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PURDUE |
NWEST |
Purdue rolls in second half to top Northwestern at Wrigley
CHICAGO (AP) Aidan O'Connell threw three touchdown passes to Milton Wright on Saturday to lead Purdue to a 32-14 victory over Northwestern at Wrigley Field.
O'Connell was 29 for 39 for 423 yards and Wright had 213 yards on eight catches - both career highs - to help the Boilermakers (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) erase memories of last weekend's 59-31 drubbing at Ohio State.
''Today was my day and I had to execute,'' Wright said. ''(O'Connell) is a great quarterback and I'm happy I could make the plays.''
Evan Hull had 96 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries as the Wildcats (3-8, 1-7) dropped their fifth straight.
The Boilermakers never trailed and scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half to give themselves some breathing room. Wright, who'd never caught more than one touchdown before Saturday, had scoring catches of 17 and 45 yards in the third quarter to cap his best game.
David Bell had 12 receptions for 101 yards and seemed to draw more attention from the Wildcats. It left Wright in frequent mismatches on the left side of the field.
''They were covering David and it left a lot of one-on-one opportunities on that side of the field,'' O'Connell said. ''We had to take advantage of those.''
Up 6-0 midway through the second quarter, O'Connell found Wright streaking down the sideline for a 53-yard touchdown pass. Northwestern answered with a long touchdown drive in the final 1:45 to go to intermission down 13-7.
''We lost the one-on-one matchups,'' Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said. ''When we tackled them, we held them to field goals.''
Mitchell Fineran kicked four field goals for the Boilermakers, who ended their road season 4-2. The two losses were at Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Andrew Marty was 10 for 14 for 93 yards and a touchdown for Northwestern, which played its home finale at the famed home of the Chicago Cubs.
JUST LIKE THEY DREW IT UP
Purdue's Chris Van Eekeren lost his footing as he made contact with the second-half kickoff and sent the ball dribbling into the middle of the field. Things still went the Boilermakers' way: Purdue recovered the unintentional onside kick and turned the possession into its second touchdown of the day.
''It wasn't by design,'' coach Jeff Brohm said. ''We had some luck on our side and we took advantage of it.
''It was huge. They had some momentum after scoring at the end of the first half and they were going to get the ball back.''
STEALING SIGNS?
The south end of the field ran along the right-field line of the ballpark but a few stretches of the warning track were the only patches of dirt. Both the mound and base paths were covered with sod for the game and the teams shared the north sideline due to a lack of space on the south end.
Each team had a couple of people holding up banners at either 45-yard line throughout the game to keep the opposition from getting nosy.
WRIGLEY RETURN
Saturday's game was the second football game at the historic ballpark since the NFL's Bears moved to Soldier Field after the 1970 season. The Wildcats, who lost to Illinois here in 2010, will play three future games at the park under an agreement with baseball's Chicago Cubs.
Saturday's game wasn't a sellout - 31,500 tickets were sold - but O'Connell, who prepped in Chicago's northern suburbs, still won't forget it.
''It was an amazing atmosphere,'' he said. ''I'm so lucky to get a chance to play here and have a good performance here.''
THE TAKEAWAY
Purdue: A long opening drive ended with a missed field goal try and the second went three and out, but the offense was fine after that. The Boilermakers scored on their next seven possessions and Northwestern rarely had an answer when O'Connell targeted Wright. The aerial attack should continue next weekend against an Indiana defense that started Saturday 74th in passing yards allowed.
Northwestern: Marty was briefly replaced by Ryan Hilinski in the second quarter and seemed to respond positively, but the Wildcats' inability to sustain most of their first-half drives - one ended with a blocked field goal try - left them playing catch-up the rest of the day. Northwestern hasn't scored more than 14 points during the five-game skid.
UP NEXT
Purdue: Hosts Indiana on Nov. 27.
Northwestern: Visits Illinois the same day.
--
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M. Wright
0 WR 213 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 8 RECs |
|
E. Hull
26 RB 96 RuYds, RuTD, 33 ReYds, 6 RECs |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 22 | 19 |
Rushing | 4 | 13 |
Passing | 15 | 6 |
Penalty | 3 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 7-14 | 5-12 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 1-4 |
Total Net Yards | 473 | 303 |
Total Plays | 62 | 69 |
Avg Gain | 7.6 | 4.4 |
Net Yards Rushing | 50 | 144 |
Rush Attempts | 23 | 44 |
Avg Rush Yards | 2.2 | 3.3 |
Yards Passing | 423 | 159 |
Comp. - Att. | 29-39 | 18-25 |
Yards Per Pass | 10.4 | 4.7 |
Penalties - Yards | 8-74 | 4-44 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 2 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 3 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 1-38.0 | 2-41.0 |
Return Yards | 24 | 0 |
Punts - Returns | 1-9 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 1-15 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. O'Connell
16 QB
|
A. O'Connell | 29/39 | 423 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Bilodeau
48 TE
|
K. Bilodeau | 1/1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
Z. Horvath
40 RB
|
Z. Horvath | 10 | 40 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Doerue
22 RB
|
K. Doerue | 6 | 18 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Durham
87 TE
|
P. Durham | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Downing
38 RB
|
D. Downing | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Anthrop
33 WR
|
J. Anthrop | 3 | -2 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. O'Connell
16 QB
|
A. O'Connell | 2 | -7 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Wright
0 WR
|
M. Wright | 11 | 8 | 213 | 3 | 53 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Bell
3 WR
|
D. Bell | 15 | 12 | 101 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Anthrop
33 WR
|
J. Anthrop | 5 | 3 | 51 | 0 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Durham
87 TE
|
P. Durham | 2 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Thompson
29 WR
|
B. Thompson | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Horvath
40 RB
|
Z. Horvath | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. Miller
88 TE
|
G. Miller | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sheffield
8 WR
|
T. Sheffield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Mackey
1 CB
|
D. Mackey | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. Fineran
24 K
|
M. Fineran | 4/5 | 38 | 2/2 | 14 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Ansell
30 P
|
J. Ansell | 1 | 38.0 | 0 | 38 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Anthrop
33 WR
|
J. Anthrop | 2 | 15.0 | 17 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Sheffield 8 WR
|
T. Sheffield | 1 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Anthrop 33 WR
|
J. Anthrop | 1 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. Marty
7 QB
|
A. Marty | 10/14 | 93 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Hilinski
12 QB
|
R. Hilinski | 8/11 | 66 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
E. Hull
26 RB
|
E. Hull | 25 | 96 | 1 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Clair
11 RB
|
A. Clair | 5 | 36 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Marty
7 QB
|
A. Marty | 13 | 10 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Robinson Jr.
5 WR
|
S. Robinson Jr. | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Washington
6 WR
|
M. Washington | 3 | 3 | 54 | 0 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Robinson Jr.
5 WR
|
S. Robinson Jr. | 7 | 5 | 53 | 0 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Hull
26 RB
|
E. Hull | 7 | 6 | 33 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Clair
11 RB
|
A. Clair | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lang
88 TE
|
M. Lang | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Gordon
87 TE
|
T. Gordon | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jefferson
3 WR
|
J. Jefferson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
T. Kent
96 DT
|
T. Kent | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. Kuhbander
14 K
|
C. Kuhbander | 0/1 | 0 | 2/2 | 2 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
D. Adams
36 P
|
D. Adams | 2 | 41.0 | 0 | 44 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. Niro III
23 WR
|
R. Niro III | 2 | 22.0 | 22 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Gordon
87 TE
|
T. Gordon | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | PURDUE 27 | 4:34 | 10 | 53 | FG Miss |
7:46 | PURDUE 8 | 2:00 | 3 | 9 | Punt |
2:29 | PURDUE 20 | 3:55 | 13 | 65 | FG |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:33 | PURDUE 32 | 4:54 | 10 | 60 | FG |
3:47 | PURDUE 29 | 2:02 | 4 | 71 | TD |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | NWEST 49 | 2:29 | 7 | 49 | TD |
5:29 | PURDUE 26 | 1:26 | 4 | 74 | TD |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:55 | PURDUE 37 | 3:14 | 7 | 58 | FG |
5:08 | NWEST 35 | 1:44 | 6 | 14 | FG |
2:09 | PURDUE 48 | 2:09 | 3 | 5 | Game |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:26 | NWEST 25 | 2:40 | 6 | 20 | Punt |
5:46 | NWEST 43 | 3:17 | 7 | 37 | Blocked FG |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:34 | NWEST 25 | 2:01 | 3 | 5 | Punt |
6:39 | NWEST 25 | 2:52 | 6 | 46 | Downs |
1:45 | NWEST 24 | 1:45 | 9 | 76 | TD |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:31 | NWEST 35 | 7:02 | 14 | 65 | TD |
4:03 | NWEST 34 | 4:08 | 8 | 29 | Downs |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:41 | NWEST 22 | 6:33 | 12 | 13 | Downs |
3:24 | NWEST 25 | 1:15 | 5 | 12 | INT |
- Missed FG (10 plays, 53 yards, 4:34 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) T.Finison kicks 55 yards from NW 35 to the PUR 10. J.Anthrop returns the kickoff. Tackled by NW at PUR 27. |
+16 YD | 1 & 10 - PURDUE 27 (14:53 - 1st) A.O'Connell pass complete to PUR 27. Catch made by M.Wright at PUR 27. Gain of 16 yards. Tackled by NW at PUR 43. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - PURDUE 42 (14:31 - 1st) A.O'Connell steps back to pass. A.O'Connell pass incomplete intended for D.Bell. |
+9 YD | 2 & 10 - PURDUE 43 (14:28 - 1st) A.O'Connell pass complete to PUR 43. Catch made by D.Bell at PUR 43. Gain of 9 yards. Tackled by NW at NW 48. |
+2 YD | 3 & 1 - NWEST 48 (13:50 - 1st) Z.Horvath rushed to NW 46 for 2 yards. Tackled by NW at NW 46. |
+11 YD | 1 & 10 - NWEST 46 (13:23 - 1st) Z.Horvath rushed to NW 35 for 11 yards. Tackled by NW at NW 35. |
+15 YD | 1 & 10 - NWEST 35 (12:56 - 1st) A.O'Connell pass complete to NW 35. Catch made by M.Wright at NW 35. Gain of 15 yards. Tackled by NW at NW 20. |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - NWEST 20 (12:25 - 1st) J.Anthrop rushed to NW 17 for 3 yards. Tackled by NW at NW 17. |
+5 YD | 2 & 7 - NWEST 17 (11:54 - 1st) Z.Horvath rushed to NW 12 for 5 yards. Tackled by NW at NW 12. |
Sack | 3 & 2 - NWEST 12 (11:16 - 1st) A.O'Connell steps back to pass. A.O'Connell sacked at NW 20 for -8 yards (T.Kent) |
No Good | 4 & 10 - NWEST 27 (10:30 - 1st) M.Fineran 37 yard field goal attempt is no good Center-N.Zecchino Holder-J.Albers. |
- Punt (6 plays, 20 yards, 2:40 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Penalty | 1 & 10 - NWEST 20 (10:26 - 1st) PENALTY on PUR-G.Karlaftis Defensive Offside 5 yards accepted. No Play. |
+4 YD | 1 & 5 - NWEST 25 (10:26 - 1st) E.Hull rushed to NW 29 for 4 yards. Tackled by PUR at NW 29. |
+3 YD | 2 & 1 - NWEST 29 (10:08 - 1st) E.Hull rushed to NW 32 for 3 yards. Tackled by PUR at NW 32. |
+14 YD | 1 & 10 - NWEST 32 (9:33 - 1st) A.Marty pass complete to NW 32. Catch made by E.Hull at NW 32. Gain of 14 yards. Tackled by PUR at NW 46. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - NWEST 46 (9:07 - 1st) S.Robinson rushed to NW 48 for 2 yards. Tackled by PUR at NW 48. |
No Gain | 2 & 8 - NWEST 48 (8:39 - 1st) A.Marty steps back to pass. A.Marty pass incomplete intended for E.Hull. |
-3 YD | 3 & 8 - NWEST 48 (8:34 - 1st) E.Hull rushed to NW 45 for -3 yards. Tackled by PUR at NW 45. |
Punt | 4 & 11 - NWEST 45 (7:57 - 1st) D.Adams punts 44 yards to PUR 11 Center-P.Snodgrass. J.Anthrop returned punt from the PUR 11. Tackled by NW at PUR 20. PENALTY on PUR-T.Sheffield Illegal Block Above the Waist 10 yards accepted. |
- Punt (3 plays, 9 yards, 2:00 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - PURDUE 10 (7:46 - 1st) D.Downing rushed to PUR 12 for 2 yards. Tackled by NW at PUR 12. |
+7 YD | 2 & 8 - PURDUE 12 (7:02 - 1st) A.O'Connell pass complete to PUR 12. Catch made by B.Thompson at PUR 12. Gain of 7 yards. Tackled by NW at PUR 19. |
No Gain | 3 & 1 - PURDUE 19 (6:24 - 1st) K.Doerue rushed to PUR 19 for 0 yards. Tackled by NW at PUR 19. |
Punt | 4 & 1 - PURDUE 19 (5:53 - 1st) J.Ansell punts 38 yards to NW 43 Center-N.Zecchino. Fair catch by J.Jefferson. |
- Blocked FG (7 plays, 37 yards, 3:17 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+9 YD | 1 & 10 - NWEST 43 (5:46 - 1st) A.Marty pass complete to NW 43. Catch made by A.Clair at NW 43. Gain of 9 yards. Tackled by PUR at PUR 48. |
+5 YD | 2 & 1 - PURDUE 48 (5:18 - 1st) A.Clair rushed to PUR 43 for 5 yards. Tackled by PUR at PUR 43. |
+21 YD | 1 & 10 - PURDUE 43 (4:54 - 1st) A.Clair rushed to PUR 22 for 21 yards. Tackled by PUR at PUR 22. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - PURDUE 22 (4:36 - 1st) A.Marty pass complete to PUR 22. Catch made by S.Robinson at PUR 22. Gain of 2 yards. Tackled by PUR at PUR 20. |
+1 YD | 2 & 8 - PURDUE 20 (3:53 - 1st) E.Hull rushed to PUR 19 for 1 yards. Tackled by PUR at PUR 19. |
-1 YD | 3 & 7 - PURDUE 19 (3:20 - 1st) E.Hull rushed to PUR 20 for -1 yards. Tackled by PUR at PUR 20. |
4 & 8 - NWEST 27 (2:38 - 1st) C.Kuhbander 37 yard field goal attempt is blocked Center-P.Snodgrass Holder-D.Adams. Y.Karlaftis blocked the kick. |