Minnesota, with Jerry Kill looking on, capitalizes on turnovers to beat Northwestern 20-17

Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner (7) hands off the ball to running back David Cobb (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (The Associated Press)

0bd3aa50-Minnesota Northwestern Football

Minnesota interim head coach Tracy Claeys talks on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (The Associated Press)

EVANSTON, Ill. – Ailing head coach Jerry Kill watched from a private box as Minnesota turned two second half turnovers into scores en route to a 20-17 Big Ten victory over Northwestern Saturday.

The Gophers (5-2, 1-2) snapped a two-game losing streak as James Manuel broke a 7-7 tie with a 24-yard third quarter interception return and Chris Hawthorne turned another Wildcat turnover into a 34-yard field goal in the fourth.

Northwestern (4-3, 0-3) dropped its third straight.

Kill, on indefinite leave after a series of epileptic seizures, watched as Manuel picked off Wildcat quarterback Trevor Siemian with 1:22 for the go-ahead score. The Gophers made it 17-7 just 87 seconds later on Hawthorne's field goal after recovering a Wildcat fumble.

Hawthorne's 38-yard field goal with 5:24 remaining made it 20-10. Northwestern cut the deficit to 20-17 on a 10-yard touchdown strike from Siemian to Tony Jones with 2:07 remaining.