Saturday, September 25
West Lafayette, Ind.
3:30 PM
Purdue University
13
vs
9
Illinois
O'Connell Sparks Late TD Drive in Victory vs. Illini
9/25/2021 6:58:00 PM | Football
Boilermakers improve to 3-1, hold another opponent without a touchdown
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Quarterback Aidan O'Connell engineered a clutch fourth-quarter drive, throwing for 89 yards on a 94-yard march up the field that culminated in the game's lone touchdown and propelled Purdue football to a 13-9 victory vs. Illinois on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The Boilermakers (3-1, 1-0 B1G) improved to 3-1 for the first time since 2012 and won their Big Ten opener in a traditional campaign for the first time since 2011.
The Purdue defense did not give up a touchdown for the second time in four games this year, accomplishing that feat twice in a season for the first time since 2007.
Purdue played without offensive standouts David Bell, Zander Horvath and King Doerue. Tight end Payne Durham as well as defensive starters Branson Deen, DaMarcus Mitchell and Kieren Douglas also left the game due to injury. But wide receivers Milton Wright (88 yards), Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (77) and TJ Sheffield (44) all stepped up in the second half. All three players had a reception of at least 14 yards on the 94-yard drive. They finished the day with a combined 209 yards receiving.
Sheffield caught the go-ahead 14-yard touchdown pass from O'Connell with 5:44 remaining in the game. Yaseen's 18-yard reception was the first big play of the drive and consecutive completions of 17 and 27 yards to Wright put the Boilermakers in the red zone.
O'Connell finished the day 12-for-19 for 182 yards after entering the game at the 3:44 mark with Illinois leading 9-6. He immediately sparked a 60-yard drive to the four-yard line before throwing an interception in the back of the endzone. Yaseen's first collegiate reception was the key play, a 43-yard catch and run after the offense had generated just two first downs since the beginning of the second quarter.
Purdue racked up a season-high nine tackles for loss, including 2.5 from Deen. George Karlaftis delivered a strip sack in the first quarter. Marvin Grant led the team with eight tackles (six solo). Douglas had five of his six tackles in the second half.
SATURDAY NOTABLES
• Purdue has taken home the Cannon Trophy in five of the last six years vs. the Fighting Illini.
• The Boilermakers did not give up a touchdown in the first half for the second time this season and seventh time under head coach Jeff Brohm (since 2017).
• The 6-3 halftime score accounted for the lowest combined total at the break since Purdue trailed Rutgers 7-3 in October 2017.
• Purdue also scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter in the 2020 season-opening win vs. Iowa at Ross-Ade Stadium. Aidan O'Connell's six-yard pass to David Bell lifted the Boilermakers to a 24-20 victory on that Saturday.
• The Boilermakers posted just the second win by the home team in the Illinois-Purdue series since 2012. The other home victory was also by the Boilermakers in November 2017.
Leading 9-6 with 9:33 remaining in the game, the Fighting Illini (1-4, 1-3 B1G) faced a fourth and two at the Purdue 34-yard line. They had already attempted two 50-yard field goals on the day, but this time lined up to go for it. A timeout was called instead and the punt team was sent out. The punt pinned Purdue in deep at the six-yard line. O'Connell hit Jackson Anthrop for 10 yards and Yaseen for 18 to get the offense moving. He had thrown an interception on the previous two drives, but finished the touchdown march 6-for-8 for 89 yards.
The Boilermakers drove into the red zone on their first two possessions of the day but settled for a pair of field goals after those drives stalled out shy of the five-yard line. Kicker Mitchell Fineran remained perfect at 7 of 7 over his first four games as a Boilermaker.
But after gaining a combined 103 yards on the first two drives, Purdue managed just 28 total yards on its next four, generating just two additional first downs in the first half. Quarterback Jack Plummer and the Boilermakers converted on pair of third downs on the first drive of the day, but then struggled on third downs until late in the third quarter, finishing the day 7-for-14 overall. O'Connell and Sheffield connected for receptions of 19 and 14 yards on third downs, including the touchdown catch.
Purdue limited Illinois to just 58 yards on 27 plays in the first half. The Illini were 0-for-6 on third down conversions. Runs of 11 and 16 yards by Josh McCray accounted for 27 of the 58 yards. McCray also had 27 yards on three straight carries in the second quarter as the Illini ran the ball on six consecutive plays. Illinois went to Reggie Love III for the next three carries, gaining just four yards. But kicker James McCourt connected on a 51-yard field goal at the 2:24 mark to get the visitors on the board. McCourt also connected on 35- and 45-yard field goals but missed from 54 yards shortly before O'Connell entered the game in the third quarter.
McCray accounted for 156 of the Illini's 275 total net yards while carrying the ball 24 times. The Boilermakers limited Illinois to 100 passing yards and four different players registered a pass breakup. Purdue was also whistled for only one penalty on the day.
Purdue returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Minnesota at noon ET as part of Homecoming Weekend on campus.
The Boilermakers (3-1, 1-0 B1G) improved to 3-1 for the first time since 2012 and won their Big Ten opener in a traditional campaign for the first time since 2011.
The Purdue defense did not give up a touchdown for the second time in four games this year, accomplishing that feat twice in a season for the first time since 2007.
Purdue played without offensive standouts David Bell, Zander Horvath and King Doerue. Tight end Payne Durham as well as defensive starters Branson Deen, DaMarcus Mitchell and Kieren Douglas also left the game due to injury. But wide receivers Milton Wright (88 yards), Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen (77) and TJ Sheffield (44) all stepped up in the second half. All three players had a reception of at least 14 yards on the 94-yard drive. They finished the day with a combined 209 yards receiving.
Sheffield caught the go-ahead 14-yard touchdown pass from O'Connell with 5:44 remaining in the game. Yaseen's 18-yard reception was the first big play of the drive and consecutive completions of 17 and 27 yards to Wright put the Boilermakers in the red zone.
O'Connell finished the day 12-for-19 for 182 yards after entering the game at the 3:44 mark with Illinois leading 9-6. He immediately sparked a 60-yard drive to the four-yard line before throwing an interception in the back of the endzone. Yaseen's first collegiate reception was the key play, a 43-yard catch and run after the offense had generated just two first downs since the beginning of the second quarter.
Purdue racked up a season-high nine tackles for loss, including 2.5 from Deen. George Karlaftis delivered a strip sack in the first quarter. Marvin Grant led the team with eight tackles (six solo). Douglas had five of his six tackles in the second half.
SATURDAY NOTABLES
• Purdue has taken home the Cannon Trophy in five of the last six years vs. the Fighting Illini.
• The Boilermakers did not give up a touchdown in the first half for the second time this season and seventh time under head coach Jeff Brohm (since 2017).
• The 6-3 halftime score accounted for the lowest combined total at the break since Purdue trailed Rutgers 7-3 in October 2017.
• Purdue also scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter in the 2020 season-opening win vs. Iowa at Ross-Ade Stadium. Aidan O'Connell's six-yard pass to David Bell lifted the Boilermakers to a 24-20 victory on that Saturday.
• The Boilermakers posted just the second win by the home team in the Illinois-Purdue series since 2012. The other home victory was also by the Boilermakers in November 2017.
Leading 9-6 with 9:33 remaining in the game, the Fighting Illini (1-4, 1-3 B1G) faced a fourth and two at the Purdue 34-yard line. They had already attempted two 50-yard field goals on the day, but this time lined up to go for it. A timeout was called instead and the punt team was sent out. The punt pinned Purdue in deep at the six-yard line. O'Connell hit Jackson Anthrop for 10 yards and Yaseen for 18 to get the offense moving. He had thrown an interception on the previous two drives, but finished the touchdown march 6-for-8 for 89 yards.
The Boilermakers drove into the red zone on their first two possessions of the day but settled for a pair of field goals after those drives stalled out shy of the five-yard line. Kicker Mitchell Fineran remained perfect at 7 of 7 over his first four games as a Boilermaker.
But after gaining a combined 103 yards on the first two drives, Purdue managed just 28 total yards on its next four, generating just two additional first downs in the first half. Quarterback Jack Plummer and the Boilermakers converted on pair of third downs on the first drive of the day, but then struggled on third downs until late in the third quarter, finishing the day 7-for-14 overall. O'Connell and Sheffield connected for receptions of 19 and 14 yards on third downs, including the touchdown catch.
Purdue limited Illinois to just 58 yards on 27 plays in the first half. The Illini were 0-for-6 on third down conversions. Runs of 11 and 16 yards by Josh McCray accounted for 27 of the 58 yards. McCray also had 27 yards on three straight carries in the second quarter as the Illini ran the ball on six consecutive plays. Illinois went to Reggie Love III for the next three carries, gaining just four yards. But kicker James McCourt connected on a 51-yard field goal at the 2:24 mark to get the visitors on the board. McCourt also connected on 35- and 45-yard field goals but missed from 54 yards shortly before O'Connell entered the game in the third quarter.
McCray accounted for 156 of the Illini's 275 total net yards while carrying the ball 24 times. The Boilermakers limited Illinois to 100 passing yards and four different players registered a pass breakup. Purdue was also whistled for only one penalty on the day.
Purdue returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Minnesota at noon ET as part of Homecoming Weekend on campus.
