Sept. 1, 2012
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Robert Marve passed for a career-high 295 yards and matched a career best with three touchdowns to help Purdue defeat Eastern Kentucky 48-6 on Saturday in both teams' season opener.
Marve started because previously declared starter Caleb TerBush was suspended one game for violating team rules. He hadn't thrown three touchdowns since 2008, when he was the starter at Miami.
Akeem Shavers ran for 74 yards and O.J. Ross caught eight passes for 71 yards. Purdue gained 542 yards against coach Danny Hope's alma mater, where he was the head coach from 2003 to 2007.
The Boilermakers held Football Championship Subdivision foe Eastern Kentucky to 190 yards and 10 first downs and forced four turnovers. Defensive tackle Kawann Short blocked a field goal and an extra point for the fifth and sixth blocked kicks of his career.
Brooklyn Fox led Eastern Kentucky with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Purdue next plays at Notre Dame on Saturday.
On Purdue's second possession, Shavers broke down the right sideline for 34 yards. Eastern Kentucky was called for a horse-collar tackle on the play, tacking 15 yards onto the end of the run. Later, Marve rolled right and found Gary Bush in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. Khiry Maddox blocked the extra point, and the Boilermakers' lead remained 6-0.
On Eastern Kentucky's next possession, safety Landon Feichter intercepted a pass by Jared McClain and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, pushing Purdue's lead to 13-0 with 7:51 to go. Kurt Freytag later scored from 7 yards out to push Purdue's lead to 20-0.
Eastern Kentucky had 9 yards of offense and no first downs in the opening quarter.
Matt Denham broke for a 30-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, but Short blocked the extra point and Purdue led 20-6.
Marve later found Antavian Edison for a 13-yard touchdown, then Shavers broke for an 8-yard touchdown run to give the Boilermakers a 34-6 lead.
Marve hit Gabe Holmes for an 8-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 41-6 late in the third quarter.
Rob Henry, who was expected to start last year's opener but tore his ACL and missed the entire season, threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Justin Sinz with 1:54 remaining.