays in the victory. The Gophers had just scored to cut UCLA’s lead to 10-7 in the third quarter. Cody Lindenberg pressured UCLA’s quarterback, and Perich came up with a diving interception.
The Gophers turned it into points, with Taylor scoring from three yards out to give Minnesota a 14-10 lead in the third quarter. Perich wasn’t done. He had the game-sealing interception at the goal line on a Hail Mary as time expired.
For the second straight week, Perich sealed a Big Ten win with a takeaway.
"Dude, he's a baller," Fleck said.
Cody Lindenberg also had an interception, for three turnovers on the night. Anthony Smith, Jah Joyner and Jack Henderson all had sacks.
Late punt pays off
Facing a 4th-and-6 at the UCLA 46-yard line with a little over three minutes to play and all three timeouts left, P.J. Fleck opted to punt and pin the Bruins deep. Instead of being aggressive and going for it, the choice to punt paid off. The Gophers' defense forced a 3-and-out, UCLA had to punt and it set up Taylor's game-winning touchdown.
Gophers bounce back from tough first half
The Gophers’ offense was largely non-existent in the first half. They had just 84 total yards and were just 3-of-8 on third down. That changed when Brosmer hit Elijah Spencer from 12 yards out to get Minnesota within 10-7 five minutes into the third quarter. Brosmer finished 26-of-37 for 193 yards and two scores.
What’s next
The Gophers have a bye week before hosting Maryland on Oct. 26 at Huntington Bank Stadium.