Purdue Boilermakers

Boilers claim 10th win, Outback Bowl

Game Report Posted: September 03, 2008 02:41  

Pre-Game Notes:

#23 Alabama (9-3, B, B+, B) vs. #25 Purdue (9-3, B, B+, B)

Lee picks Purdue, Kirk picks Bama

55 degrees and rainy with light winds - Alabama loses the toss and Purdue elects to kick it away.

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There were several turning points yesterday on a soggy morning in Tampa. Purdue stopped the Crimson Tide on their first possession, but sputtered during their first chance and had to punt the ball away. Unfortunately the defense gave up a big play which resulted in a touchdown.

After allowing a touchdown one play after a 52-yard run by Alabama, Purdue pieced together an 8-play drive that featured a 29-yard pass play from Curtis Painter to Waynelle Gravesande. Gravesande was also the recipient of the short touchdown pass to cap off the drive, which tied the game at 7-7.

Purdue then stopped the running back for a five-yard loss, stopped the quarterback on an option attempt for negative two yards, and then stopped a wide receiver screen pass for another negative two to get the ball back.

Another big play by Gravesande led to an eight-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Desmond Tardy.

Alabama untracked the offense once again as G. Coffee broke off another long run for a touchdown. Joe Tiller could be seen pulling his hair out on the sideline.

Purdue kicked a field goal and Alabama responded in kind with 52 seconds left on the clock. Then Desmond Tardy fielded a punt at the one, stepped inside one block before powering through an arm tackle attempt and into the clear. He scored on a 99-yard kickoff return just before the end of the first half, and Purdue received the second half kickoff. A 33-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Greg Orton made it 31-17 Boilermakers. It looked like this one would become a blowout.

Yet the Purdue sidelines needed their share of antacid yesterday as the defense never quite stopped the bleeding (get it, Crimson Tide?)

'Bama fought their way back into the game with a short run, but then missed the extra point attempt. After a field goal by Purdue, the Crimson Tide scored on a 3-yard pass from John Parker Wilson to N. Stover, but the successful two-point conversion only put them within three points rather than two, due to the earlier missed extra point. Of course, they wouldn't have tried the two-pointer if the earlier had been successful, but let's not make a molehill out of a mountain!

With just under a minute in the game, Purdue's Kyle Adams recovered his third onside kick of the season for the Boilers, adn Painter led a final drive that resulted in a short field goal to put the game out of reach with six seconds remaining.

"I'm proud of my teammates today," said Curtis Painter following the game. "We fought hard and you could tell we weren't going to lose this game no matter what."

Painter finished just shy of 4,000 yards on the season (3,943) and offset ahd 38 touchdown passes which tied Texas Tech's Graham Harrell for seventh in the nation. However, it wasn't all roses for Painter as he also threw 24 interceptions, "good" for fourth in the nation along with Mark Sanchez. Only Stephen McGee, Harrell, Darron Thomas (Oregon) and Sanchez threw more picks. (note these are all user teams).

Joe Tiller went out a winner, finishing with 10 wins for the first time in his impressive career at Purdue (He had 10 wins in 1996 in his final season as head coach of Wyoming).

"This was one of the best teams I've coached," said Tiller. "The only team I might place above this one was the 2000 (Rose Bowl) team. These kids impressed me every week by bouncing back after difficult periods and always keeping the faith. In the end, we finished in the Top 25 and had 10 wins. You'll take that every year. I'm just thankful to leave the program on a high note, with some good recruits on the way."

Hoosiers, Boilers go down to the wire for Oaken Bucket

Game Report Posted: September 02, 2008 05:26  

The Indiana Hoosiers (9-3) came within a yard of scoring a touchdown as time expired. A touchdown would have put the Hoosiers within two points, needing a two-point conversion to tie the game. Instead, Purdue tackled R. Fisher on the 30-yard gain at the one yard line.

It was a hard-fought win for Purdue, who led 21-10 at halftime but were only able to watch as the Hoosiers started to come back in the second half. The Hoosier defense held Curtis Painter to just 251 yards, the lowest total of the season in any game in which Painter played the whole game (He had fewer than 230 yards and was pulled in the third quarter in a blowout of Northwestern).

A key to the game was in the third quarter. M. Thigpen scored on a four-yard run with 19 seconds to go until the fourth quarter. The score made it 21-16, Purdue. Indiana coach NYJuggalo45 elected to go for the two-point conversion. The running back was pushed out of bounds just short of a conversion, leaving the Hoosiers with an eight-point deficit going into their final drive.

Michigan powers past Purdue, 42-23

Game Report Posted: September 02, 2008 03:53  

Michigan threw the football just nine times all game in a 42-23 victory on the road against Purdue.

Two turnovers by the Boilermakers did not help the cause. Michigan, in response, played mistake-free football and ran for over 225 yards.

There were fireworks early. After a long drive resulting in a five-yard touchdown pass for Purdue, Michigan scored on a 72-yard scamper by B. Minor on the next play from scrimmage.

The Boilers responded with a 97-yard kickoff return by Brandon Whittington. The Wolverines couldn't get anything going right away, but a great punt by Z. Mesko resulted in Purdue with their backs to the wall near their own goal line.

Curtis Painter responded by making a horrible read, throwing to a receiver who was well covered. Defensive back D. Dutch picked it off and returned it a mere 11 yards for a touchdown.

After that, Purdue was completely ineffective on offense the rest of the game.

"He might be a senior, but he looked a little shell-shocked after that one," said Joe Tiller after the game. "I think he felt he gave the game away a little bit."

The Purdue run defense fell apart, allowing four additional touchdowns on the ground before the game was over. Normally stout, the Boiler defenders looked exasperated - and beaten - after the game.

Purdue bests Notre Dame on the road

Game Report Posted: August 25, 2008 01:30  

Curtis Painter threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, which were enough to offset his two interceptions, in a 27-9 defeat of Notre Dame.

Painter's biggest play of the game came with the team leading 10-0. A ten-point lead is a nice start, but Notre Dame was scheduled to receive the kickoff in the second half. Painter was able to find tight end Kyle Adams on a 10-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining in the half, giving the Boilermakers a 17-0 lead.

The defense was stout all game, not allowing a touchdown until the fourth quarter. Notre Dame tried a two-point conversion, and it was unsuccessful.

Wide Receiver Brandon Whittington had the finest game of his career, an 8-reception game for over 110 yards. He also scored a touchdown on a 20-yard reception, his longest of the day.