In what was a pivotal football game this season for both Purdue and Nebraska, a 37-27 loss to the Huskers on Saturday keeps the Boilermakers spiraling downward.
Both teams entered the game with some urgency to turn around their respective seasons. The Boilermakers were in a position to even their record on the season with a victory, but instead dropped their fourth straight after starting out the year with two victories. Meanwhile, the Huskers’ only victory this season was against Penn State, Nov. 14, in the five games they’ve played.
From the outset of the game, Purdue’s mistakes helped the Huskers get off to the start that they wanted on the road at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Huskers jumped out to a 17-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game and never trailed in the game.
“It was a horrendous start to the game and we got ourselves into a big hole,” said Coach Jeff Brohm following the game. “The bottom line is we have a lot of work to do, all of us have a lot of work to do.”
On the second play from scrimmage, when the Boilermakers had the ball to open the game, the Boilermakers were whistled for a false start, an ominous sign for the afternoon. Purdue was called for a season-high 11 penalties for 126 yards.
The other bad sign for Purdue early in the game was a defining point on special teams play, which hasn’t been so special this season.
When Purdue’s opening drive stalled, Brendan Cropsey’s punt was blocked and the Huskers recovered it at the Purdue 1-yard line to set up an easy opening score. Huskers running back Dedrick Mills scored on the next play.
Special teams play was a disaster again on Purdue’s second punt when Cam Taylor-Britt’s 27-yard punt return to the Purdue 32 was given an extra lift by another Purdue penalty. And an unusual one at that. The Boilermakers were penalized for sideline interference, which added 15 more yards to the Huskers’ benefit and put the ball at the Purdue 17.
In Nebraska’s first three possessions, the Huskers’ average start was on the Purdue 20-yard line, which put the Boilermakers defense, and any defense for that matter, on its heels. The Huskers scored a touchdown or field goal on their five possessions and they built a 27-13 halftime lead.
Starting quarterback Jack Plummer didn’t get much protection early in the game when the Huskers sacked him twice in the Boilermakers’ first three possessions. Plummer, while running for his life, also threw the ball out of bounds on a few occasions to avoid being sacked.
With only minus-2 net yards on the ground by the Boilermakers, Plummer resorted to a passing attack most of the time and threw three touchdown passes to keep the Boilermakers within striking distance in the second half. He completed 33 of 47 passes for 334 yards.
Purdue’s final opponent of the season is in-state rival Indiana next Saturday for the Old Oaken Bucket.
