The offense struggled early. The defense could not contain quarterback Curtis Painter. And before they knew it, the Chippewas found themselves behind 38-0 in the third quarter.

And although CMU scored 22 straight points after that, the lead proved to be insurmountable as the Boilermakers won 45-22.

“We felt like we didn’t give them our best shot through four quarters,” said senior linebacker Red Keith. “We feel that right now, we’re a better team than we were when we played them that first time. We like our chances going into this game.”

Plenty has changed since September for both teams heading into the Motor City Bowl at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26 at Ford Field.

CMU was reeling at 1-3 after a 44-14 loss to North Dakota State after losing to Purdue, but since is 7-2.

Purdue started the year 5-0 and found itself in the Associated Press Top 25. But the Boilermakers have lost five of seven since, including the last three to Penn State, Michigan State and Indiana.

CMU coach Butch Jones said the Chippewas have grown since their early-season struggles and said the 45-22 loss should have little impact on this game.

“It’s a completely different game,” Jones said. “Teams are still working on their identity and their personality early in the season. Our kids are looking at this as another opportunity.”

Still, the team showed signs of promise during its 22-point stretch in the second half against the Boilermakers.

The Chippewas scored their first touchdown with 8 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, then scored two more off an interception and a fumble to make it a two-possession game, 38-22, with 12:16 remaining.

But Purdue kick returner Dorien Bryant returned the following kickoff 58 yards to set up the Boilermakers’ game-sealing touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour said the team is not looking at this year’s Motor City Bowl as a rematch of that game.

“We’re looking at it as a chance to play in a bowl game against a great team,” he said.

Another major difference in this game will be the venue.

Instead of playing at Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., CMU will play in Detroit, where in just more than a year it has won two Mid-American Conference Championships and its first Motor City Bowl.

“There’s something about it,” Jones said. “The atmosphere is great, it’s one of the greatest venues of all sports to play in, and it’s great for our fans. We have a large fan base in the Detroit area.”

bmanzullo@cm-life.com

QUARTERBACKS

Sophomore Dan LeFevour earned Mid-American Conference Championship MVP honors, passing for 185 yards and rushing for 170 in Dec. 1′s 35-10 win against Miami University. Junior Curtis Painter has been just as effective for Purdue this season, passing for 3,300 yards and 26 touchdowns.

ADVANTAGE: Even. Both offenses will revolve around the play of LeFevour and Painter.

RUNNING BACKS

Junior Ontario Sneed should see more carries in this game after accumulating 161 yards in the past two games. The Boilermakers’ Kory Sheets (156 carries, 832 yards) and Jaycen Taylor (97 carries, 537 yards) split time at tailback.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. It especially demonstrated its rushing attack with 223 yards in its 45-22 win against CMU earlier this season.

CMU OFFENSIVE LINE

vS. PURDUE DEFENSIVE LINE

Senior Eric Tunney and junior Andrew Hartline again lead CMU’s offensive line, which has protected LeFevour and opened holes all season. Defensive ends Cliff Avril (six sacks) and Eugene Bright (five sacks) can be particularly destructive on Purdue’s line.

ADVANTAGE: Even. LeFevour can use all the protection he can get to keep CMU scoring.

PURDUE OFFENSIVE LINE VS. CMU DEFENSIVE LINE

The Boilermakers’ offensive line has given up 23 sacks this season, fifth in the Big Ten. Sophomore Frank Zombo leads the Chippewas’ line with 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, while Larry Knight (five sacks) can be effective on the other side.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. Its line gives Painter the time he needs to make good decisions, something CMU saw first-hand on Sept. 15.

CMU WIDE RECEIVERS

VS. PURDUE SECONDARY

Sophomore Bryan Anderson (1,003 yards) and freshman Antonio Brown (909) are LeFevour’s biggest weapons and will be difficult to contain. Purdue’s Terrell Vinson, with a team-leading 78 tackles and five interceptions, is a force in the secondary.

ADVANTAGE: CMU. It accumulated 364 passing yards in the teams’ previous game – this time should be no different.

PURDUE WIDE RECEIVERS VS. CMU SECONDARY

Dorien Bryant, with 871 yards and eight touchdowns on 82 receptions, leads Purdue’s receiving attack, which ranks second in the Big Ten with 287.2 yards per game. Central’s pass defense, while it ranks last in the MAC with 284.8 passing yards allowed per game, held opponents to 254 passing yards or fewer in the last three games.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. While CMU has improved in defending the pass, it didn’t face an offense like Purdue’s.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Whether teams kick to Brown or do a short kick to another special-teamer, CMU usually finds itself in great field position. Bryant averages 28.5 yards per kick return and has run two back for touchdowns.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. Kicker Chris Summers is consistent (15-for-19) and Bryant is dangerous.

COACHING

Purdue’s Joe Tiller has sent the team to its 10th bowl berth in 11 years. First-year coach Butch Jones took the Chippewas to their second consecutive MAC Championship on Dec. 1.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. Tiller’s long-term impact on the Boilermakers has made the team into a force.

PREDICTION

Don’t expect another 45-22 Purdue win. In fact, don’t expect another Purdue win, period. Both teams have changed since Sept. 22, with Purdue going 2-5 in its last seven and CMU going 7-2 in its last nine. And with more of a home-field advantage, familiar territory and more confidence, the Chippewas have a great chance at an upset.

CMU 42,

Purdue 40

How to have fun

Although tailgating in the city of Detroit is prohibited, it should not deter students, faculty and friends from having fun before the game starts.

With the Motor City Bowl starting at 7:30 p.m. instead of 11 a.m. like the Mid-American Conference Championship Game, there is more time to enjoy the area around Ford Field. The usual downtown pregame spots, such as Hockeytown Cafe, Cheli’s Chili Bar and the Elwood Bar & Grill, will be open. But with more time to enjoy the downtown area, there are more options, which usually are less crowded. Sitting behind the Fox Parking Garage and adjacent Fox Theatre is the legendary bar, Town Pump Tavern. Greektown’s Pizza Papolis, coupled with Fishbone’s are two of the best spots to eat in Greektown. Students and others who are 21 or older can mingle at the newly renovated MGM Grand and Motor City Casinos, as well as Greektown Casino. People who go to the casinos before the game usually can get their parking validated and park for free in the casino structures.

Where to stay

People coming from different parts of the state have numerous options if they need to stay in a hotel.

The Atheneum Suite Hotel is located less than half a mile from Ford Field and sits between Greektown Casino’s parking structure and the casino. It is attached to Fishbone’s restaurant and is one of the city’s best hotels. According to hotels.com, a suite costs $168 for the night of the game.

Also in the city is the Sheraton Detroit Riverside Hotel and Hilton Garden Inn. The Riverside currently is charging $109 per night, according to expedia.com. Located next to Cobo Hall and the Renaissance Center, it is just a short ride on the People Mover to the stadium. The Hilton is located just two blocks from Ford Field, and Greektown arguably is among the most convenient hotel choices in the city. It sits close to all major attractions, but just outside the traffic jams that occur in those areas. The Sheraton currently is charging $153 on expedia.com.

If you do not want to stay in the city limits, there are numerous hotels outside Detroit. The four star Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn currently is asking for $139, according to hotels.com.

The MGM Grand and Motor City Casinos both have hotels in them with rooms available for game day. MGM charges $209 a night, according to its Web site, and the Motor City is $169 on expedia.com.

Students, faculty and CMU fans also can call the Athletic Ticket Office to find out about special rates CMU has with certain hotels in the Detroit area, including the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

How to get there

The fastest way to Ford Field from Mount Pleasant is to take U.S. 127 South to Lansing, then take I-96 East (it becomes I-275/I-96 for a short distance) to Detroit. Take I-96 once in Detroit to I-75/Fisher Freeway north, and take Exit 50 (Grand River Avenue). Take the I-75 service drive and turn right on Brush Street. Ford Field will be on the left side.

If coming from north of Detroit, take 1-75 to I-375 and take the Madison Avenue exit and turn right onto St. Antione Street.

If coming from south of Detroit, take 1-75 to Grand River Avenue. Follow the exit road until either Woodward Avenue or Brush Street, depending on where you would like to park, and turn right.

Parking

Parking in the Ford Field parking deck and in Lot 4 next to the stadium was $10 for MAC Championship Game and should be around the same for the bowl game. There are many other options for parking at the game. Parking lots around the stadium generally vary, but usually are about $10-20, depending on where they are and who the owners are.

For people willing to park a little farther away, there are some benefits. The parking lot behind the Courtyard by Marriott in the Renaissance Center, just off Jefferson, reaches a maximum of $10 for a 24-hour period. From there people can take the People Mover to the Greektown exit. Rides are 50 cents. Parking farther away lets people avoid the bottlenecking around the stadium after a game.

After starting the year with nine tackles at Kansas, the redshirt sophomore from Sterling Heights had only eight in his next three games combined.

But as the season progressed, Zombo transitioned into one of the most valuable elements of CMU’s defense. He leads the team with 7.5 sacks and is tied with linebacker Ike Brown with 10.5 tackles for loss. He’s also made 60 total stops this season.

“He’s got a very good work ethic – it’s very important to him,” said coach Butch Jones. “He’s got good instincts, and he’s got good quickness, good agility; he’s very athletic.”

Some of that athleticism comes from his past playing experience at tight end, where he caught 118 passes for 1,800 yards in his career at Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights.

But in college he was seen as a defensive player, and has put the necessary work in to fill an important vacancy left after the departures of Dan Bazuin and Mike Ogle.

Zombo posted his first two sacks last season at Kentucky in his first career start for an injured Bazuin. His performance opened the door for his emergence this season. But early knee problems set back his progress.

“Frank’s development was set back a little bit because he missed all of spring football, so he really didn’t have it settled into his system,” Jones said. “He was kind of forced right into it in August.”

Zombo wasn’t able to get his first sack of the season until Sept. 29 against Northern Illinois on Homecoming. But since then, he’s been on a tear. He had the first interception of his career against Army the following week, one of seven turnovers the defense forced that day.

And starting with Oct. 20 at Clemson, Zombo went on a three-game stretch in which he had at least one sack. He had two sacks in road games at Kent State and Akron.

“I just try to anticipate that snap, to try to get an advantage – that’s what it all starts with,” Zombo said. “Then I just try to work my hands and just get that outside rush as soon as I can. And then hopefully that quarterback still has the ball when I come around the edge.”

Zombo said he felt a lot more a part of this season’s Mid-American Conference Championship than he did in his brief playing time last year. The CMU defense shut down the RedHawks in the first half, and even though Zombo only had one tackle, he hurried Miami quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh three times.

“I’m a lot more proud of it this year – I felt like I worked a lot more for it,” Zombo said. “When I wear that ring now, I’m going to be a lot prouder. I put a lot more sweat and blood into it.”

And only a sophomore, Zombo is sure to become a force to be reckoned with in the seasons to come.

“Frank has really continued to develop and improve every day and every game,” Jones said. “We’re excited about him.”

sports@cm-life.com

With a 3-9 record in 2003 and a 4-7 record in 2004, it didn’t start well for the seniors.

But after being a part of the school’s first winning season in seven years in 2005 (6-5), there was a sense the program could turn around.

Two championships later, this year’s football seniors surely have left a revamped attitude surrounding the program, an imprint that won’t soon be forgotten.

And one game remains – 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 against Purdue in the Motor City Bowl.

The seniors’ check-list, already riddled with pen marks, has one space missing – an elusive win against a team from a major conference (a Bowl Championship Series team).

“I’m going to be excited. As my time winds down, I think my legacy has been well-left and real good,” said fifth-year senior linebacker Red Keith. “I like to do things special, and I haven’t beat a BCS school. I think I will be more focused and excited to have that chance.”

Ike Brown, also a fifth-year senior who gained another year of eligibility after a knee injury last season, said it’s evident CMU has a different mindset and the seniors want to go out on top, while making history.

“That would be another one for the history books,” Brown said. “We went into (Sept. 15′s 45-22 loss to Purdue) questioning ourselves. But we know we’re capable of beating anybody – all that doubt was left earlier in the season.”

But perhaps the most important contribution the seniors provide comes off the field. Each of them spend time as mentors.

“I take a lot of pride in what I do,” Keith said. “Working with the freshmen was one of the things I did to try and turn the program around.”

A culture of toughness

Fifth-year senior offensive lineman Eric Tunney also will play in his final game Dec. 26 at Ford Field. He missed the Sept. 1 season opener at Kansas, but overcame a knee injury from the spring to start the next 12 games.

“I couldn’t be more proud of an individual and more happy for an individual than Eric Tunney,” said coach Butch Jones. “All the adversity and the injuries, he battled back and it’s a true indication of perseverance.”

Tunney has continued the success of last season’s offensive line, which sent Joe Staley and Drew Mormino to the NFL.

“I think he’s brought a culture to our offensive line of toughness,” Jones said. “Just an overall mentality and expectation for the position.”

Tunney has helped mentor redshirt freshmen such as Colin Miller and Jeff Maddux.

“It’s unbelievable because they’re able to see it first-hand,” Jones said. “They’re not just hearing the stories, they’re able to witness it every day, and what (Tunney) brings every day.”

From the heart

The final game of the seniors’ careers could spark unintended emotions, Brown said.

“I’m going to try and not be too emotional knowing that it is my last game with my teammates,” he said. “Just knowing that there’s nothing after this. I just need to stay focused and do my job on the field.”

Jones said it will come down to who wants the win more.

“It’s their final game wearing the maroon and gold and representing the ‘C.’ You always remember your last football game,” he said. “It’s a way to end it very fittingly with a victory – in the game of this magnitude, playing a Big Ten team at Ford Field.”

sports@cm-life.com

And for the last two freshman classes, success has come in the form of a Mid-American Conference Championship.

Coach Butch Jones said the winning culture is crucial for success.

“I think our freshmen are able to see all the work that goes into winning a championship,” Jones said. “We say the MAC Championship runs through Mount Pleasant. Every game is a championship game for us, and that starts to build a culture and a mentality in our football program.”

From receiver Antonio Brown to linebacker Nick Bellore and tight end J.J. Watt, these freshmen have been an underlay to the foundation of a championship team.

And each of them have three years of eligibility left.

As the youngsters head into their first bowl game – the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26 at Ford Field – Jones said he couldn’t be happier with how their progression has gone.

“We expect great effort. We expect them to get better as we go, and I think the main thing is just them learning expectations,” Jones said. “And when they do make a mistake, not repeating the same mistake again. It’s been a learning process. Sometimes you can learn more from losing than you can from winning, and our guys have done a great job.”

The losses came early on for this year’s team. A 1-3 start had fans concerned about the prospects of a repeat championship.

But unlike in years when losing was the norm around Kelly/Shorts Stadium, the team responded under the leadership of seniors like linebacker Ike Brown, who has learned how to win with his classmates.

“It’s hard when you lose, because you come to accept losing,” Brown said. “It’s hard for us seniors, because we came in and losing was a habit. It was hard for us to break that habit. We were on the opposite end of these freshmen, so it’s going to be great for them because all they’re going to know is winning, and they’re not going to accept anything less.”

Just as Dan LeFevour and Bryan Anderson did last year, this season’s redshirt freshmen have had a large hand in CMU’s resurgence and 8-5 record.

“Toward the beginning of the season it was a lot for me,” Bellore said. “Even coming early was a lot to digest, there was a lot going on, but I had Red (Keith) and Ike (Brown) along there with me helping me out through the tough times. Helping me learn the game and picking up little things that have helped me improve game-to-game.”

An influx of seniors departed after last season, leaving the door open for freshmen such as Bellore, Brown, Watt and receiver Taylor Bradley to gain playing time.

Redshirt freshmen like offensive linemen Colin Miller and Jeff Maddux emerged as large parts of the line’s future under tutelage from senior Eric Tunney and junior Andrew Hartline.

“The guys like Tunney and Hartline and (Mike) Decker have a big impact, especially off the field, too,” Watt said. “It makes you really feel welcome and a part of the team when a senior’s talking to you and hanging out with you. We have great team chemistry here and they really orchestrate that really well.”

It’s been a year of learning for the younger players. But Watt said the 2007 season set clear expectations for every first-year player.

“I think it sets the bar very high. (We) freshmen have one ring now; the other guys have two rings,” he said. “And we have the bar set for a MAC Championship and a bowl game every single year from here out. Anything less won’t be accepted by us. Hopefully we can make Chippewa fans proud in the years to come.”

sports@cm-life.com

He watched as the Chippewas competed with the Eagles until the end, coming up just short on a potential game-tying drive and losing 31-24.

Despite the loss, the game had plenty of meaning to Bellore, who later committed to Central and played in the team’s spring practice.

“They could’ve easily won that game,” he said. “It showed me that this team can compete with just about anybody.”

A similar performance against Purdue in the Motor City Bowl – especially a win – would have a similar impact on other prospective recruits, Bellore said.

“I think it would be a big selling point for many high-level recruits,” he said.

CMU also came close to beating a major conference opponent later last season against Kentucky, when it fell 45-36 in Lexington, Ky. It has not beaten a Bowl Championship Series team since 1992, when it beat Michigan State 24-20.

Coach Butch Jones said a hypothetical win on Dec. 26 at Ford Field would not have an immediate impact on recruiting, but could affect it in the future, especially the year after.

“It might help you with one or two kids, but usually by Christmas, most of your recruiting for your incoming class is done,” he said. “What it does is help you the following year.”

CMU could use a valiant performance after its first three games this season against Bowl Championship Series opponents. It lost 52-7 to Kansas on Sept. 1, 45-22 to Purdue on Sept. 15 and 70-14 to Clemson on Oct. 20.

However, all three games were on the road in hostile environments, rather than on a neutral field, making a Motor City Bowl upset more conceivable to many.

“It’d be huge to move this program in the right direction,” Bellore said. “It puts us up there, beating a big-time BCS team like that. It’s what we need to get more respect around the country.”

A Motor City Bowl win also could have big implications for the university and for the Mid-American Conference. Senior linebacker Red Keith said it could have a lasting impact on college football fans everywhere.

“People will remember those forever,” Keith said. “People still talk about when Central beat Michigan State in the early ’90s, and it’s 2007. That’s the kind of impact it has.”

bmanzullo@cm-life.com

In coach Butch Jones’ first game, CMU was outscored 35-0 in the first half and didn’t score until the fourth quarter. Central’s only touchdown came five seconds into the fourth when Bryan Anderson scored on a pass from Dan LeFevour from 16 yards out. LeFevour threw for 172 yards on 19-of-37 passing.

Sept. 8: CMU 52, Toledo 31

The Chippewas used a 21-point fourth quarter to give Jones his first win as a head coach. Ontario Sneed ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns. LeFevour threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Sept. 15: Purdue 45, CMU 22

Purdue’s 583 yards of total offense was too much for CMU, which did not score until the third quarter and trailed 38-0. LeFevour threw for 364 yards and two touchdowns.

Sept. 22: N. Dakota State 44, CMU 14

Central was outscored in every quarter in an upset victory by its Football Championship Subdivision opponent. Freshman linebacker Nick Bellore had 16 tackles and senior linebacker Red Keith had 14.

Sept. 29: CMU 35, N. Illinois 10

CMU avoided a three-game losing streak by scoring 35 points in the first half. The team also beat Northern Illinois for the first time in nine years. Running back Justin Hoskins finished with 93 yards and two touchdowns.

Oct. 6: CMU 58, Ball State 38

LeFevour threw for five touchdowns and ran for another as CMU improved to 3-0 in the MAC. LeFevour ran for 146 yards and threw for 360. Anderson had 154 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Oct. 13: CMU 47, Army 23

LeFevour’s four rushing touchdowns led CMU to its only non-conference win this season. He ran for 100 yards and passed for 251 and two touchdowns.

Oct. 20: Clemson 70, CMU 14

Central continued its struggles against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents, dropping to 0-4 against the ACC. The only bright spot in Central’s performance was LeFevour’s 235 totals yards.

Oct. 27: CMU 41, Kent State 32

CMU won the team’s first game of the season decided by fewer than 20 points. Hoskins led CMU with 151 yards and two touchdowns. LeFevour added 75 yards on the ground while throwing for 359 and three touchdowns.

Nov. 6: CMU 34, Western 31

In the team’s most thrilling game of the year, Central and Western combined for 48 fourth quarter points. Central took the lead with 12 seconds remaining on a LeFevour sneak to secure a MAC West Title, the second consecutive season CMU clinched against WMU.

Nov. 16: Eastern 48, CMU 45

For the second straight season, Central lost its next game after clinching the MAC West Title and a bid to the MAC Championship game. Hoskins had 133 yards rushing and two touchdowns. LeFevour had 88 rushing yards and three touchdowns and passed for 246 yards and one touchdown.

Nov. 23: CMU 35, Akron 32

Central became bowl-eligible with a close three-point win at The Rubber Bowl. LeFevour’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:31 remaining clinched the win. LeFevour had 514 total yards and four touchdowns.

Dec. 1: CMU 35, Miami 10

The Chippewas clinched their second straight Mid-American Conference Championship with a standout performance from the defense. The defense, for the first time this season, held a team scoreless in the first half. LeFevour, the game’s MVP, finished with 185 yards passing and a touchdown and 170 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Compiled by Staff Reporter Tim

Ottusch.

Senior Curtis Painter leads the Big Ten’s No. 2 scoring offense (32.9 points per game) and the No. 2 passing offense (287.2 yards per game) into the Motor City Bowl.

“(Curtis) Painter is an accurate quarterback with a strong arm, and he’s got great poise,” said senior linebacker Red Keith.

In the Sept. 15 matchup with CMU, Painter had 360 yards passing and three touchdowns. He was sacked only once.

Painter and Purdue’s offense scored the game’s first 38 points, but CMU held the Boilermakers to just seven points in the last 27 minutes of the game.

“The first half we weren’t playing like ourselves,” said senior linebacker Ike Brown. “The second half we came out and we just played the way we were supposed to play.”

Since his emergence on the Big Ten scene as a sophomore in 2005, Painter has been the catalyst for Purdue’s high-scoring offense. In his sophomore season, Painter threw for 932 yards and three touchdowns before taking off as a playmaking Big Ten quarterback his junior year.

Painter said his brief play during his sophomore year set himself up for his junior season.

“I think it really helped me a lot just as far as getting some experience – game time experience,” Painter said. “Played a few good teams on the road, which really got me a lot of experience with road games and big situations and I think that carried over really well to my next season.”

He started well during his junior season, throwing for 416 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s 38-28 win against Ball State to improve to 3-0. He followed up the performance four weeks later against Northwestern, with 431 yards and two touchdowns.

Painter passed for 3,985 yards and 22 touchdowns. He led the Big Ten in passing yards by more than 1,000 yards and finished fourth in the nation in passing yards.

“We were just real successful on offense, we did a great job of keeping things pretty balanced and did a good job throwing the ball,” Painter said.

Painter has continued to be one of the Big Ten’s most prolific passers his senior season, helped greatly by talented wide receiver Dorien Bryant and tight end Dustin Keller.

“They’ve got a lot of skill in the receiver position, especially No. 9, Dorien Bryant,” Keith said. “He’s a great receiver and their tight end is very athletic. He’s probably one of the best tight ends in the nation.”

Bryant has 871 yards receiving and nine touchdowns, while Keller has 731 yards receiving and six touchdowns.

“You can’t say enough about the job they’re doing,” Painter said.

Painter started his senior season by throwing at least two touchdowns in the team’s first five games, including three or more touchdowns in four of those games.

Painter finished the regular season with 3,300 yards passing and 26 touchdowns. He finished second in the Big Ten in passing yards and fifth in quarterback rating. His passer rating of 129.32 is 0.2 higher than last year, and he has thrown 10 fewer interceptions.

“That was the big emphasis coming into this year, definitely being able to cut down on the interceptions,” Painter said.

The Boilermakers have not won a bowl game since 2002, when they beat Washington 34-24 in the Sun Bowl. This is Painter’s and the seniors’ last chance.

“Hopefully, we can, in fact, send them off with a victory and end the season on a positive note,” Painter said.

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The Boilermakers outscored the Rockets in each quarter. Quarterback Curtis Painter threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Kory Sheets led the Boilermaker’s running game with 90 yards and a touchdown. Purdue’s running game combined for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

Sept. 8: Purdue 52, E. Illinois 6

Purdue amassed 533 total yards of offense in its 46-point rout. Painter had 348 yards passing and six touchdowns. Wide receiver Dorian Bryant had 111 yards receiving and one touchdown. Tight end Dustin Keller had two receiving touchdowns.

Sept. 15: Purdue 45, CMU 22

The Boilermakers outscored the Chippewas 31-0 in the first half. Sheets had 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Painter had 360 yards passing and three touchdowns. The two teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of total offense.

Sept. 22: Purdue 45, Minnesota 31

For the fourth straight game, Purdue scored at least 45 points in the team’s win against the Golden Gophers. Kick returner Desmond Tardy started the game with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown. Painter had 338 yards passing and three touchdowns, while Sheets had 111 rushing yards and a touchdown. Bryant had 150 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Sept. 29: Purdue 33, Notre Dame 19

The Boilermakers finished off their non-conference schedule undefeated with a 14-point win against the Fighting Irish. Like many of Purdue’s early-season games, it jumped out to an early lead, 23-0. Painter had 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Sheets had 141 passing yards and a touchdown.

Oct. 6: Ohio State 23, Purdue 7

For the first time this season, Purdue scored fewer than 30 points in a game. The Boilermakers’ lone touchdown came with just 10 seconds remaining. Painter had 268 passing yards and a touchdown, while Keller had 101 yards receiving.

Oct. 13: Michigan 48, Purdue 21

Purdue allowed a season-high 48 points in its second consecutive loss. Purdue’s running game was held to just 39 yards. The team had four turnovers; two fumbles and two interceptions.

Oct. 20: Purdue 31, Iowa 6

Purdue picked up its second Big Ten win of the season and held its opponent to a season low-tying six points. Painter had 315 passing yards and three touchdowns. Bryant had 167 yards and two touchdowns.

Oct. 27: Purdue 35, Northwestern 17

A three-touchdown fourth quarter sparked a comeback win for Purdue. Purdue was led by running back Jaycen Taylor, who had 157 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Painter had 182 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Nov. 3: Penn State 26, Purdue 19

Penn State’s 14 points in the fourth quarter put it over the top and moved the Boilermakers back to .500 in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers’ lone touchdown came in the game’s first 14 seconds off a 98-yard kick return from Bryant. Kicker Chris Summers was four-for-four on field goals, including one from 50 yards.

Nov. 10: Michigan State 48, Purdue 31

The Spartans won a shootout against the Boilermakers that included more than 900 yards of total offense and 79 points. Painter had 344 passing yards and a touchdown. Sheets had 80 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Nov. 17: Indiana 27, Purdue 24

An Indiana field goal with 30 seconds left dropped the Boilermakers to 3-5 in the Big Ten. They lost their third straight and moved into a four way tie with Indiana, Michigan State and Northwestern for the second-worst record in the Big Ten. Painter had 281 passing yards and a touchdown.

Compiled by Staff Reporter Tim Ottusch.