West Lafayette, Indiana – Purdue kicks off the season with a slow start but finishes off Oregon State behind tightend Payne Durham two touchdown performance. The Boilermakers are now 1-0 with their 30-21 victory.
Durham second touchdown was the examination point with 2:17 left in the game on 3rd & 2 running wide open for a 49 yard receptions. The Beavers sold out for a run and Durham slipped out in the secondary.
Purdue offense is slow and controlled making sure that sophomore quarterback Jack Plummer could manage the game and not have to win the game solely on his arm. Plummer did throw for 313 yards and two touchdowns with throws to seven different targets. Fellow sophomore David Bell caught 8 receptions for team high 134 yards averaging 16.8 yards per catch.
The Beavers came in with a solid gameplan scoring first to take an earlier lead. They were lead by B.J. Baylor who had nine carries for 24 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow backfield mate Trey Lowe carried for a team high 27 yards.
This rushing attack is a far cry from last season where they really took it to their opponents on the ground establishing the run to set up the pass. Oregon State showed some sparks of greatness but not enough to overcome Purdue’s 4th quarter push.
Late in the second quarter Cam Allen interception with 2:23 left in the half lead to the Boilermakers second field goal of the half to stretch the lead to 13-7 over the visiting Beavers.
The Beavers would bring this game close in 4th quarter battling with the game being up for grabs. The 23-21 score was the closest they could come before Plummer became a household name at least at the first game.
The Beavers will host Hawaii this Saturday September 11 while the Boilermakers will travel to Connecticut on Saturday 11th.
