Nov. 12, 2005
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Jerod Void ran for 102 yards and a touchdown to lead Purdue to a 37-3 win over Illinois on Saturday, the second straight victory for the Boilermakers after six consecutive losses.
Purdue (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten) won't play in a bowl game, but they saved themselves from finishing at the bottom of the league standings after starting the season ranked 15th in the country.
Illinois (2-8, 0-7) lost its eighth straight game after starting and clinched at least a tie for last place in Ron Zook's first year as coach. The Illini avoided being shut out when Jason Reda kicked a 30-yard field goal with 7:37 left.
Curtis Painter improved to 2-2 as Purdue's starting quarterback. The redshirt freshman completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown and ran 16 times for 57 yards and two scores.
Purdue defensive end Rob Ninkovich caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Painter with 4:10 left in the third quarter to give the Boilermakers a 17-0 lead.
Void had his second consecutive big game. He ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-21 win over Michigan State last week. The senior is three touchdowns short of Mike Alstott's school record of 39 touchdowns rushing heading into the season finale against Indiana.
Purdue extended its shutout streak to six quarters before giving up the field goal in the fourth quarter. The Boilermakers entered the game ranked 112th out of 117 Division I teams in total defense but held Illinois to 265 yards.
Pierre Thomas led Illinois with 68 yards on 11 carries, and Rashard Mendenhall added 49 yards on nine carries.
The first quarter was scoreless. Purdue running back Kory Sheets ended a nine-play, 94-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown run that gave the Boilermakers a 10-0 at halftime.
Illinois failed to score a touchdown for the second consecutive game. The Illini lost to Ohio State 40-2 last week.