Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/380743
PURDUE RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE The first half saw Purdue produce just enough with its downhill and misdirection runs to be ef- fective with its short play-action passing game. The Boilermakers' 13 designed first-half runs produced 57 yards, even including a keeper by sophomore quarterback Danny Etling that led to a targeting call against sophomore free safety Max Redfield, result- ing in his ejection from the game. Senior running backs Raheem Mostert and Akeem Hunt combined for 52 yards on 12 car- ries in the first half, but had only 27 yards in the second stanza when the Irish defense took control along the line of scrimmage. Three sacks of Etling led to the Boilermakers producing only 56 rushing yards overall. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Screens and short passes were the order of the night with Purdue's 27 completions averaging only 8.7 yards. Running backs Mostert and Hunt com- bined for eight catches for 44 yards (5.5 yards per reception) and fifth-year senior tight ends Justin Sinz and Gabe Holmes nabbed seven passes for 40 yards (5.7 yards per catch). The Boilermakers did complete 29- and 28-yard passes over the top to keep the defense honest enough — especially with three Irish safeties in the two deep at the start of the year sidelined. Perhaps cautious about the attrition on the back end, includ- ing losing sophomore cornerback Cole Luke in the third quarter, Notre Dame had a fairly conservative, limited blitzing, four-man rush. Sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith then began to be incorporated for the first time into the pass-pres- sure packages, and it helped lead to three second- half sacks. Kudos to freshman safety Drue Tranquill — a former Purdue verbal commit — for holding his own with all the attrition at his position. ADVANTAGE: Even NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. PURDUE RUN DEFENSE This is far and away the most disappointing aspect of Notre Dame's game. Purdue entered the game 97th nationally against the run while surrendering ON PAPER REVISITED BY LOU SOMOGYI Senior Everett Golson hurt Purdue with both his arm and his legs, throwing for 259 yards and two touchdowns while running for 56 yards and a score. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA