Western Illinois
N/A0-0
Purdue
9th Big Ten4-8
Western Illinois @ Purdue preview
Ross-Ade Stadium
It would be understandable for there to be concern over the Purdue offense after it struggled to put points on the board in its 23-12 season-opening loss at Notre Dame.
But coach Danny Hope was upbeat this week, saying he thought the Boilermakers and new starting quarterback Robert Marve are on the verge of breaking loose. Purdue stayed with the Fighting Irish statistically, but just couldn’t break out any big plays. Marve’s longest pass completion was 18 yards.
Hope’s hope is that the Boilermakers can find some offensive rhythm in the next three games – all home matchups against Western Illinois, Ball State and Toledo – before they open Big Ten play at Northwestern on Oct. 9. Purdue faces Western Illinois (1-0) Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Marve, a former Miami starter who hadn’t played since 2008, had his moments against Notre Dame. He completed 31-of-42 passes for 220 yards, and scored Purdue’s lone touchdown on a 23-yard run. He was 11-of-13 in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Keith Smith had 12 receptions for 80 yards, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 25.
Purdue gained 322 total yards in the opener.
Hope also saw promise in his young defense, which he thought held up pretty well against Notre Dame’s talented offensive skill players. Of the five starters Purdue used to combat the Irish passing attack, only two had played before. Cornerback Ricardo Allen was the first true freshman to start in a season opener for Purdue since 2006.
Purdue faces a Western Illinois team that beat Valparaiso 45-0 last week, the Leathernecks’ first victory after 10 straight losses.
Western is led by quarterback Matt Barr, who passed for 230 yards and two touchdowns Saturday. Running back Bryce Flowers rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. The Leatherneck defense allowed only 131 total yards in their opener.
A fast start for the Boilermakers will help erase some of the uncertainties over how well they’ll fare down the road. It also can build some confidence for a team that saw 20 players either in their first college game, playing a new position or missed last season.
Hope said his team came out of the Notre Dame game with few injury concerns. Running back Keith Carlos (foot), a converted wide receiver, missed most of preseason camp and is doubtful for Western Illinois.
This is the first meeting between the schools. Purdue is 79-29-3 in first-time matchups.
But coach Danny Hope was upbeat this week, saying he thought the Boilermakers and new starting quarterback Robert Marve are on the verge of breaking loose. Purdue stayed with the Fighting Irish statistically, but just couldn’t break out any big plays. Marve’s longest pass completion was 18 yards.
Hope’s hope is that the Boilermakers can find some offensive rhythm in the next three games – all home matchups against Western Illinois, Ball State and Toledo – before they open Big Ten play at Northwestern on Oct. 9. Purdue faces Western Illinois (1-0) Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Marve, a former Miami starter who hadn’t played since 2008, had his moments against Notre Dame. He completed 31-of-42 passes for 220 yards, and scored Purdue’s lone touchdown on a 23-yard run. He was 11-of-13 in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Keith Smith had 12 receptions for 80 yards, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 25.
Purdue gained 322 total yards in the opener.
Hope also saw promise in his young defense, which he thought held up pretty well against Notre Dame’s talented offensive skill players. Of the five starters Purdue used to combat the Irish passing attack, only two had played before. Cornerback Ricardo Allen was the first true freshman to start in a season opener for Purdue since 2006.
Purdue faces a Western Illinois team that beat Valparaiso 45-0 last week, the Leathernecks’ first victory after 10 straight losses.
Western is led by quarterback Matt Barr, who passed for 230 yards and two touchdowns Saturday. Running back Bryce Flowers rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. The Leatherneck defense allowed only 131 total yards in their opener.
A fast start for the Boilermakers will help erase some of the uncertainties over how well they’ll fare down the road. It also can build some confidence for a team that saw 20 players either in their first college game, playing a new position or missed last season.
Hope said his team came out of the Notre Dame game with few injury concerns. Running back Keith Carlos (foot), a converted wide receiver, missed most of preseason camp and is doubtful for Western Illinois.
This is the first meeting between the schools. Purdue is 79-29-3 in first-time matchups.