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Henry's Four Touchdowns Doom Gophers In 28-17 Loss To Purdue

(Sports Network) – Rob Henry scored three rushing touchdowns and threw for another, as the Purdue Boilermakers downed the Minnesota Golden Gophers 28-17 in a Big Ten game at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Henry, making just his second career start, was 13-of-20 through the air for the Boilermakers (4-2, 2-0 Big Ten) for 163 yards. He also carried the ball 17 times for 57 yards, while Dan Dierking picked up a career-high 126 rushing yards on just 12 carries to help Purdue win for the fourth time in its last five outings.

Adam Weber was 20-of-45 through the air for the Golden Gophers (1-6, 0-3), finishing with 214 yards and two touchdowns. However, Weber was also intercepted twice in the loss. Da’Jon McKnight caught six passes for 123 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota, which has now lost six straight.

Henry got the Boilermakers on the scoreboard when he scored from four yards out with 5:58 left in the opening period.

Purdue extended its advantage to 14-0 when Henry scored from a yard out to cap a short drive that was set up by a bad snap on a Minnesota punt.

Henry found Antavian Edison with a 20-yard touchdown pass to put Purdue up 21-0 with 8:42 left in the third quarter.

Minnesota finally got on the board on Eric Ellestad’s 35-yard field goal with exactly five minutes left in the period.

The Golden Gophers got closer on Weber’s 11-yard pass to Bryant Allen with 12:17 left in the game.

Henry countered for Purdue with a three-yard run with 7:09 left in regulation before Weber found McKnight with a 31-yard scoring strike with exactly three minutes left.

Purdue finished with 393 yards in total offense despite being penalized nine times for 90 yards.

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.