Ad Disclosure
Purdue got what it wanted on Saturday night in Ross-Ade Stadium.
Certainly, Goal No. 1 was a victory, but the Boilermakers must be happy with the fashion in which they beat Oregon State too, getting critical plays offensively and defensively in the fourth quarter to hold off the Beavers in a 30-21 final.
Purdue is 1-0, having broken the 4-game losing streak that ended last season.
Following are grades:
Passing offense: B+
On the biggest play of the game, Jack Plummer found Payne Durham off play-action on a 3rd-and-short from the 50, with the tight end racing the rest of the way for a touchdown. The score put the Boilermakers up 9 with 2 minutes left, all but ending the game.
It capped an evening in which Plummer was efficient, yet he and the passing game missed opportunities that could have put the game away earlier. Plummer finished 29-of-41 for 313 yards with 2 touchdowns — both to Durham — and no interceptions. He was sacked only once, although much of that was a credit to Plummer’s own elusiveness. The offensive line allowed too many pressures, though it improved as the game progressed.
Wide receiver David Bell had about as quiet of an 8-catch, 134-yard day as possible. One was too often left thinking Purdue needed to target the All-America wideout more frequently.
Purdue wasn’t perfect. Milton Wright dropped a sure touchdown on the first possession of the second half. On the next play, rather than kick the field goal, Coach Jeff Brohm chose a fake. It was executed with near perfection, as holder (and backup QB Jack Albers) ended up with the football, but his pass to Durham was intercepted, after Durham had first appeared to make the catch only to have the ball stolen away. It was a fail for Purdue, as it tried to put the game away. On the possession before, to end the first half, Jackson Anthrop couldn’t quite haul in a low throw; after the TD was overturned on replay, Purdue was forced to kick.
But in his first-ever opening-day start, Plummer looked comfortable, particularly when throwing the ball to safety values Bell and Durham. The latter ended with a career day, with 7 catches for 120 yards and 2 scores.
Rushing offense: B-
Before the season, Brohm vowed the Boilermakers would be a more balanced offensive team.
They certainly tried on Saturday night. Purdue stuck with the run much longer than it might have in years past, and it likely served to help wear down the Beavers. And it didn’t hurt in setting up the play-action for the game-icing touchdown in the final minutes.
Purdue finished with 88 yards on 33 attempts, for only a 2.7 average. But the Boilermakers got critical gains on the ground, too, including on the Wildcat touchdown by Zander Horvath on the Boilermakers’ first score. Purdue also converted 7 of 16 third downs, seemingly better on the short-yardage attempts than a year ago.
Offense overall: B
Purdue found a balance between Brohm’s desire to air the football out and the need to also feature the running game.
He also mixed in trick plays, like the Wildcat, the fake field goal and the play in which Purdue directly snapped to a RB, who handed to Plummer who threw to the TE, catching the OSU defense off guard.
The Boilermakers had 401 yards of offense, yet they could have been much more efficient. Purdue scored on 3 of its 4 trips into the red zone, but 2 of those ended in field goals. And the other was the inception off the fake field goal. Had Purdue converted those, then the game would not have still been in doubt in the fourth quarter.
Purdue had only the 1 turnover.
Passing defense: B+
George Karlaftis’ statistics — 4 tackles, including a half for a loss — don’t even come close to telling half the story.
He was a menace to Oregon State’s passing game, routinely in the backfield to upset the Beavers’ two quarterbacks. On Cam Allen’s interception, Karlaftis should get an assist, after the D-end flashed into QB Sam Noyer’s line of sight.
The Beavers finished with 285 yards of passing, but the numbers were inflated by their need to throw their way back into the game. Jalen Graham had Purdue’s only sack, but between Karlaftis and others, the Boilermakers were much more active in the backfield than at any point in 2020.
Noyer, the OSU starter, was only 10-of-21 for 94 yards and the pick before he was finally replaced.
The Boilermakers got crossed up on a halfback pass in the first half, when Tyjon Lindsey completed a 34-yard pass to set up the Beavers’ first touchdown.
But Purdue more than made up for it late. With it clinging to a two-point lead in the fourth quarter, cornerback Cory Trice stuck with his receiver on a 4th-and-2, rather than biting on the play-action, and broke up a deep pass. The play set Purdue up on the short field, with the offense converting soon after for a 9-point lead.
Trice had a great day, finishing with 2 breakups. Graham was also very solid, with the sack, forced fumble and 3 PBUs.
Rushing defense: A
The Beavers had only 78 yards on 25 carries, with a long of 11.
Purdue will definitely take it, getting a solid effort out of what was a very active front seven. OSU converted only 5 of 15 third downs and only 1 of 4 fourth downs. One of the fourth-down stops came when Karlaftis cracked Oregon State’s Wildcat quarterback a yard short on a 4th-and-2. It was a big play to stymie Beaver momentum in the second half.
Defense overall: A-
The defense made big-time plays when it needed them, including on 3 fourth downs.
Two came via the passing game, with breakups from Marvin Grant and Trice. And Karlaftis got a stop on an individual effort on a QB sneak.
The Boilermakers gave up 363 yards, many of them coming via 3 big plays. But those might be the result of the Boilermakers’ more aggressive approach. They’ve got to be happy with the pressure, although likely would like to hit home more frequently.
Considering how much emphasis Purdue put into rebuilding the defensive side of the ball, from the coaching staff to transfers, the first look was a positive one.
Special teams: A-
Purdue has a new kicker and a new punter, and both performed well in Game 1.
PK Mitchell Fineran hit all 3 of his field goal attempts, from 48, 39 and 22 yards, and punter Jack Ansell had 5 consistent boots, one landing inside the 20-yard line.
The one interception did come as part of a special teams’ fake, yet it’s hard to be overly critical of the call or the execution. Purdue just didn’t finish the play.
Coaching: A
Excellent job by Brohm, who helped give Purdue back a personality that it lacked last season.
The Boilermakers were more aggressive on both sides of the ball: On offense, Brohm decided on the play-action to Durham in the fourth quarter, rather than a more conservative rush on 3rd-and-short. And on defense, he unleashed Karlaftis to attack the backfield.
Early in the game, the Purdue sideline picked up an unsportsmanlike penalty after arguing with officials on a non-call of an offensive pass interference that prevented a Bell touchdown. The penalty knocked Purdue out of scoring range, which is bad, but kudos too to Brohm for sticking up for his guys.
And Brohm pushed the right buttons, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Overall: A-
Purdue won a game that it might have lost in other seasons.
It did so by making all the plays in the fourth quarter, holding off a suddenly charging Oregon State team that twice pulled within 2. Sure, the Boilermakers could have put the game away sooner, but for a program trying to find itself again, the outcome was the most important thing.
Kyle Charters, a familiar face at Gold & Black, covers Purdue, Indiana and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.