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Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said he did not get an explanation for a controversial offensive pass interference penalty against the Boilermakers in the final minute of Friday’s 34-31 loss to Minnesota .
The 15-yard penalty to Purdue tight end Payne Durham canceled a 19-yard touchdown pass that would have given Purdue a 37-34 lead with 52 seconds left. On the next play, Minnesota linebacker Josh Aune intercepted a pass from Jack Plummer to seal the victory for host Golden Gophers (2-3).
Reruns showed Durham and Minnesota defensive back Phillip Howard fighting in the hand as they ran into the end zone. Durham briefly extended his right arm as Howard grabbed it, before catching the touchdown pass.
“You know what I’m thinking,” Brohm said. “I can’t really comment. It’s part of the game and we have to move on, but yeah, I didn’t like it at all.”
Brohm repeatedly yelled at the official who called on the Purdue sideline, but later said he didn’t get “a good explanation” as to why Durham was reported.
“I wish I could have commented on what I really think,” Brohm said. “We send calls [to the Big Ten], and sometimes they agree with us, sometimes not. I don’t have the replay and I can see it. I just know there was a touch [Minnesota] caught earlier in the game, pretty much in the same area on the slot machine’s receiver, he nudged and they didn’t call that.
“I’ll stop there. A big score at the end and he’s called back. I guess we got a penalty.”
Purdue fell to 2-2 with the loss.
Ⓘ This claim is disputed. https://t.co/dLW9OoGvCb
– Purdue Athletics (@PurdueSports) November 21, 2020
When asked if Durham pushed ahead before making the catch in the end zone, Howard replied, “The referees called. We still had to finish the game.”
Minnesota has played without 20 players and several staff, including offensive line coach Brian Callahan, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Coach PJ Fleck said the number of absent players almost prompted Minnesota to call off the game.
“[COVID-19] It wasn’t the only reason people were away tonight, but there were a lot of missing players, ”Fleck said. I am really proud of our medical team and our medical team to always put the health of our players first. And it is difficult for the players to receive this phone call. It’s really difficult. They’ve invested so much in this thing and the next that you know you’re out for 21 days or you’re injured and you’re out for two weeks. It can be devastating. “
Wide receiver Purdue Rondale Moore, a 2018 All-America selection, made his season debut Friday and recorded 15 receptions for 116 yards, as well as three carries for 20 yards and a touchdown. Moore, who originally opted out of the season before choosing to play in September, said he aggravated a hamstring injury during preseason training.
He apologized to his teammates and Brohm for becoming “a distraction”, noting that he had asked Brohm not to state the reason for his absence as he expected to return sooner.
“Coming back there tonight was great,” said Moore, who did not answer reporters’ questions.
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