UPDATE (Saturday 4:37 p.m.): Running game leads Boilers to 24-14 win
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 10/23/2009
Michael Carney | Photo Editor
Senior running back Jaycen Taylor takes the ball down field for a 44 yard run culminating in a touchdown for the Boilers.
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The running game was out in full force for the Boilers on Saturday.
On 39 rushing attempts, Purdue (3-5, 2-2 Big Ten) garnered 220 yards in its 24-14 win over Illinois (1-6, 0-5).
Sophomore Ralph Bolden led the ground attack with 78 yards and one touchdown. Close behind was senior Jaycen Taylor with 71 yards on six attempts, an average of 11.8 yards per carry and one touchdown.
“All week we kind of knew we could have an advantage with the way they lined up,” Bolden said. “So we just focused on that and did what we were supposed to do.”
All three of Purdue’s scores came on the ground and in the first half. One came from Bolden, one from Taylor and the last came from senior quarterback Joey Elliott. Elliott showed off his mobility with with nine rushes for 62 yards, with a long of 22. Elliott also had 15 completed passes for 166 yards.
“Everybody always jokes with me, and I always joke with the tailbacks, we argue who’s the second and third fastest tailback. Ralph’s got most of us, but I always argue with Jaycen that I’m the second fastest,” Elliott said.
Purdue picked up 21 first downs and didn’t turn the ball. That was the first time all season. Only 10 points total were scored in the second half, a touchdown run by Illinois quarterback Juice Williams and a Boiler field goal by sophomore kicker Carson Wiggs.
Coach Danny Hope said that the running game was a big key to the game.
“It was a key to victory,” Hope said. “We wanted to run the ball and run it well. At the same time, you don’t want to get one-dimensional. You have to be strong in the running game and the passing game.”
With a strong air attack last week against Ohio State and solid ground attack against the Illini on Saturday, Purdue has put together back-to-back wins for the first time in the same season since 2007.
After the game, Illinois coach Ron Zook talked about how his team couldn’t look at Purdue’s record to get an accurate judgment for the game.
“I told our guys that their record isn’t an indication oh how good they are. If you look at the offensive stats, they’re at the top of the Big Ten, and they had a chance to beat Oregon,” Zook said. “They’re a good, well-coached team.”