Gophers football pushes past UCLA with a two-minute drill touchdown

PASADENA, CALIF. – Sloppy and sluggish in the first half in their first appearance at Rose Bowl Stadium since Jan. 1, 1962, the Gophers finally decided to join in the revelry that their thousands of fans enjoyed in sunny California throughout the weekend.

And just in time, the Gophers gave those fans even more reason to celebrate.

Max Brosmer’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Darius Taylor with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter rallied the Gophers from a three-point deficit to a 21-17 win over UCLA on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 42,012 that had a strong Minnesota presence.

The winning touchdown came after the Bruins took a 17-14 lead on Ethan Garbers’ 42-yard touchdown pass to wide-open J. Michael Sturdivant with 6:54 left.

Gophers freshman safety Koi Perich intercepted UCLA’s last-gasp Hail Mary pass just outside the end zone as time expired for his second pick of the night, setting off a celebration.

“I can’t thank all of our fans [enough]. There were 15,000-plus in the Rose Bowl,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “In fact, we gave them a game ball. … This was special — special for our program, special for our fans.’’

Coupled with last week’s 24-17 home upset of then-No. 11 USC, the Gophers (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) swept the Los Angeles portion of their schedule against two Big Ten newcomers. Perich sealed that one, too, intercepting a pass with 9 seconds left.

UCLA outgained the Gophers 329-234 on Saturday and led 10-0 at halftime, but the Bruins (1-5, 0-4) still lost their fifth consecutive game.

“Probably one of the worst halves, in the first half, that I’ve ever been involved with as a coach,” Fleck said.

Said wide receiver Jackson: “[Fleck] came in and got us fired up. We obviously knew that wasn’t our best half of football. We had to make a change to go get the ‘Dub.’ ”

Getting that win took a response as time was winding down.

After UCLA’s go-ahead touchdown, the Gophers drove to the UCLA 47 and faced fourth-and-6 with 3:17 left. Fleck had all three timeouts left and opted to punt, and Mark Crawford’s kick was downed at the 3 with 2:44 left. The Gophers forced the Bruins to punt, using all three timeouts, and Perich returned a 52-yard punt to the Minnesota 41 with 2:20 left.

A field goal to tie. A touchdown to win. The Minnesota contingent was on the edge of its seats.

Brosmer first hit tight end Jameson Geers for 13 yards to the UCLA 48 at the 2-minute warning. The QB then found Daniel Jackson for 27 yards to the Bruins 21 with 1:52 left — putting Minnesota in field-goal range but leaving plenty of time to play for a TD.

After an 8-yard connection with Elijah Spencer, Brosmer threw incomplete. Facing third-and-2 from the 13, Brosmer hit Le’Meke Brockington for a 4-yard gain on a screen. A delay-of-game penalty on UCLA defensive lineman Siale Taupaki for laying on a Gophers player to drain the clock moved the ball to the 5. Brosmer threw incomplete to Jackson on third down, and the Gophers faced third-and-goal with 32 seconds left. Jackson had to miss the next play because his helmet came off on the field of play.

After a UCLA timeout, Brosmer found a wide-open Taylor, who had sneaked out of the backfield. Taylor cut toward the left sideline and outraced Bruins linebacker Carson Schwesinger to the end zone.

“He went through four reads,” Fleck said of Brosmer. “… Found Darius, which was his last option, and Darius does the rest. That’s execution.”

In the fourth quarters of the past three games — a narrow loss to Michigan and wins over USC and UCLA — Brosmer has led six touchdown drives, completing 25 of 35 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for two TDs.

“Incredible leadership, and it starts outside of the field, outside of those moments,” Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg said of Brosmer. “… To be that calm and collected in moments like that shows how prepared and ready he is for those situations.’’

The fourth-quarter rally wasn’t the only one the Gophers needed. Down 10-0 at halftime, Minnesota dominated the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns set up by key defensive plays.

UCLA started the third quarter from its 12 after a holding call on the kickoff return. On third-and-7 from the 15, Gophers defensive back Jack Henderson sacked Garbers for a 7-yard loss. Five plays after the ensuing punt, the Gophers cut the lead to 10-7 on Brosmer’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Spencer.

Perich added to his growing legend by making a diving interception of Garbers at the UCLA 38-yard line. Six plays later, Taylor’s 2-yard touchdown run gave the Gophers a 14-10 lead.

Brosmer finished 26-for-37 for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson caught 10 passes for 89 yards. Taylor rushed 16 times for 30 yards and caught three passes for 17 yards.

For UCLA, Garbers went 25-for-36 for 293 yards and a TD with three interceptions. Sturdivant caught seven passes for 107 yards. Schwesinger had 12 tackles and two sacks. The Bruins got a 1-yard touchdown run by Keegan Jones on their first possession of the game and a 34-yard field goal from Mateen Bhaghani to make it 10-0 as time expired in the first half.

The Gophers, though, had just enough answers.

“My goodness, what a football game,” Fleck said. “This is what the Big Ten is all about. There are no easy games in the Big Ten, period.”