Offensive Explosion Powers Gophers Past Purdue 41-13
West Lafayette, IN (Learfield Sports) -- Freshman running back Shannon Brooks rushed for 176 yards as the Minnesota Gophers controlled Purdue Saturday 41-13. Coach Jerry Kill had been looking for an offensive output like that all season.
Minnesota scored 28 points in the third period -- more points than it had scored in any game this season. A 71-yard touchdown run by Brooks started the fireworks for the Gophers (4-2, 1-1) as they pulled away from the home team.
Quarterback Mitch Leidner scored on a one-yard run and threw two touchdown passes in the victory. The Gophers rushed for a season-high 326 yards. The Boilermakers (1-5, 0-2) missed an extra point, lost a fumble and gave up three interceptions.
Minnesota starts a rough four-game stretch next week against a struggling Nebraska Cornhusker team at home.