Quarterback David Blough started for Purdue (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten). On the first play of the game, the Boilermakers went for a trick play, Blough passed to wide receiver Jackson Anthrop who then passed it back to Blough for 24 yards. On the next play, Blough passed for a first down, but Purdue couldn’t capitalize as the Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) made adjustments. “They wanted to win. We were able to get off to a productive start in the first half,” Head Coach Jeff Brohm said. Purdue were without their leading rusher Tario Fuller who suffered an ankle injury. The Boiler defense was stout in the first half. They knocked starting QB Wilton Speight out of the game in the first quarter.
John O’Korn replaced him and completed his first five passes. O’Korn threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to former QB turned tight end Zach Gentry for his first career touchdown with 11:34 left in the second quarter. Elijah Sindelar entered the game, and Purdue marched down the field and answered the Wolverines with a touchdown of their own. Sindelar connected on a 10-yard pass to WR Brycen Hopkins. After Michigan threw an interception, Purdue added a 25-yard field goal to take the lead 10-7, which they took into the half.
Purdue had outgained Michigan 179 to 131 yards at that point, but after the 2nd half started, it was all Michigan. Sindelar played most of the 2nd half, but Michigan’s defense frustrated the Boilermakers. Purdue was 0-12 on 3rd down in the game. In the half, Purdue only managed 25 yards and no first downs – with numerous dropped passes squandering their opportunities to convert. Two targeting penalties on Purdue and some questionable calls that went Michigan’s way didn’t help the Boilermakers, either. Michigan took the lead back in the third quarter on a 10-yard run by Chris Evans with 3:26 left in the 3rd. “In the second half I think Michigan wore us down and beat us like they beat everybody else – by continuing to pound the football,” Brohm said. Michigan added a two-yard touchdown run by Ty Isaac in the 4th quarter with 10:39 left. Michigan’s final score came on a 49-yard run by Evans with 6:46 left in the game. The Boilermakers entered the game only registering one sack on the season. They ended the game with four.
Blough finished the game 5 of 13 for 32 yards while Sindelar was 7 of 16 for 103 yards and a touchdown. Purdue couldn’t get the run game going in this one. As a team, they carried the ball 20 times for 30-yards. WR Terry Wright had four receptions for 64-yards for the Boilermakers, but also fumbled late in the game.
On defense, Linebacker Markus Bailey had nine tackles, including two for a loss and two sacks, to lead the way on defense. They finished the game with 73 tackles, including eight for a loss. “I think our guys gave great effort, and unfortunately we came up short. It’s a good game to learn from,” Brohm said. Purdue next takes the field on October 7th at home against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
