... BOILERS TURN HISTORY MAKERS, HAND KENTUCKY FIRST-EVER LOSS
Purdue got only one big play on offense, an 81-yard touchdown run from McBurse in the second quarter, but that, some timely defense, and a whole lot of ill will from The Box was enough to allow the Boilermakers to knock off Kentucky, 10-6.
The loss is the Wildcats' first ever in ECFA play, in this, their 6th game. Kentucky went 3-0 in the regular season during the first campaign, then captured the national championship by beating West Virginia in the Commonwealth Bowl, 21-9. Kentucky handled newcomer Michigan in its opener, 27-17, but couldn't find the end zone against Purdue, with most drives being ended by incompletions, interceptions, or penalties. Kentucky were penalized 6 times for 50 yards, giving them 11 infractions in just two games.
The Wildcats (1-1, 0-1 Eastern Conference) had control of the ball for much of the time, running 49 offensive snaps to Purdue's 33. But outside of one long run by Allen and a few decent passes here in there, Kentucky got in the red zone just once, reaching the Purdue 13 in the first quarter. Hartline threw an incompletion on 3rd down, and even the field goal team screwed up, committing a holding penalty, but the subsequent 40-yard try was good.
However, McBurse answered with his run up the middle two plays later, jaunting 81 yards through a bewildered Wildcat bunch, and giving Purdue the lead for good.
Kentucky had one last chance with 3:13 to play, but were 90 yards from the Purdue (2-0, 1-0 East) end zone. Two Box incompletions were followed by a missed pass from Hartline that short-hopped the receiver (no LindyHopper video review necessary!
). On 4th-and-10, Hartline found Chris Matthews, who played Hardball to get the first down and out to the 35. But with no time outs left, UK had to hustle to the line to spike the ball. TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK ... with everyone lined up properly on both sides and the clock running, Hartline snapped and spiked the ball with 4 seconds left.
On the final play, however, the pass to Randall Cobb was incomplete, and Purdue had 10 defenders to pivot should he have caught it anyway.
Purdue takes on Virginia in Week 3, while Kentucky has another tough assignment on its hands, facing old rival Florida.
Ed
