Purdue’s Slow Start Proves Fatal In Loss To Nebraska

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – After a slow start, a blocked punt, and falling behind 14-0 in the first five minutes, Purdue was stuck playing catchup all game in a 37-27 loss to Nebraska on Saturday.

Here’s how it all went down at Ross-Ade Stadium in the Boilers’ final home game of 2020.

Purdue won the toss and elected to receive, with TJ Sheffield taking the kickoff out to the 27-yard line. The opening possession started off promising, as Jack Plummer connected with Zander Horvath for a 14-yard first-down pass completion. That was the end of the prosperity line for a while for the Boilers.

After failing to convert a second first down, Brendan Cropsey’s punt was blocked by Levi Falck and then recovered by Nebraska at the Boilers’ one-yard line. Huskers running back Dedrick Mills came in for one play and rushed it into the endzone for the score.

Then, on the Boilers’ second possession, it was a quick three-and-out. However, on the punt, disaster struck once again. This time in the form of a 15-yard sideline interference penalty. Not to mention the 36-yard punt from Zac Collins was returned for 27 yards.

This set the Huskers up at the Purdue 17-yard line. Nebraska took three plays this time to score, capping the drive with a 13-yard TD rush from quarterback Adrian Martinez, making it 14-0 less than five minutes into the game.

“We got off to a bad start. Had a lot of penalties, and couldn’t run the ball,” summed a disappointed Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm as he opened up his presser.

Things wouldn’t get much better for Purdue on their third possession, either. A second three-and-out was sealed with a six-yard sack of Plummer, and then Collins put toe to leather for a 26-yard punt that was downed at the Boiler 43.

Purdue’s defense would hold strong after Nebraska got into the red-zone on this drive. Despite that, Connor Culp’s 25-yard field goal made it 17-0 Huskers with 5:59 still left to play in the first quarter.

Taking possession for their fourth drive of the game, it was imperative that the Boilermakers’ offense get something going, if nothing else, to flip the field. Plummer started things off with a 10-yard pass completion to Horvath. On the play, there was a facemask penalty against the Huskers, moving the ball another 15-yards and into Nebraska territory for the first time.

Two plays later, Plummer connected with Rondale Moore for 18 yards. However, a holding penalty would bring it back and push the Boilers back on their side of the field, facing a 2nd and 20.

After back-to-back receptions from Moore, the Boilers were back inside the Nebraska 38 with a 1st and 10. Shortly thereafter, the drive would stall out. Purdue would have to settle for a 45 yard J.D. Dellinger field goal to get on the board for the first time.

Rolling off that momentum was the Boiler defense, who was able to once again stall out a promising drive by Nebraska. This was helped by a first career sack for Purdue’s sophomore defensive end Jack Sullivan on 2nd and one from the 25. The Huskers would cap the drive with points as Culp put through a 49 yarder to make it 20-3 Huskers with 12:22 left in the 2nd quarter.

The ensuing kickoff was returned 41 yards by TJ Sheffield, setting the Boilers up their own 45-yard line. After the great field position, they would move swiftly into the endzone. The drive took six plays and started with a four-yard rush from King Doerue, who also finished the drive with a 20-yard receiving touchdown. The TD was Doerue’s first career receiving score and made it 20-10 with 10:04 left to play in the half.

Martinez and the Huskers then went on a methodical eight-play 65-yard drive to get back in the end zone. This time it came on a 10-yard pass from Martinez to Wyatt Liewer to make it 27-10 with 6:13 left to play.

On the following drive, things started to get a bit chippy. On 3rd and three from the Purdue 32, Plummer connected with Moore for a six-yard completion and a first down. However, as the play made its way to the sideline and out of bounds, Moore’s pursuer, Deontai Williams, continued to play on and released Moore from his grasp just ahead of sending Moore into the team bench. Then as Moore was heading back onto the field, Caleb Tannor of Nebraska thought he would say a few words himself to Moore, which was in earshot of the ref, and the second flag was thrown on the same play.

So, after all the dirty laundry on the field, it was a six-yard first down completion with 30 yards of penalties tacked on to the end. Despite this setting Purdue up 1st and 10 at the Nebraska 32, the drive stalled out, and Plummer pooch punted the ball to the Huskers with 3:10 left in the half.

The Boilers defense forced a quick three-and-out and got the ball back on a punt. However, on the punt, Moore was run into, resulting in a 15-yard kick-catch-interference penalty. This made it 1st and 10 at the Huskers 40. However, yet again the drive would stall out, as they failed to convert on 4th down.

Nebraska answered similarly with a quick three-and-out, though on fourth down, the punt was blocked by Jackson Anthrop. This set the Boilers up at the Huskers 20, with 19 seconds left in the half. Purdue would capitalize with a 27 yard J.D. Dellinger field goal as time expired to cut the deficit to 14 heading into the half.

Nebraska started with the ball in the second half and got right to work as they moved the ball swiftly across midfield. They then slowed things down a bit and took their time, ending the drive with a one-yard Martinez TD rush to make it 34-13 Huskers. The drive went for 75 yards on 11 plays and took 4:55 off the clock.

Purdue’s opening drive of the second half started out much similar, moving the ball swiftly. However, they stalled out just ahead of midfield and had to convert on a 4th and two to keep the drive alive. The following play was a 40+ yard gain from Horvath on a quick pass, though a holding penalty would erase the play. The Boilers would end up punting the ball, with their defense in desperate need of a stop.

Nebraska would get the ball and quickly went three-and-out. This set Purdue up 1st and 10 at their own 38 with 5:37 left to play in the 3rd. Plummer opened the drive with back-to-back pass completions to David Bell for a quick first down. They then moved into Husker territory as Plummer found Moore for 19 yards.

Plummer went back two more on the next two consecutive passes as they moved into the red zone. He then found Payne Durham to the right sideline, where Durham would make a few moves and then dive for the pylon to score the TD for the Boilers. With 1:29 left in the 3rd, Purdue trailed 34-20 but had some life left.

Once again, the defense would take a stand, forcing a punt to give the Boiler offense the ball back with 13:02 left to play and the ball on their own 14. On the second play of the drive, Plummer connected with Bell in front of the defense, and it was off to the races, as Bell took it home for the 89 yard TD score.

Nebraska then when into chew-clock mode, as they willed their way downfield. They would have to settle for a 32-yard Culp field goal after getting into the red-zone. However, this was after eating 5:12 off the clock with their eight-play 79-yard drive.  This made it 37-27 Huskers with 7:04 left to play.

Purdue wasn’t able to get anything rolling on their ensuing possession, being forced to punt it away to the Huskers. This gave Nebraska the ball at their 43 with 5:32 left to play, and their eyes set on chewing more clock.

The Purdue defense was able to get one final stop, giving them possession at their own 27 with 2:21 left to play. However, other than a four-yard completion to Moore, they couldn’t move the ball at all. On 4th down, Plummer was swarmed and sent a desperation lateral to Eric Miller, who was immediately subdued by the Nebraska defense.

A few kneel downs later, this one was all wrapped up with the Boilers falling 37-27. Both teams’ records go to 2-4 on the year.