Oct. 15, 2005
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Tyrell Sutton scored from a yard out on fourth down with 1:50 left, giving Northwestern a 34-29 victory over Purdue on Saturday.
After Sutton scored, Purdue drove near midfield but Marquice Cole intercepted a pass by Brandon Kirsch with a minute left to secure the victory.
Northwestern (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) led 28-9 at the half, only to see Purdue storm back and pull ahead 29-28 before the Wildcats pulled together for the game-winning drive.
Brett Basanez threw for 463 yards and three touchdowns and ran seven times for 43 yards and a score as Northwestern piled up 603 yards. Purdue (2-4, 0-2), which totaled 505 yards, has lost four in a row after being ranked as high as No. 11.
Dorien Bryant led Purdue's comeback, and finished with a 16 catches for 153 yards - both career highs. He also returned the second-half kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
Kirsch threw for 360 yards although he was benched for four series in the second half when Northwestern built a big lead. However, he returned to help Purdue take a lead.
Northwestern led 28-23 early in the fourth quarter and drove to the Purdue 2 before the Boilermakers' Rob Ninkovich forced a fumble and Al Royal recovered. Kirsch then led an 18-play, 98-yard scoring drive. Brandon Jones' 1-yard touchdown run gave Purdue its first lead, 29-28.
Northwestern responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that Sutton finished with the winning touchdown.
Bryant's kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half cut the Northwestern lead to 28-16. Later in the third quarter, Purdue forced a Northwestern punt and Lance Melvin returned it 34 yards to the Northwestern 7. Jones scored from the 1 to cut the Wildcats' lead to 28-23.