Sept 13, 2003
Purdue-Wake Forest Game Statistics in PDF Format
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By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Purdue finally found a way to win a close game.
Ben Jones kicked three field goals and the Boilermakers held No. 20 Wake Forest to 244 yards in a 16-10 victory Saturday, spoiling the Demon Deacons' first game as a ranked team in more than a decade.
"We've had our share that have gone the other way," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. "That was refreshing, to say the least."
Purdue's last six losses dating to last season were by a combined 26 points, including a stunning 27-26 season-opening defeat to Bowling Green that knocked the Boilermakers (1-1) out of the rankings.
"It feels great to have our defense play a complete game," safety Stuart Schweigert said. "The last four games we've lost we played a good 59 minutes and the last minute we fell short. Today we finished."
Purdue controlled the line of scrimmage and the clock all day - until Anthony Chambers fumbled a punt at his team's 25 with 2:28 left, setting up the Demon Deacons (2-1) for one last chance.
But Wake Forest put itself in a hole with delay-of-game and holding penalties, and then Schweigert stopped Chris Barclay on a fourth-and-1 at the 19 with 1:05 left.
The Boilermakers fumbled five times, but got four of them back to avoid their first 0-2 start since 1996.
"We not only brought our defense along we also brought our horseshoe along," Tiller said.
Purdue receiver Taylor Stubblefield had 16 catches in last week's season opener and seven in the first half of this one, including a 7-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Orton. However, he missed the second half because of an ankle injury.
Before this week, the Demon Deacons (2-1) were last ranked in January 1993 and were trying for their first 3-0 start since 1987.
"Our kids are really down and I don't mind that," coach Jim Grobe said. "They should be down and I want them to feel bad when we don't win. But I told them we have a chance to be a good football. We were not a good football team today."
Purdue bottled up Wake Forest's offense through three quarters, allowing just 170 yards as the Demon Deacons were saddled with poor field position and an inconsistent running game.
The leading rushing team in the Atlantic Coast Conference the last two seasons was held to 56 yards on the ground on 34 carries.
Tiller said he subbed more on defense and kept his club fresher than last week.
"And we had a very, very simple game plan," he said. "That's the fewest (defensive) calls we've had available to us since I've been at Purdue. We didn't know if it was right or wrong, but we decided early in the week to cut down the defensive package than adding to it."
It worked as Wake Forest was held 125 yards under its rushing average.
"They had two guys in every gap," Wake Forest offensive lineman Tyson Claybo said. "Their whole mind-set was they were going to stop our inside runs and they did an excellent job of that."
Wake Forest couldn't even take advantage of three breaks late in the third quarter that could have changed momentum.
Purdue punter Brent Slaton fumbled a good snap and managed just an 11-yard kick, giving the Demon Deacons the ball near midfield. However, Wake Forest managed just 5 yards and had to punt it back to the Boilermakers.
Three plays later, Purdue receiver Kyle Ingraham fumbled struggling for extra yardage, but the Boilermakers fell on it to retain possession at their 34.
On the same drive, John Standeford did the same thing, and again Purdue recovered, leading to a 37-yard field goal by Jones and a 16-10 lead.
Wake Forest didn't commit a turnover in its upset victory over No. 24 North Carolina State last weekend. However, the Demon Deacons coughed it up on the first play from scrimmage as Cory Randolph tried to go deep and was picked off by Schweigert.
Schweigert's 14th career interception and 32-yard return helped set up the first of two first-half field goals by Jones.
Orton was 18-for-23 in the opening 30 minutes with one TD pass, but he fumbled an exchange deep in Wake Forest territory on fourth-and-inches as Purdue wasted a 6?-minute drive late in the second quarter.
Orton made up for it in the final two minutes of the half, completing six passes in a row to set up a 41-yarder by Jones for a 13-10 lead.