Hoosiers roll past Purdue 54-36 to become bowl eligible
By KEITH CARRELL
ISL Correspondent
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. _ Indiana defeated Purdue 54-36 on Saturday afternoon at Ross-Ade Stadium to become bowl eligible the first time since 2007 and the second time since 1993.
This was the third straight victory for Indiana in the Old Oaken Bucket game, the first time that has occurred since a four-game stretch from 1944 to 1947.
Both the Hoosiers and Boilermakers have struggled on defense all season, and that held true again in this game. The teams combined for the most offensive yards in a bucket game ever (1145; 659 for IU, 486 for Purdue), topping the previous high of 1,121 in 2004, when Purdue gained 763 yards.
It was also the most passing yards an Indiana quarterback has ever had in a Bucket game, as Nate Sudfeld threw for 350 yards. He also fired four touchdown passes.
Here are two of his touchdown tosses, courtesy of Big Ten Network. This one goes 22 yards from Sudfeld to Brandon Knight.
This one goes 72 yards from Sudfeld to Andre Booker:
Austin Appleby, starting for the injured David Blough, also filled up the stat sheet with 332 passing yards and two touchdowns and 19 rushing yards with two more rushing scores.
Devine Redding, Indiana’s starting running back after the normal starter Jordan Howard was unable to play, ran for a career high 144 yards (143 in 3 quarters) on 22 carries.
Discipline was again an issue for Purdue, as the Boilermakers had eight accepted penalties for 99 yards. Over half of the penalties occurred after the whistle as multiple players were called for personal fouls for late hits and unnecessary roughness.
Indiana set the tone early by going for it on a fourth down near mid-field on its first drive, converting a 23-yard pass to a wide open Mitchell Paige. That drive resulted in a touchdown for the Hoosiers, and they never trailed.
Purdue appeared to answer with a 31-yard rushing touchdown by D.J. Knox, but he was ruled out of bounds at the one. Purdue elected not to challenge the play and Appleby bobbled the snap on the ensuing play, which Indiana recovered.
Indiana led 38-21 when Markell Jones got loose for a touchdown. Here’s the highlight from Big Ten Network:
It remains to be seen what will happen with either coaching staff, but the win likely secures Indiana’s Kevin Wilson for at least one more season. Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke has already publicly noted that Purdue’s Darrell Hazell will return for the 2016 season.
Purdue fans are anxious for some action, though, and there is a real possibility that either John Shoop or Greg Hudson could be let go in order for Purdue to find a new offensive or defensive coordinator, respectively.
Quick Hits:
It was the last game for Purdue Bands announcer Roy Johnson to utter the phrase “I am an American” prior to games and call the halftime show as he is retiring… It was Senior Day for Purdue and Danny Anthrop shined with a few stellar catches… Appleby sat out one play after a hard, legal, hit and Aaron Banks completed a short pass in his brief reserve duty early in the second quarter… Morgan Burke’s contract ends in 2017.
