Purdue 24 Iowa 20: How about dem Boilers!
By: Dakota Isgrigg | October 24th | @dakota_isgrigg | @BoilerInTexas
Whew. How about that game huh?
It was quite the morning we Boilermaker fans had. Not even at kickoff and the news off more and more players and coaches missing the game comes out. Purdue would not just be without Head Coach Jeff Brohm and star WR Rondale Moore. They would also be without multiple assistant coaches like special teams coach Marty Biagi, then the news that starting running back King Dorue was banged up, Mershawn Rice was banged up. It seemed like the universe was coming down on the program placing hurdle after hurdle in front of our guys.
That said, no matter who was playing and who wasn’t, the Purdue Boilermakers football team was going to take the field today to face the Iowa Hawkeyes with anyone who was ready to play. Those who were ready came to play!
It was a sandwich of good this game, with the first portion of the game going the Boilers way, but everything changed with an incomplete pass from AOC to David Bell who had nothing but green grass between him and the endzone. If that pass is complete it’s 14-0 Purdue and they have all the momentum, instead AOC takes a sack on the next play and Purdue is forced to punt. Iowa would score on the ensuing possession to tie the game.
The biggest key in this game were the turnovers on both sides, both Purdue and Iowa finished with 2 turnovers. Purdue finished with 2 turnovers (interceptions), and Iowa finished with 2 fumbles lost. The turnovers would come back to haunt both sides in the end. The first Iowa turnover kept them out of the endzone after Purdue scored the possession before. And the second came toward the end of the game when Iowa was threatening to put the game away.
To begin the game it was former walk-on Aiden O’Connel who was lining up under center for the Boilers. He played a flawed game, but did enough to get it done when it mattered most. AOC ended the game 31-50 for 282 yards, 3 TD’s and 2 interceptions. All three touchdowns went to one man and we’ll get to him next, David Bell had himself a game. Bell finished with 13 receptions for 121 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bell picked up right where he left off last season with the continued absence of Rondale Moore. Bell wasn’t the only receiver who found some success today as Milton Wright finished with 7 receptions and 85 yards, Payne Durham had a day with 4 receptions for 41 yards as well. It was the first glimpse of a receiving corp. that should have other Big Ten DC’s sweating.
It wasn’t all through the air though as Purdue did find some moderate success on the ground with Zander Horvath leading the way on the ground with 21 carries for 129 yards. After a year where Purdue really struggled to run the ball, getting past the century mark in the first game was a welcome sight. Hopefully Purdue can continue to find success on the ground moving forward.
Defensively, Purdue had flashes of brilliance under the new system Bob Diaco installed over the offseason. Purdue switched back and forth between a 3-4 and 4-3 to varying degrees of success. In the end they got the stop where it mattered and the Boilers come out on top because of it. Hopefully the defense can take the tape from this game and fill in the gaps that were lacking today. We can’t be too picky as on the last drive of the game, the defense came up big and got the turnover on downs when we needed it the most.
Next week the Boilers travel to Champaign in an effort to enact some revenge on an Illini squad that walked over them last year. The Illini didn’t look great on their Friday night matchup with Wisconsin, and I’m sure they will be looking to bounce back when the Boilers come to town. The word through the Twitter-verse is that All-American Rondale Moore is expected to suit up in this one which should add another massive weapon into the Brohm offense.
When all is said and done, Purdue is sitting at 1-0 after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes who were a 10-win team a year ago. This is a great way to start the season and we hope that they are able to build on this going forward.
As Always, Boiler Up, Hammer Down, Hail Purdue!
