Sept. 25, 2004
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By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Kyle Orton passed for 366 yards and four touchdowns, and Taylor Stubblefield caught 11 passes for 115 yards to lead Purdue to a 38-30 win over Illinois on Saturday.
Orton completed 35 of 50 passes and was not intercepted for the third straight game. He had scoring passes of 2, 5 and 34 yards to Stubblefield and 49 yards to Brandon Jones as the Boilermakers (3-0) rolled up 515 yards.
Orton was particularly effective on third down, completing 12 passes for first down yardage, as the Boilermakers (3-0, 1-0) won their eighth straight Big Ten opener.
Jon Beutjer threw three touchdown passes for the Illini (2-2, 0-1), who put themselves in a hole early by fumbling a reverse on the game's first play. Receiver Ade Adeyamo bobbled the handoff from Beutjer and Bobby Iwuchukwu recovered at the 5, leading to a Orton's first TD toss to Stubblefield.
Adeyamo broke his right leg on the fumble and did not return.
Illinois battled back with the help of special teams. A 72-yard kickoff return by Pierre Thomas helped set up Beutjer's 5-yard touchdown toss to tight end Anthony McClellan that tied it at 10 in the first quarter.
But Orton went to work, leading the Boilermakers on a 13-play, 73-yard drive on the next series and Purdue was ahead to stay.
Illinois missed a chance to pull within a point early in the third quarter when Iwuchukwu blocked Steve Weatherford's 45-yard field goal attempt.
Jones caught seven balls for 95 yards and carried 15 times for 77 yards for Purdue.
Fullback Jason Davis had a big day for Illinois, rushing eight times for 48 yards and catching five passes for 45 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown.
Beutjer completed 22 of 37 passes for 215 yards as the Illini put up 390 yards of offense. Kendrick Jones caught four passes for 75 yards and E.B. Halsey ran for 83 yards on 15 carries.