UPDATE (Saturday 5:51 pm): For first time, costly errors come from Boilers' opponents
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 10/16/2009
Bret Langham | Staff Photographer
Purdue wide receiver Aaron Valentin, dives for a touchdown during Saturdays game against Ohio State.
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The theme of the Purdue football season continued Saturday, with mistakes and turnovers deciding the outcome.
Purdue’s 26-18 win against No. 7 Ohio State marked the first time in six weeks the costly errors weren’t coming from Boilermakers, however. Purdue forced five turnovers – two interceptions and three fumbles – from the Ohio State offense Saturday. Purdue turned the ball over three times, but still won the turnover battle for the first time this season.
The win snaps a five game losing streak.
“Every week when I came in I told everybody that we have a great team,” junior receiver Keith Smith said. “If I didn’t feel we had a great team, I wouldn’t have been as frustrated as I was with the mistakes. We limited our mistakes this week and it turned out great.”
Senior quarterback Joey Elliott had a career-high 31 completions on 50 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed for 35 yards on eight carries.
Elliott connected with eight different receivers. Senior Aaron Valentin had 10 catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns, while Smith had 12 catches for 125 yards. It was Smith’s fourth straight 100-plus yard game, which ties a school record.
“We’re making history as a team and with me and him as a combo,” Elliott said. “Four straight 100-yard receiving games is a big deal.”
Smith’s accomplishment was even more impressive considering less than 48 hours before kickoff he was stuck in bed with the flu.
“I didn’t practice all week; I was sick with a stomach flu that had me bedridden all week long. The first day I was back was Friday for our walkthrough,” he said.
While Elliott and the offense were taking care of the ball on offense, the Purdue defense played possibly its most complete game of the season. The Boilers forced five Ohio State fumbles, two interceptions and five sacks. The Boilers didn’t even allow an Ohio State first down in the third quarter, while they extended a 9-7 halftime lead into a 23-7 lead.
Junior defensive tackle Ryan Kerrigan led the team with nine tackles, including four tackles for loss, three of which were sacks, in addition to two fumbles forced and a fumble recovery.
Kerrigan’s biggest contribution might have come late in the second quarter, with the Buckeyes ahead 7-6. OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor dropped back to pass but was chased down by the defensive end for a 21 yard sack, which also resulted in a fumble forced and recovered for Kerrigan. Ohio State never fully regained momentum from this point on.
“We called a good blitz that left me coming in free, basically untouched and I was able to get a hand on the ball,” he said. “Then, it was just sitting there so I jumped on it.”
The game marks Purdue’s first win against a ranked opponent since Nov. 8, 2003, when the Boilers beat No. 10 Iowa. It also comes exactly five years to the day from then-No. 5 Purdue’s loss on homecoming against No. 10 Wisconsin, in a game most Purdue fans know as “The Orton Fumble Game.”
Elliott said many people contacted him in the week leading up to the game, but one message in particular stood out.
“Drew Brees texted me late last night and said, ‘Go out there and have fun. Shock the world. I’ll be watching.’ That’s one text message that will hopefully never leave my phone. It was something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he said.