Northwestern hangs on to beat Purdue 27-21

Oct 3, 3:51 pm EDT

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP)—Joey Elliott overthrew Aaron Valentin in the end zone on fourth-and-goal in the closing seconds, allowing Northwestern to hold on and beat Purdue 27-21 Saturday.

Purdue led 21-19 in the fourth quarter, but the Boilermakers committed their sixth turnover on a sack of Elliott with 6:28 to play.

Northwestern (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) grabbed its only lead when Mike Kafka took a shotgun snap and ran for a 2-yard TD with 2:09 left. Kafka’s two-point conversion pass to Drake Dunsmore gave the Wildcats a 27-21 lead.

Purdue (1-4, 0-1) drove from its 16-yard line but couldn’t score despite getting a first-and-goal.

Purdue led 21-3 but committed five turnovers in a span of about 17 minutes to help the Wildcats get back into the game.

Elliott passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Kafka passed for 224 yards and ran for 39.

On the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage, Arby Fields was stripped by Ryan Kerrigan, and Purdue’s Torri Williams recovered at the Northwestern 34. Elliott took advantage by completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Keith Smith with just 2:32 gone.

Northwestern got only a field goal out of a 20-play drive, and Purdue quickly made the most of its goal-line stand. Elliott’s second touchdown pass came on a 67-yard screen to Valentin. After Valentin caught the pass, he stiff-armed a defender on the sideline and jogged into the end zone to give Purdue a 14-3 lead.

Elliott connected with Valentin again early in the second quarter. This time Valentin made a 5-yard catch in the back of the end zone to give the Boilermakers a 21-3 lead.

Northwestern followed with another 20-play drive that took 9:32, and this time, the Wildcats got nothing. Jacob Schmidt was stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Elliott made his first mistake by throwing an interception to Sherrick McManis, and Northwestern quickly turned it into points. Fields scored on a 5-yard run to make it 21-10.

Valentin fumbled the kickoff, and Northwestern recovered at the Purdue 23. Stefan Demos then kicked a field goal to cut the gap to 21-13.

Jaycen Taylor fumbled with 39 seconds left in the first half, and Northwestern recovered at the Purdue 24. Demos kicked another field goal to trim Purdue’s lead to 21-16 at halftime.

Northwestern ran 88 plays to Purdue’s 57.

Updated Oct 3, 3:51 pm EDT
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Head to Head - Week 5

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Northwestern 311 224 87 23 47.6% 8/61 1 35:58
Purdue 375 313 62 16 60.0% 7/70 6 24:02
NCAAF

21 Comments

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  1. P_U_P_u
    21. Posted by P_U_P_u Mon Oct 5 11:01am EDT

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    "Don't give up on the Boiler' folks. We have played well enough to be undefeated this season." - jaws
    I don't want to give up and I never will stop being a fan, but we need to find better leaders. Tiller was a sub par coach too. With Brees, Orton, and Painter the best he did was a loss at the Rose Bowl. There are many programs that could have taken these QBs to a BCS bowl at least.
    I would like to point out that all of them have roster spots in the NFL and two are starting. We need to fire Danny Hope today and get a real coach. Its not all exucution, some of it is coaching. If you can't win with Drew Brees, you don't deserve to be coaching.
    Purue is the only team where people are okay when we lose a close one. That's the real story of the last ten years. Games that we just a fell a few plays short.

    FIRE HOPE TODAY AND BAN TILLER FROM WEST LAFAYETTE!
  2. P_U_P_u
    20. Posted by P_U_P_u Mon Oct 5 11:00am EDT

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    "Don't give up on the Boiler' folks. We have played well enough to be undefeated this season." - jaws

    I don't want to give up and I never will stop being a fan, but we need to find better leaders. Tiller was a sub par coach too. With Brees, Orton, and Painter the best he did was a loss at the Rose Bowl. There are many programs that could have taken these QBs to a BCS bowl at least.

    I would like to point out that all of them have roster spots in the NFL and two are starting. We need to fire Danny Hope today and get a real coach. Its not all exucution, some of it is coaching. If you can't win with Drew Brees, you don't deserve to be coaching.

    Purue is the only team where people are okay when we lose a close one. That's the real story of the last ten years. Games that we just a fell a few plays short.

    FIRE HOPE TODAY AND BAN TILLER FROM WEST LAFAYETTE!
  3. jaws
    19. Posted by jaws Mon Oct 5 5:32am EDT

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    What I don't understand is that when the Basketball Team is doing good...the Football Team is not. Then then the Football Team plays well, the Basketball Team doesn't.

    Don't give up on the Boiler' folks. We have played well enough to be undefeated this season. If we could get through the mental blocks, then we would have a high powered football team! Joey Elliott is just getting the seat warm for our future...and when Bush is behind center...watch out...we will be great again!!!!!!!!!
  4. Sheppy
    18. Posted by Sheppy Sun Oct 4 2:38pm EDT

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    John - ouch...sorry to hit a sore note; and yes we can both quote stats. But suffice to say, NU owns bragging rights over PU for the next 12 months. But take heart; there is still time to change PU's homecoming game for next year to the Ball State game. PU has a chance to win that one.
  5. John
    17. Posted by John Sun Oct 4 11:38am EDT

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    Haha you're an idiot. The glory years of Purdue football weren't 2003 to now Sheppy. That's also the 5th time you've beat us in 25 tries at home. Oooo look at me I can pull out statistics too.
  6. Sheppy
    16. Posted by Sheppy Sun Oct 4 11:01am EDT

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    So NU beating PU adds insult to injury? Let me add some more: since 2003, NU is a respectable 25-25 in Big Ten play. The mighty Boilermakers, with their beloved former head coach, 23-26 over the same period. Even in the glory years of PU football, the Boilermakers are looking up at NU. Happy Homecoming...
  7. jon
    15. Posted by jon Sun Oct 4 9:07am EDT

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    It's good to see the people posting are all Purdue, well most anyways. Everyone pretty much said everything I was thinking...maybe they need to practice taking a knee a bit more...fumbles were just ridiculous yesterday and someone needs to teach Hope about clock management and proper play calling. It's sicking to think PU has played well enough to be 4-1...N Illinois was ugly.
  8. P_U_P_u
    14. Posted by P_U_P_u Sat Oct 3 9:49pm EDT

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    I agree, fire hope on Monday.
  9. Honneker
    13. Posted by Honneker Sat Oct 3 8:22pm EDT

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    I "hope" that the coaching staff and players aren't a bunch of whiny-ass quitters like most of those who've posted comments here. This team has some talent and will improve.
  10. Lind
    12. Posted by Lind Sat Oct 3 7:51pm EDT

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    Purdue is not a very good football team, end of story
  11. jets
    11. Posted by jets Sat Oct 3 7:21pm EDT

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    Get rid of Hope
  12. Dan
    10. Posted by Dan Sat Oct 3 6:19pm EDT

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    As a Purdue alum, this is disgusting. Purdue has now given away 3 games this year. They gave Oregon 2 defensive touchdowns. They simply were not ready to play against Northern Illinois. The idiotic timeout last week helped Notre Dame win. And today, with the team up 21-3 and 2 minutes left in the half, they throw a moronic pass from their own end zone, and it gets intercepted. From that point, Purdue was completely befuddled. This FCS coaching staff at Purdue has no clue.

    There were many Tiller haters over the past few years, and they are idiots. They were tired of winning 7 or 8 games and "only" going to the Sun Bowl or Motor City Bowl. Be careful what you wish for. We now have it. Hope will never take this team to a bowl game. He will not be around long enough.

    The home game against Illinois might be the Idiot Coach Game. Zook is a complete moron, so he can match wits with hillbilly Hope. Hope is obviously in over his head. He hired a geriatric defensive coordinator from an FCS school, and neither of these clowns can relate to a big-time football program. Purdue should have hired its alum, Kevin Sumlin. Has Morgan Burke noticed what Houston is doing with Kevin Sumlin???

    There were only 47,000 fans today at the homecoming game. Luckily for the athletic department, the next home game will be sold out. However, the stadium will be filled with 2/3 of the fans being from Columbus. Purdue will be lucky to win one more game this year.
  13. JayR
    9. Posted by JayR Sat Oct 3 6:12pm EDT

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    One last comment. Maybe having Bolden run so well in the first game was a bad thilng, and not a good thing. We do seem like we have unrealistic expections of him now, and use him to much, even when he isn't productive.It also seems we have forgot the other running backs.
  14. <i>delau341</i>
    8. Posted by delau341 Sat Oct 3 6:11pm EDT

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    Reference post 6: What an assinine comment to make. As a pewrsonal friend of Mike Alstott and Jim Everett, your comments are ridiculous. Yes, this is going to be another long season but it seems you have a short memory. Joe Tiller leading Purdue to Bowl Games every year Dree Brees the best QB in the NFL. I support the Black and Gold win or lose. I am a proud alumnus and to make comments like that makes me believe you are nothing but a fair weather fan and a malcontent. Purdue will turn it around yes it sucks they have lost the games this year but I would still fly 2500 miles to watch Purdue win or lose.
  15. JayR
    7. Posted by JayR Sat Oct 3 6:10pm EDT

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    First of all lets give Hope some time. Give him a chance to get some of his recruits in, and experienced. Yes I do question so mucn running when it wasn't working, and Elliot has shown some ability to pass the ball, but he himself is responsable for 5 or 6 turnovers. Coaches can not hold the ball for the players. This team clearly does not have players that are real talented or really know how to win. Remember we are 1-4, but with some talent on this team,and a few breaks they are not to far from being 5-0 and having Hope hailed as the next great coach. lets be patient and maybe in a couple years we will have more talent on the team.
  16. <i>me_hate_wolverines</i>
    6. Posted by me_hate_wolverines Sat Oct 3 5:46pm EDT

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    As a Purdue alumnus, I was surprised to hear that Purdue still had a men's football team, as it appears they been using band members and cheerleaders the last two seasons.
    Also, why does anyone even care anymore?
  17. <i>boilers2005</i>
    5. Posted by boilers2005 Sat Oct 3 4:50pm EDT

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    Had to wait until I cooled down, but welcome back "Jim Colleto"...at least that is what it feels like as a Boiler fan.
  18. Jason
    4. Posted by Jason Sat Oct 3 4:30pm EDT

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    Clearly Danny Hope is no hope at all. It all comes down to coaching at this point. Anyone can argue that coaches aren't responsible for execution but they are responsible for play calling, game management and fundamentals. Purdue has conclusively shown it has nothing going for it in any of these aspects. During last night's "pep" rally, Hope called the ND loss an exciting game. What planet is he from? It was heatbreaking and disgusting to Purdue fans everywhere. Today, he does Tiller one better and turns the ball over one more time that Purdue did in last year's loss to NWU. Purdue could have gotten a better coach than some Eastern Kentucky, Tiller bred reject. He has GOT TO GO! Then again, maybe Purdue and some of its apathetic fan base just enjoy being losers. As an alum, I certainly don't. Tiller needed to go long before he finally went. This guy is just continuing Tiller's losing ways.
  19. ollie
    3. Posted by ollie Sat Oct 3 3:59pm EDT

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    I am a fan of neither team (nothing against either team either). This was a fun game to watch though Purdue killed themselves by not taking care of the ball.
  20. Aaron S
    2. Posted by Aaron S Sat Oct 3 3:56pm EDT

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    Go Cats. Way to embarass Purdue at home!
  21. <i>tomahawkjimgoboilers</i>
    1. Posted by tomahawkjimgoboilers Sat Oct 3 3:52pm EDT

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    Against Oregon the Boilers at least looked respectable. Then came Northern Illinois, bad. Notre Dame was something old Purdue fans have seen all too often, losing in the final minute. Then to add more insult to injury Northwestern beats us....at home, even. This is going to be one long season.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Northwestern
M. Kafka M. Kafka, QB
28-44, 224 yds
18 Rush, 39 yds, 1 TD
 Purdue
J. Elliott J. Elliott, QB
20-28, 313 yds
3 TDs, 1 INT

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