• Final Stats
• Postgame Notes
• Photo Gallery
• Audio Highlights
• Video Highlights
MADISON, Wis. - There were several big plays, just not enough to keep pace.
Purdue played a competitive game at No. 14 Wisconsin before the Badgers pulled away in the second half for a 45-24 win at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.
The Boilermakers, though, were just a couple of plays from going into halftime with a lead.
Aidan O'Connell, making his second career start, threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, while tight end Brycen Hopkins and wide receiver David Bell both had 100-yard receiving games.
Wisconsin, though, had even more prolific numbers offensively, gaining 606 yards of total offense. Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 222 yards and one touchdown.
The game had an ominous start for Purdue. Wisconsin took the opening kickoff and marched down the field, with Aron Cruickshank running for a 27-yard touchdown on a keeper out of the wildcat formation, putting the Badgers up 7-0.
But Purdue (4-7 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) answered with its own productive drive that stalled in the red zone, but still led to J.D. Dellinger's 27-yard field goal.
On the drive, O'Connell found Hopkins on a 27-yard play. Amad Anderson had a nice first-down conversion, catching a pass and making two defenders miss him, while O'Connell converted a fourth-and-inches on the drive.
Purdue had two scoring chances on the drive, but Milton Wright dropped a potential touchdown pass and Hopkins nearly caught a deflected pass as he fell in the back of the end zone.
Wisconsin (9-2, 6-2) answered the field goal with its second touchdown drive, also going 75 yards. This one was capped by Jonathan Taylor's 51-yard touchdown run, putting the Badgers up 14-3.
This could have been a point in the game where Purdue lost control, but the Boilermakers' offense kept things interesting.
On the first play, Milton Wright caught a 37-yard pass on a flea flicker. Zander Horvath followed by rushing for 27 yards on the next play, giving Purdue a first-and-goal. Two plays later O'Connell found Hopkins in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown reception.
Hopkins' touchdown snapped a streak of 19 consecutive touchdowns scored by freshmen.
Purdue would later take the lead after big plays by both the defensive and offensive units. Boilermaker freshman defensive end George Karlaftis forced a fumble that Navon Mosley recovered.
Four plays later, O'Connell threw a lateral pass to Wright who found Hopkins wide open for a 37-yard touchdown reception that put Purdue ahead 17-14.
Wisconsin answered quickly, taking a 21-17 lead on Jack Coan's 18-yard touchdown pass to Jack Dunn on a play action play on the next drive.
The Badgers were threatening to score late in the first half, but Purdue safety Brenan Thieneman forced a Taylor fumble that Derrick Barnes recovered with just less than one minute remaining in the half.
Purdue, though, had a quick three-and-out. Wisconsin made that hurt with Zach Hintze hitting a 62-yard field goal putting the Badgers up 24-14 at halftime. The field goal was the longest in Wisconsin history and the longest ever made against the Boilermakers.
The Boilermakers received the second-half kickoff and was marching down the field until O'Connell threw an interception in Wisconsin's red zone.
The Badgers answered with a 95-yard scoring drive that culminated in Garrett Groshek's 6-yard touchdown run that extended the lead to 31-17 with just less than six minutes remaining in the quarter. Coan later threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Quintez Cephus that put Wisconsin up 38-17.
But Purdue didn't give up, as O'Connell led a 75-yard scoring drive that resulted in an 8-yard touchdown pass to Bell, who made a nice play by switching the ball from his right to left hand to put it over the goal line.
While Purdue allowed 606 yards of offense, the defense was able to force four turnovers. Dedrick Mackey had an interception in the fourth quarter, his third of the season, and Karlaftis recovered a fumble in the third quarter.
Hopkins had eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. That is Hopkins' fourth career 100-yard receiving game and the second this season.
Bell had 12 receptions for 108 yards and one touchdown. That's his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game and fifth of the season. He's had at least five receptions in six consecutive games.
Wright had three receptions for a season-high 74 yards.
Dedrick Mackey and Semisi Fakasiieiki each had eight tackles to pace the defense. Anthony Watts had two tackles for loss, while Karlaftis also had two quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss.
Purdue hosts Indiana on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium for the Old Oaken Bucket.
• Postgame Notes
• Photo Gallery
• Audio Highlights
• Video Highlights
MADISON, Wis. - There were several big plays, just not enough to keep pace.
Purdue played a competitive game at No. 14 Wisconsin before the Badgers pulled away in the second half for a 45-24 win at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.
The Boilermakers, though, were just a couple of plays from going into halftime with a lead.
Aidan O'Connell, making his second career start, threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, while tight end Brycen Hopkins and wide receiver David Bell both had 100-yard receiving games.
Wisconsin, though, had even more prolific numbers offensively, gaining 606 yards of total offense. Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 222 yards and one touchdown.
The game had an ominous start for Purdue. Wisconsin took the opening kickoff and marched down the field, with Aron Cruickshank running for a 27-yard touchdown on a keeper out of the wildcat formation, putting the Badgers up 7-0.
But Purdue (4-7 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) answered with its own productive drive that stalled in the red zone, but still led to J.D. Dellinger's 27-yard field goal.
On the drive, O'Connell found Hopkins on a 27-yard play. Amad Anderson had a nice first-down conversion, catching a pass and making two defenders miss him, while O'Connell converted a fourth-and-inches on the drive.
Purdue had two scoring chances on the drive, but Milton Wright dropped a potential touchdown pass and Hopkins nearly caught a deflected pass as he fell in the back of the end zone.
Wisconsin (9-2, 6-2) answered the field goal with its second touchdown drive, also going 75 yards. This one was capped by Jonathan Taylor's 51-yard touchdown run, putting the Badgers up 14-3.
This could have been a point in the game where Purdue lost control, but the Boilermakers' offense kept things interesting.
On the first play, Milton Wright caught a 37-yard pass on a flea flicker. Zander Horvath followed by rushing for 27 yards on the next play, giving Purdue a first-and-goal. Two plays later O'Connell found Hopkins in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown reception.
Hopkins' touchdown snapped a streak of 19 consecutive touchdowns scored by freshmen.
Purdue would later take the lead after big plays by both the defensive and offensive units. Boilermaker freshman defensive end George Karlaftis forced a fumble that Navon Mosley recovered.
Four plays later, O'Connell threw a lateral pass to Wright who found Hopkins wide open for a 37-yard touchdown reception that put Purdue ahead 17-14.
Wisconsin answered quickly, taking a 21-17 lead on Jack Coan's 18-yard touchdown pass to Jack Dunn on a play action play on the next drive.
The Badgers were threatening to score late in the first half, but Purdue safety Brenan Thieneman forced a Taylor fumble that Derrick Barnes recovered with just less than one minute remaining in the half.
Purdue, though, had a quick three-and-out. Wisconsin made that hurt with Zach Hintze hitting a 62-yard field goal putting the Badgers up 24-14 at halftime. The field goal was the longest in Wisconsin history and the longest ever made against the Boilermakers.
The Boilermakers received the second-half kickoff and was marching down the field until O'Connell threw an interception in Wisconsin's red zone.
The Badgers answered with a 95-yard scoring drive that culminated in Garrett Groshek's 6-yard touchdown run that extended the lead to 31-17 with just less than six minutes remaining in the quarter. Coan later threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Quintez Cephus that put Wisconsin up 38-17.
But Purdue didn't give up, as O'Connell led a 75-yard scoring drive that resulted in an 8-yard touchdown pass to Bell, who made a nice play by switching the ball from his right to left hand to put it over the goal line.
While Purdue allowed 606 yards of offense, the defense was able to force four turnovers. Dedrick Mackey had an interception in the fourth quarter, his third of the season, and Karlaftis recovered a fumble in the third quarter.
Hopkins had eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. That is Hopkins' fourth career 100-yard receiving game and the second this season.
Bell had 12 receptions for 108 yards and one touchdown. That's his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game and fifth of the season. He's had at least five receptions in six consecutive games.
Wright had three receptions for a season-high 74 yards.
Dedrick Mackey and Semisi Fakasiieiki each had eight tackles to pace the defense. Anthony Watts had two tackles for loss, while Karlaftis also had two quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss.
Purdue hosts Indiana on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium for the Old Oaken Bucket.