West Lafayette, IN – If moral victories counted in the win loss column the Purdue Boilermakers would have something to build on. Penn State Nittany Lions defeated Purdue 35-31 in their season Big Ten opener.
The Boilermakers stuck first blood settling for a field goal and the earlier 3-0 lead in the first quarter. With the strong arm of Aidan O’Connell who sliced up Penn State defense completing 29/58 for 356 yards with one touchdown.
“I have to be more precise where I’m throwing the ball.” quarterback O’Connell said. “I’ll take responsibility for that. We have to be on the same page across the board, the play-call signaling in and everybody getting lined and doing what we need to.”
The stats all add up to Purdue for the win but if running back King Doerue who carried 15 times for 57 yards and 2 key touchdowns. They amassed 426 total yards, twenty more then Penn State.
Now Penn State now knows that Sean Clifford can carry the load throwing for 282 yards with 4 touchdowns completing 20/37 passes. Four different players caught touchdown pass to keep things balance and show off a few shinny weapons.
Penn State defense stacked box and created one on one matchups on the outside that could have been enough for Purdue to capitalize on.
“We had this one right where we wanted it with a chance to seal the game with one more first down and the game is over,” Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said. “We weren’t able to get that. That’s what stings. I’m proud of the fight. We battled in the second half and didn’t give in. We had a chance.”
Now both teams will look to tweak their gameplans for game two with a road to Big Ten Championship still in sight for both teams.
Next week the 1-0 Penn State will host Ohio at high noon on Saturday September 10th. Purdue will host Indiana State back at home at 4pm on September 10th.
