Sept. 2, 2000
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By HANK LOWENKRON
AP Sports Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - It took a goal-line stand in the final minutes to preserve Purdue's first shutout in nearly nine years.
By then the outcome was determined with Drew Brees passing for 317 yards and three touchdowns, and Steve Ennis scoring on three 1-yard TD runs in his first collegiate start.
Still, No. 15 Purdue had to use its first-team defense to overpower Central Michigan 48-0 on Saturday.
Coach Joe Tiller said he sent the starters back after defensive coordinator Brock Spack told him "we didn't have a No. 2 goal-line defense. I said, 'put the ones in there to protect the gooseegg."
The stand saved Purdue's first shutout since a 35-0 triumph over Northwestern on Oct. 17, 1981.
On first-and-goal at the 2, Robbie Mixon gained a yard, but quarterback Derrick Vickers was stopped for no gain on the next play. On third down, Mixon fumbled when he was hit in the backfield by linebacker Gilbert Gardner, and Tom Vaughan fell on the ball at the Purdue 5 with 1:37 to play.
"It's something we have wanted for a long time," defensive tackle Matt Mitrione said. "I'm glad coach let us go out there and finish the job."
The Boilermakers took command quickly in spoiling the coaching debut of Mike DeBord.
Purdue accumulated 263 yards in the first half while limiting their Mid-American Conference opponent to a net of 71 on 31 plays. The Boilermakers finished with a 436-161 advantage, holding the Chippewas to just 44 on the ground.
Travis Dorsch had field goals of 43 and 45 yards in the first half, helping Purdue build a 27-0 advantage. The kicks were the 35th and 36th of the junior's career, tying the school record set by Jonathan Briggs from 1985-87.
The Boilermakers put together drives of 82 and yards in the third quarter to open a 41-0 lead. Brees capped an 11-play drive with a 28-yard scoring pass to Pete Lougheed for the first score and then ended a nine-play drive with a 14-yard scoring strike to Tim Stratton.
Purdue added its final touchdown in the fourth period when John Shelbourne recovered Shelton Lewis' fumble at the Central Michigan 17. After a pass-interference call gave Purdue a first down at the 7, Brees hit John Standeford for the score and was given the rest of the day off with over 11 minutes to play.
"I need to improve on my accuracy. I know what I'm doing. There were times I got a little excited because I would see something and wanted to check off," Brees said.
He resumed his assault on Purdue's career-passing records by completing 24 of 41 passes, raising his marks for completions to 741 for 8,441 yards and 67 touchdown. He's second in all three categories to the records of 772 completions for 9,946 yards and 71 TDs set by Mark Herrmann from 1997-80.
"We're trying to get in a rhythm with the young guys (his receivers). In three games they'll be playing like seasoned veterans," Brees said.
DeBord wasn't surprised by Brees.
"He's an exceptional quarterback. Give him credit, give their offense credit," DeBord said. "He's a Heisman favorite, he should be. He's a great talented quarterback"
Vinny Sutherland, Purdue's top returning receiver, watched the game from the sideline as he served a one-game suspension for unspecified "conduct detrimental to the team." In his absence, Brees spread the ball around with passes completed to 10 receivers. Standeford led the way with six catches for 99 yards.
"We were trying to play some man and zone and mix it up a little bit. We tried to blitz him a little bit. He takes advantage of that," DeBord said. "You don't fool Drew."
Standeford, a versatile athlete who was an all-stater in basketball and a member of the Indiana All-Star basketball team, is a true freshman.
"It felt good. I was a little nervous after the first play," he said. "We did some good things out there."
Central Michigan's only other serious scoring opportunity came in the second period when it moved from its 41 to the Purdue 16 in nine plays. Vickers, who played the second and fourth quarters with senior Pete Shepherd working in the first and third, then threw two incomplete passes and Paul Savich's 33-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Matt Mitrione.