Analysis ($): Four Downs
After Purdue led No. 8 Michigan at halftime, the Wolverines rode their dominant defense to a 28-10 win over the upstart Boilermakers in West Lafayette.
Purdue barely gained positive yardage for the second half and finished 0-for-11 on third down. Meanwhile, a short-handed defense that lost linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley and safety Jacob Thieneman to targeting penalties struggled mightily to get off the field when opportunities presented themselves.
The game turned on a third-down for Michigan deep in its own territory, when Bentley had Michigan QB John O'Korn sacked, only to see the QB escape and throw for a first down that started its go-ahead TD drive.
Purdue led 10-7 at halftime after scoring 10 straight after Michigan drew first blood early in second quarter after a scoreless first.
Michigan 7, Purdue 0 — 11:34, second quarter — After a scoreless first quarter, Michigan found something after backup QB John O'Korn replaced the injured Wilton Speight, driving 84 yards on 13 plays, concluded by O'Korn's 12-yard, third-and-three playaction TD throw to tight end Zach Gentry.
Michigan 7, Purdue 7 — 9:45, second quarter — With Michigan on the board, Purdue also switched QBs, going with Elijah Sindelar, but also moving its pocket every play and hitting Michigan in pursuit. The result: A five-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by a 10-yard pass to Brycen Hopkins but made by 16- and 36-yard gains by Terry Wright off misdirection.
Purdue 10, Michigan 7 — 6:04, second quarter — After scoring, Purdue stuffed Michigan on back to back snaps, then intercepted John O'Korn — Navon Mosley caught a deflected pass — deep in Wolverine territory, but settled for J.D. Dellinger's 29-yard field goal.
Michigan 14, Purdue 10 — 2:42, third quarter — Michigan reclaimed the lead on a 10-yard run by Chris Evans, capping an 86-yard drive that could have been ended before it really began. Purdue had O'Korn sacked on third-and-long deep in Michigan territory, but he escaped Ja'Whaun Bentley and threw for the first down that got the drive started. Also, of note: A targeting call on Jacob Thieneman that gave Michigan 15 yards and cost Purdue a starting safety.
Michigan 21, Purdue 10 — 10:36, fourth quarter — Purdue had so many chances to get off the field on defense, but Michigan made plays every time it had to and worked out of second-and-17 and first-and-25 snaps in Boilermaker territory before Ty Isaac capped a 65-yard drive with a one-yard TD plunge.
Michigan 28, Purdue 10 — 6:46, fourth quarter — After what looked like a worn-out, short-handed Boilermaker defense, Michigan piled on, as Chris Evans broke free up the middle for a 49-yard score two plays after a personal foul on Gelen Robinson moved Michigan to the 50.
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