WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue football‘s Big Ten losing streak continues, and breaking it this season will now require a major upset.
Rutgers rallied for a 27-24 victory to ruin homecoming at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers‘ losing skids reached 14 games in the Big Ten and 17 against FBS opponents.
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The Boilermakers had a chance to drive for a game-winning field goal in the final minute. Instead, Rutgers stripped the ball out of Ryan Browne‘s hands and recovered the fumble. Jai Patel instead converted the game-winner for the Scarlet Knights, who also had been winless in conference play.
Here’s what I liked, disliked and what Purdue’s loss vs Rutgers means.
What I liked in Purdue football’s loss vs Rutgers
Had Purdue found a way top win, this might have gone down as “the Hershey McLaurin game.”
Myles Slusher missed his first game this season due to the injury suffered last week at Northwestern. That was a big loss considering how stable he’s been at safety. McLaurin stepped up with a huge third-down pass breakup at the goal line and a sack later in the first half.
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Then, as Rutgers was in the process of converting a third down early in the fourth quarter, McLaurin came in and knocked the ball loose. Tahj Ra-El recovered at the Boilers’ 35. It only led to another Purdue punt, but the takeaway kept points off the board and flipped the field.
This secondary did not play perfect by any means (see below). But it had to show its gains of the past two weeks against lesser passing offenses was not a mirage. It could not have done that Saturday had McLaurin not risen to the occasion.
∙ Malachi Thomas totaled 120 all-purpose yards in the first seven games. He put up 111 yards on four touches Saturday in the first quarter alone. That included a 57-yard jaunt up the sideline to step up the game’s first touchdown — which he also scored, on a short toss from Malachi Singleton. Later, Browne waved him upfield out of the flats playground-style and floated one over the defense for a 44-yard gain.
The Virginia Tech transfer has been coming along as the complement to Devin Mockobee for a few weeks. This was his breakthrough.
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∙ Turnovers and penalties had prevented Purdue from winning the past two weeks. Saturday: Zero penalties. No turnovers until that final drive
What I disliked in Purdue football’s loss vs Rutgers
A Rutgers three-and-out and a kick catch interference penalty on the punt set Purdue up at the Scarlet Knights’ 40 with 7:14 left in the first half. The next seven minutes, 14 seconds served as a microcosm of the season in so many ways.
The offense went three-and-out, opting for a home-run shot on first down against a Rutgers defense which had not shown an ability to stop the run. The Scarlet Knights then methodically marched 85 yards in 17 plays. They converted fourth-and-1, third-and-1 and fourth-and-2. KJ Duff made a nice reaching grab for a 19-yard gain on first down to move into Purdue territory.
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Receivers making plays. An offensive line converting in short yardage. An offense capitalizing in the red zone. Rutgers was able to pull within 10-7. Purdue went into homecoming halftime with a lead which felt like a letdown.
∙ Defensive coordinator Mike Scherer has dialed up some timely safety blitzes this season. That’s how McLaurin recorded that sack in the first half. He dialed up another when he inserted Sam linebacker Alex Sanford in place of nickel Smiley Bradford on a second-and-7 play in the third quarter.
Of course, those high-reward plays often carry higher risk. Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis evaded the pressure. When the secondary failed to rotate over, Duff was wide open for a 72-yard touchdown.
Instead of pushing to take control, the Boilers were left holding on to a thin lead again, 17-14.
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All of Duff’s catches were explosives, by the way. He totaled 241 yards on six receptions. Only three Purdue players have that many receiving yards all season. It was the most receiving yards against Purdue since Wisconsin’s Al Toon in 1983.
∙ That Browne-to-Thomas completion late in the first quarter converted a third down. Midway through the fourth quarter, it remained the only third-down conversion. Purdue didn’t have turnover and penalty issues. But by starting 1 of 7 on third down, it let a vulnerable opponent hang around.
∙ When it wasn’t chunking out gains with Duff, Rutgers was grinding away. It converted 3 of 4 fourth-down tries and effectively shortened the game by keeping Purdue’s offense off the field. The Scarlet Knights totaled 526 yards.
What Purdue football’s loss vs Rutgers means
Purdue’s next four games: At No. 24 Michigan, home against No. 1 Ohio State, at Washington — where the defensive coordinator (Ryan Walters) has some inside knowledge about some key Boiler skill position players — and home against No. 2 IU.
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So Purdue had to win Saturday. Barring a huge upset in November, regardless of how much better the team has played, this season counts as stagnation at best.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue football score today vs Rutgers, stats, likes, dislikes, losing streak
