Nov. 6, 2004
By TODD DVORAK
Associated Press Writer
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Drew Tate threw two touchdown passes and Iowa forced five turnovers and blocked two field goals in a 23-21 victory over Purdue on Saturday.
No. 20 Iowa (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) ran its home winning streak to 17, the fourth longest string in the nation.
Brandon Kirsch, starting in place of the injured Kyle Orton, threw three touchdown pass for Purdue. But his miscues in the fourth quarter, one fumble and two interceptions, scuttled Purdue's attempt to rally from a 17-point deficit.
Kirsch was 25-of-42 for 280 yards, including a 10-yard TD pass to Taylor Stubblefield in the final minutes. Stubblefield finished with 15 catches for 153 yards.
But the Hawkeyes recovered the ensuing onside kick to hand Purdue its fourth straight loss, Purdue's first four-game slide since 1993.
Tate, who came into the game the Big Ten's leading passer, accounted for most of Iowa's offense. He was 24-of-45 for 270 yards to go along with just 43 yards rushing as a team.
In the third quarter, with Iowa leading 20-14, Tate engineered a 94-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard field goal by Kyle Schlicher. The key play of the drive came when Tate eluded Purdue's rush and floated a 46-yard pass to tight end Scott Chandler down the sideline.
Chandler finished with four catches for 122 yards and Clinton Solomon had eight catches for 76 yards.
Iowa scored on its first possession, an eight play drive capped when Tate rolled out and tossed a 1-yard pass to Ed Hinkel in the back of the end zone. The scored capped an impressive, 7-play opening drive that featured Tate throwing passes of 28 and 31 yards to Chandler.
The Hawkeyes then capitalized on the first of two first quarter Boilermaker mistakes to build a 17-0 lead, the biggest deficit for Purdue all season.
Iowa recovered a muffed punt deep in Purdue territory to set up a 34-yard field goal by Kyle Schlicher.
On Purdue's next possession, Kirsch was stripped by two defenders and the ball recovered by Iowa at the Boilermakers 37.
Iowa scored seven plays later when Tate tossed a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Tony Jackson as time ran out in the quarter.
Purdue showed its quick strike ability late in the half when Kirsch fired a 48-yard TD pass to Brian Hare.
The Boilermakers cut a little deeper into Iowa's lead in the third quarter when Kirsch threw a 22-yard TD to Kyle Ingraham, making it 17-14.
But the Hawkeyes' defense and special teams protected the lead. Antwan Allen intercepted a pass on Purdue's next possession, and linebacker George Lewis picked one off minutes later.
Safety Sean Considine blocked Ben Jones' 27-yard field-goal attempt in the third quarter. In the first half, Marcus Paschal blocked Jones' 32-yard field-goal attempt.