Happy Days Are Here Again; Purdue Destroys Ohio State, 49-20
(Photo Credits: Purdue Athletics)
We started saying “Nobody comes into Ross-Ade!” as a joke about the poor attendance that had befallen Purdue under the Hazell Malaise. A night like tonight makes those days seem to be far, far away. Tonight, Purdue walloped Ohio State 49-20 in Ross-Ade in front of a sold out crowd of more than 60,000, including Tyler Trent and his family. Honestly, nothing – nothing – about this win makes me happier than knowing Tyler was there to experience it.
#Boilermaker
(Credit: @TheTylerTrent)
(Credit: Purdue Athletics)
This game was a complete and utter team victory in every possible sense. Purdue rolled up 49 points, they had a 98 yard TD drive (that was over 100 yards of offense thanks to Purdue penalties), the defense held OSU to 76 yards rushing and held them out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. They also had their punter and holder Joe Schopper run for a bruising first down on a fake FG late in the first half and take a roughing the kicker penalty that looked like his knee got folded the wrong way. There was a pick-six. David Blough had another nearly flawless passing game (25/43 for 378 and 3 TDs). DJ Knox had a couple long TD runs late to keep the game out of reach. Absolutely everyone did their job and this is the result.
(Credit: Purdue Athletics)
Rondale Moore continued his Bo Jackson-in-Tecmo-Bowl season, with two rushes for 24 yards as well as 12 receptions for 170 yards and two more TDs. DJ had 128 yards rushing for three scores. Isaac Zico made an insane one-handed catch to get Purdue on the board. Lorenzo Neal and Antonio Blackmon (among many others) were all over things on defense and repeatedly gave Purdue life by refusing to break when OSU was threatening.
A game like this does so much for your program. It was under the lights (remember when Morgan Burke didn’t want lights?) and there were high-value recruits in attendance. It puts Purdue at 3-1 in the conference and now perhaps believing hey, who can’t we beat? Can they compete for the West? They sure can. Is Nick Holt some kind of a demi-god? Perhaps. Should Jeff Brohm be the mayor of West Lafayette? I think without a doubt. He may be already.
Here's a supercut of Urban Meyer reacting in despair as Ohio State loses to Purdue.
Remember earlier this week when I told you weird stuff happens when Purdue and OSU get together, particularly in West Lafayette? Well, this was Purdue’s first win over a top two team since 1984. And you know who that was against? Ohio State. Purdue is 5-3 vs OSU at home since 2000, per BTN. That’s kind of amazing. Purdue was 2-40 against ranked opponents from 2004 to 2017, but they’re 2-0 against ranked teams this season. And when you consider that Urban Meyer was 51-3 against the Big Ten coming into tonight…well, this game was magic.
To one guy, though, this was the predicted outcome. Nobody here at BS, mind you. But our friend Tyler Trent called for this win during his segment with Tom Rinaldi on GameDay this morning. If you haven’t seen the piece, I hope you’re prepared:
Purdue student and super fan Tyler Trent fought hard to become a Boilermaker.
— ESPN (@espn) October 20, 2018
Now, as he battles bone cancer, his Purdue football family is fighting for him.
(📍 @exxonmobil) pic.twitter.com/fYnfEXX0dx
As bad as Tyler looked in that piece, he looked super during the game today. He met with Tom Rinaldi during and after the game and also led Shout between the third and fourth quarters.
Tyler Trent made it to the Purdue game tonight to root for his beloved Boilermakers as they take on Ohio State! #TylerStrong pic.twitter.com/5SdBx9pl2l
— ESPN (@espn) October 21, 2018
Tyler believed. He believed, my friends, and sometimes all you can do is just believe. This game has me and most of Purdue fans everywhere utterly delirious. It’s great having a night where your friends who know you’re tied to Purdue are texting you and making comments. But as I said on twitter and above, there is honestly nobody I’m happier for than Tyler, who got to witness this mayhem in person.
This is why Purdue hired Jeff Brohm — this, right here. This is his signature win and while he’s only 11-9 at this point, it feels as though thing are on their way up. The second half of the season should be interesting.
Purdue now sits at 4-3 (3-1) and the West is there for the taking. Next up is Michigan State next weekend. I am in a fog and cannot think straight anymore. Your thoughts welcome.
