WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Western Illinois battled to the end, but came up short in a 31-21 loss at Purdue on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 11) at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Fighting Leathernecks fell to 1-1 on the year while Purdue improved to 1-1.
Western jumped on the board first, thanks to an opportunistic defense. Mike Stieren tipped Robert Marve's pass and Tyler West recorded his first career interception to set up the Leathernecks on the Purdue 42.
Matt Barr hit Lito Senatus down the middle, all the way to the Purdue one. On the next play Caulton Ray was stopped at the line but his second effort found an open gap into the endzone. Charlie Jouett's extra point gave the Leathernecks a 7-0 lead at the 11 minute mark.
Purdue responded with an eight-play drive, capped by Marve's 25-yard pass to Justin Siller, to tie the game.
Western missed on two opportunities during the second quarter in Purdue territory. Charlie Jouett narrowly missed a 37-yard field goal left of the upright. Later in the quarter facing 4th-and-1 on the 28 Barr missed on a pass to Drew Helt. That was an 11-play drive. Purdue marched down the field using a 15-play drive to take the lead. Dan Dierking punched it in from a yard out with 18 second left in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff Todd Speight fumbled and Purdue took over on the Leathernecks' 21. Following a 2-yard completion, Carson Wiggs nailed a 36-yard field goal for a 10-point halftime lead.
Late in the third quarter Western looked to have stopped Purdue on a three-and-out. However, on the punt Western was flagged for roughing the kicker. The Boilermakers took advantage and marched down the field. Dierking scored from five yards out with 3:11 remaining making it 24-7.
In the fourth quarter Western broke the scoring drought. Bryce Flowers rushed for a 14-yard touchdown with 4:31 remaining, cutting the deficit to 24-14. The play covered 55 yards in nine plays.
Purdue broke off a 40-yard touchdown run when Al-Terek McBurse looked to have been brought down but shook off two tackles for the TD. Western responded with an 82-yard drive on nine plays capped by Barr's 10-yard touchdown pass to Charles Chestnut.
Barr completed 25-of-38 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown. His completions and yards were both the second-highest total of his career.
Terriun Crump (52 yards) and Speight (50) each caught five passes.
Junior transfer Ryan Davis recorded a season-high eight tackles while Mike Garoppolo set a career-high with eight stops. Kyle Glazier added seven tackles, including two for a loss.
"We've got a good football team, we just need to execute better and not make costly mistakes. Overall we played very well. The offense had some great execution and great drives," said head coach Mark Hendrickson. "I thought we out-played Purdue in the fourth quarter. Matt Barr made some great plays and our receivers came up with key catches late in the game. It was very impressive to see our team never quit on either side of the ball. There is really one drive we'd like to have back defensively, the one at the end of the first half. Our defense was very good overall."
All-American lineman Ryan Kerrigan recorded a game-high 12 stops, including four for a loss. Dierking rushed for 102 yards on 14 carries and scored twice.
Western returns to Hanson Field next Saturday for the final non-conference game of the regular season, playing host to Sam Houston State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Dwight Harris recorded his first career tackle for loss late in the first quarter... Speight's first quarter kickoff return was the 70th of his career, and he took sole possession of the Western all-time record. His fumble late in the first half was the first turnover committed by Western this season, a span of nearly six quarters... Speight set career-highs in receptions and yards... Crump matched his career-high of five catches... Attendance was 47,301 for Purdue's home-opener.
