Gophers survive scare vs. UCLA, score winning touchdown on final drive

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-3, 2-2) have been much better in the second half all season and saw that broken record play once more as they defeated the UCLA Bruins (1-5, 0-4) 21-17 on Saturday night in Pasadena, Calif.

After trailing 10-0 at halftime, Minnesota flipped the script immediately in the second half, as they've done time and time again. The Gophers had previously outscored their opponents 76-49 in the second half and did it again against the Bruins with a 21-7 advantage.

The momentum shifted after Minnesota's defense forced the Bruins to punt following a three-and-out on their first offensive drive. Gophers wide receiver Elijah Spencer scored the team's first touchdown on a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Brosmer, capping off a five-play, 46-yard drive to make it 10-7.

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Related: Halftime Report: Gophers trail UCLA 10-0 in Big Ten matchup

The Gophers defense has stood tall this season but true freshman safety Koi Perich has continued to impress week after week.

Saturday night was no exception, as Perich filled in for the injured Kerry Brown on defense and once again excelled, nabbing a career game-high two interceptions.

The first one came two plays into UCLA's drive following Minnesota's first touchdown of the night, as Perich laid, shooting towards the ball like a cannon to force Bruins quarterback Ethan Garber to throw his second interception of the game.

Related: WATCH: Gophers safety Koi Perich lays out for INT

The Gophers offense responded to Perich's turnover with another successful scoring drive, aided by UCLA unsportsmanlike conduct and pass interference penalties to be capped off with a two-yard touchdown run by running back Darius Taylor to take a 14-10 lead.

Both teams exchanged punts before the Bruins scored a go-ahead touchdown pass from Garbers to J. Michael Sturdivant for 42 yards with under six minutes left in the game.

Another exchange of punts — one of them being a crucial three-and-out forced by the Gophers defense — gave Minnesota the ball with 2:16 remaining in the game, down by three.

Brosmer stepped up in the final offensive drive for the Gophers, completing 5-for-7 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, on a four-yard delay route ran by Taylor.

The Bruins stopped Taylor all night, as the running back carried the ball 15 times for 30 yards. But his two touchdowns in the second half were vital in getting the Gophers their fourth win on the season.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck spoke with the Big Ten Network after the game, acknowledging the game's up-and-down moments.

"This is college football. It's never going to be 100% pretty. This team has fought, scratched, clawed, rowed the boat all year," he said. "I mean, it's been unbelievable what this team has been able to do and overcome. A lot of people would've just quit by then. And they're just resilient, they always believe, and that antidote is still working."

Brosmer finished completing 26-for-37 passes for 193 yards and two touchdown, throwing no interceptions. Daniel Jackson had a season-high 10 catches for 89 yards against the Bruins.

The Gophers' Jah Joyner, Jack Henderson and Anthony Smith all had one sack each.

Perich nabbed his second interception of the game the same way he did against then-ranked No. 11 USC last week, ending the game with one.

Related: Gophers safety Koi Perich named national freshman of the week

Minnesota had been 3-for-8 in third down conversions in the first half but cleaned it up in the second half, going 5-for-7.

UCLA had more total yards (329-234) and passing yards (293-193) in contrast to the Gophers, but had 10 penalties for 105 penalty yards in comparison to Minnesota's four penalties for 21 yards.

It's Minnesota's first win against UCLA at Rose Bowl Stadium since 1962, when the Golden Gophers won the 48th Rose Bowl game.

The Gophers will host Big Ten foe Maryland (3-3, 0-3) on Saturday. Kickoff times have yet to be announced as of Saturday night.