Oct. 2, 2004
Box Score |
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By TOM COYNE
AP Sports Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Kyle Orton found a way to win at Notre Dame, ending
a 30-year drought for Purdue.
Orton threw four touchdown passes, including a 97 yarder to Taylor
Stubblefield, and Jerome Brooks returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to
give the 15th-ranked Boilermakers a 41-16 victory Saturday.
Orton was 21 of 31 for 385 yards, third most in his career, to help the
Boilermakers (4-0) end a 13-game losing streak at Notre Dame Stadium dating
back to Ara Parseghian's final season as coach in 1974, when the Boilermakers
beat the second-ranked Irish 31-20.
The Purdue defense held Notre Dame (3-2) to 76 yards rushing.
The victory also marked the first time the Boilermakers have won a road game
at a traditional powerhouse under coach Joe Tiller, who is in his eighth
season. The Boilermakers have lost six straight at Ohio State, they are 0-3-1
at Penn State and haven't won at Michigan since 1966.
They had no problems on Saturday, though, as Orton hurt the Irish with
precise passing and timely running. Stubblefield helped, too, with seven
catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
The Boilermakers, who squandered chances to win their last three games at
Notre Dame because of key defensive and special teams plays by Notre Dame,
turned the table on Saturday.
Brooks' kickoff return gave the Boilermakers a 10-3 lead, and Purdue's
defense came up with a big play when Notre Dame had the ball second-and-goal
from the 2 midway through the second quarter. Defensive end Anthony Spencer
stripped the ball at the 1 and defensive tackle Brent Grover recovered.
But it was Orton who really hurt the Irish. After the defensive stand by
Purdue, Orton drove the Boilermakers 97 yards for a touchdown, taking a 20-3
halftime lead.
The Boilermakers ran a pair of gimmick plays to score the touchdown. Running
back Brandon Jones threw a 28-yard pass to Ray Williams, who was wide open, at
the 2. Orton then threw a 2-yard TD pass to defensive end Rob Ninkovich.
The Boilermakers went ahead 27-3 on their first possession of the second
half. On third-and-10 from their own 3, Orton lofted a pass up the right
sideline, just beyond the reach of cornerback
Dwight Ellick. Stubblefield
caught the ball in full stride at the 25 and was all alone. He began
celebrating at midfield, repeatedly pumping his left arm, and was called for
unsportsmanlike conduct for excessive celebrating.
The play was the second-longest TD pass in Purdue history. Drew Brees had a
99-yard pass to Vinny Sutherland against Northwestern in 1999. Saturday's
97-yard play was the longest TD pass ever against the Irish.
Orton added a 9-yard TD pass to Kyle Ingraham, becoming the 10th quarterback
to throw four TD passes against the Irish. Orton, who had never thrown four TDs
in a game before this season, has accomplished the feat four straight games,
including the five he had against Syracuse.
He has 17 TD passes with no interceptions and the Boilermakers still have
not lost a fumble. The Irish, who had been giving up 314 yards a game, gave up
512.
Brady Quinn was 26 of 46 for a career-high 432 yards, the most yards ever at
Notre Dame Stadium and the second most in school history. Joe Theismann passed
for 576 yards at Southern California in 1970.
Quinn threw a 40-yard TD pass to Rhema McKnight in the third quarter. Rashon
Powers-Neal added a 1-yard TD run for the Irish. Anthony Fasano caught eight
passes for 155 yards, the most yards ever by a Notre Dame tight end.
