Oct 6, 2001
Purdue/Iowa Statistics Packet in PDF Format
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Purdue's Ashante Woodyard returns the interception 86 yards for the touchdown. (Courtesy ESPN)
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Brandon Hance escapes pressure in the pocket and scrambles for the end zone.(Courtesy ESPN)
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The contrast in the kicking game proved beneficial for Travis Dorsch and the Boilermakers.(Courtesy ESPN)
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By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue coach Joe Tiller used a tactic this week he rarely uses to motivate his team - he publicly criticized his defense.
The Boilermakers responded.
Ashante Woodyard returned an interception 86 yards for a score and Travis Dorsch kicked three field goals as No. 21 Purdue beat Iowa 23-14 on Saturday.
Tiller said Purdue's play was unacceptable and threatened lineup changes after allowing 406 yards of total offense - including 241 on the ground - last week against Minnesota.
The Boilermakers responded by allowing the second-fewest yards (207) in a game since Tiller took over in 1997. Akin Ayodele and Joe Odom each had two sacks and Craig Terrill and Matt Mitrione added one each. Mitrione also had an interception.
"The last few weeks we didn't step up as a defensive line," Ayodele said. "We took it upon ourselves to improve our game and make some plays. Everyone had sacks today."
Boilermakers quarterback Brandon Hance avoided being sacked but completed only 12 of 26 passes for 80 yards through three quarters and Purdue (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) trailed 14-13.
Hance started the fourth quarter with 25- and 14-yard completions to Seth Morales that helped the Boilermakers move the ball to Iowa's 4.
After two straight incompletion's, Hance dropped back to pass before scrambling down the middle for a 4-yard touchdown run with 12:07 left in the game.
The Iowa defense, ranked 11th in the nation and first in the Big Ten in total defense, held the Boilermakers to 217 yards - their lowest output this season - and completely shutdown the passing game. Hance, who threw for 308 yards last week against Minnesota, was 17-for-33 for 147 yards with one interception. Purdue had 70 rushing yards on 30 carries.
"We need more consistency with our offense," Tiller said. "We had too many dropped balls. We can't do that in our offense. Once we got going, we were resourceful."
The Hawkeyes (3-1, 1-1) were even worse offensively, finishing with 215 total yards. They had their only lead of the game in the third quarter after safety Bob Sanders intercepted Hance's pass and returned it inside Purdue's 20. A defensive penalty after the interception brought the ball back to Iowa's 31.
Kyle McCann completed a 10-yard pass to Kahlil Hill and a 37-yarder to C.J. Jones to bring Iowa into Purdue territory. Nate Kaeding was set to attempt a 31-yard field goal, but an offsides penalty on Purdue gave the Hawkeyes another chance.
McCann found Hill for a 7-yard touchdown reception with 6:38 left in the third and a 14-13 lead.
McCann completed 12 of 15 passes for 90 yards in the first quarter, but finished 21-for-33 for 167 yards, with two interceptions overall.
"They gave us some things we couldn't handle," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. "We knew coming in we'd have to handle their pressure and we didn't cope very well with it today."
Hance completed his first attempt of the game, but wide receiver Tim Stratton fumbled and Hawkeyes defensive tackle Derrick Pickens recovered.
On the fourth play of the drive at Purdue's 21, McCann was intercepted by Woodyard, who ran untouched down the sideline for the score.
"We hadn't scored on defense all year, and we needed one," said Woodyard, who also blocked a punt. "I've been preaching it all year that we need to get into the end zone and we finally got in there."
Hance said it took some time to recover from the fumble.
"That got us started off on the wrong foot," he said. "The inability to get started off quickly on offense can be a big key to the game. I think that guys might have lost confidence early on in the game."
McCann's high completion rate in the first quarter only netted the Hawkeyes one score. He drove 74 yards in 4:55, capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Allen to tie the score at 7.
Ferentz said McCann received little help from his teammates.
"He didn't get a lot of help as far as our pass protection," Ferentz said. "We weren't on the same page with some of our reads and blitzes. I think we went backward a little bit today, but I think Purdue had something to do with that."
In the second quarter, Iowa's David Bradley had a 12-yard punt out of his own end zone, and Purdue converted the good field position into a 39-yard field by Dorsch. Dorsch, who also had a 79-yard punt, kicked a 42-yarder for a 13-7 halftime lead.
Hance threw for only 48 yards on the first half while the rushing game totaled 10 yards.
Dorsch kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:39 left.