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Rapid Reaction: Purdue clobbers Missouri, wins back-to-back games for the first time since 2012
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Final score: Purdue 35 Missouri 3
Quick recap
It started early and the Boilermakers never relented.
Purdue was dominant on both sides of the ball, slicing up Missouri’s defense and stifling the offense. It really made you wonder why the Tigers were favored by a touchdown in this one. The Boilermakers held Missouri to just 203 yards of total offense and just 70 rushing yards on 24 attempts.
The Boilermakers were disciplined and didn’t make many mistakes. They finished with just three penalties and one turnovers while controlling the ball for nearly 44 minutes. Needless to say, Purdue’s defense stayed fresh all game long.
Key play: Tario Fuller 36-yard TD run
Fuller broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run on Purdue’s second possession of the game to give the Boilers a 14-0 advantage.
Purdue established its rushing attack early and it was something Missouri was unable to stop. There were several other plays you could argue would fit this category, but Fuller’s rush gave off a certain vibe that the offense just wasn’t going to be stopped.
Stat of the game: Missouri’s 133 passing yards
Drew Lock is a really talented quarterback and Missouri’s passing attack was expected to be one of the best in the SEC. Either that was really wishful thinking or Purdue’s defense is just really good. Or maybe it’s a combination.
Lock completed just 12-of-28 passes for 133 yards and had two interceptions in the game. The Tigers couldn’t get into any rhythm offensively and their greatest strength just looked like another weakness on Saturday.
What it means
Purdue has improved drastically and extremely quickly. It makes next week’s homecoming bout against Michigan really interesting.
Yes, this win came against a Missouri team that wasn’t predicted to do much this season, but the Boilermakers completely dominated in every phase of the game. Games aren’t decided by 32 points by chance.
While the Boilermakers still have a long way to go in the talent department, Brohm’s out-of-the-box thinking and energy has given Purdue a spark of life. Maybe the Boilers can make some noise in the B1G over the next few months.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB