Eighteen seasons have passed since Drew Brees connected with Seth Morales on a go-ahead touchdown pass against Ohio State in 2000, helping bring a B1G title to West Lafayette and earning the Boilermakers a trip to the Rose Bowl. Ask anyone about that play and you’d believe the ball was still hanging in the air.

That moment is especially prominent this week, as Purdue (3-3, 2-1 B1G) prepares to host No. 2 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 B1G) at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday night. It’s hard to discuss this weekend’s game without the mention of the “Holy Toledo” play.

It’s just one of the many memorable games the Boilermakers have played against the Buckeyes since the start of the millennium.

Over the last 18 seasons, Purdue has won four of its seven meetings against Ohio State in West Lafayette. All of those victories were decided by one possession. In each of those games, something a little spooky happened.

There was a game-winning drive in 2004 with two minutes left. A 1-5 Purdue team upset No. 7 Ohio State in 2009 by forcing five turnovers. The Boilers won in 2011 thanks to a blocked extra point and a 1-yard touchdown run in overtime.

The memories the Boilermakers still relish are the same ones that continue to haunt a few former Buckeyes.

“Playing at Purdue will always haunt me,” former Ohio State tight end Jake Stoneburner wrote on Twitter last week. He was 0-2 on his two trips to West Lafayette.

Ross-Ade Stadium has been a haunted house for the Buckeyes over the last two decades. And this Purdue team is one of the scariest on Ohio State’s schedule. Fitting that the teams are meeting two weeks ahead of Halloween, I know.

After a disappointing 0-3 start to the season, the Boilers have rolled, particularly on offense. A good chunk of the credit goes to senior quarterback David Blough and superstar freshman wide receiver Rondale Moore.

In the last three outings Blough has thrown for 1,001 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception. Moore has accounted for 20 receptions for 296 yards and three scores. In that that stretch, Purdue is averaging an eyelash under 40 points and 500 yards per game. Those numbers have led to convincing wins over Boston College, Nebraska and Illinois.

“I haven’t talked to the defensive staff yet, but I’ve seen the stats,” Urban Meyer said when asked about Purdue at his weekly press conference. “They’re really good.”

Scary good, you might say. It’s particularly frightening considering Ohio State’s defense has been subpar in the last two games.

Two weeks ago, Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns against the Buckeyes. Last Saturday, Minnesota freshman running back Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns in Columbus.

Blough can find receivers anywhere on the turf and is more than capable of stretching the field deep. Moore has the ability to turn a two-yard loss into a 50-yard gain. He’s a home run threat every time the football touches his hands.

Ohio State was without five key defenders last week against Minnesota, some of which are hoping to make their return in West Lafayette. Defensive end Jonathan Cooper and linebacker Malik Harrison were in concussion protocol and are expected to be available. Defensive tackle Robert Landers is listed as probable and cornerback Damon Arnette is questionable.

Returning those key defenders is significant, but Purdue is still a nightmare matchup for the Buckeyes.

The Boilers have also had other offensive contributors step up recently. Tight end Brycen Hopkins caught five passes for 103 yards and a touchdown against Nebraska. Receiver Isaac Zico had five receptions for 127 yards and two scores in the win over Illinois. D.J. Knox, a 5-foot-7 cannon ball, has rushed for 540 yards this season, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

Ohio State also has to be prepared for Jeff Brohm’s offense, which has just as many tricks as it does treats.

In his year-and-a-half stint in West Lafayette, Brohm has ordered up a Philly Special (which he actually calls “Six Pack”), flea flickers and fake flea flickers, a double-reverse pass, a fake kneel and plenty of other unorthodox plays.

Greg Schiano and the Ohio State defense has to expect the unexpected. Isn’t that the mentality you’re forced to have when you enter any haunted house?

The last time the Buckeyes visited Ross-Ade Stadium was 2013, a game that was filed under the comedy genre. In Meyer’s only visit to West Lafayette as Ohio State’s head coach, he led his team to a 56-0 victory over Purdue. But that was the Darrell Hazell era — a nightmare tenure the Boilers wish to forget.

Purdue is more well-equipped to battle a team of Ohio State’s caliber now, even if it is a national power. Brohm and Co. have a better chance of pulling off an upset than most will recognize.

The Boilers will need another memorable moment if they hope to score one of the biggest victories in program history this weekend. One that rivals the pass Brees threw 18 seasons ago, one that is talked about in West Lafayette for another two decades.

And one that torments the souls of Buckeyes for years to come.