WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A late Penn State touchdown with 57 seconds remaining sent the Purdue football team to a 35-31 loss in the 2022 season opener at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The Boilermakers (0-1) held a 31-28 advantage after Chris Jefferson intercepted Penn State (1-0) quarterback Sean Clifford and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown with 8:29 to play. Purdue held Penn State to just seven plays and 14 yards on its next two possessions, taking the ball back on offense with 4:28 on the clock. Penn State's defense forced Purdue to punt with 2:22 remaining.
The Nittany Lions then took eight plays to cover 80 yards in 1:25 with Clifford hitting Keyvone Lee for 10 yards and the game-winning score.
Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell finished the night going 29-of-59 passing for 365 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The sixth-year thrower crossed the 300-yard mark for the ninth time in his career, moving him into sole control of fifth in program history. Running back King Doerue found the end zone twice for his second career multi-score game.
Clifford threw for 282 yards on 20-of-37 passing with four touchdowns and an interception.
Both sides had one giveaway that led to points. Purdue's fumble with 30 seconds remaining in the second saw Penn State score with two seconds left in the first half, while Jefferson's interception return for a touchdown swung the momentum in the fourth.
O'Connell connected with former youth football teammate Charlie Jones in his Purdue debut 12 times. Jones posted a career night receiving with 12 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown.
NOTES
• Penn State leads the all-time series 16-3-1, extending its streak to 10 games against Purdue.
• Purdue outgained Penn State 426 to 406 on the offensive side. The Boilermakers were 5-of-15 on third down to the Nittany Lions' 5-of-14.
• Purdue's defense held Penn State off the scoreboard in the third quarter. The Nittany Lions totaled just 33 yards of offense and went 0-of-4 on third downs in the frame.
• Scotty Humpich, in his Boilermaker debut, recorded Purdue's lone sack of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter.
• Mitchell Fineran split the uprights on a 36-yard kick in the first quarter. He has now made 15 of his last 16 field goal attempts.
• O'Connell connected with eight different receivers on the night with six hauling in multiple passes.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will square off with Indiana State at Ross-Ade Stadium on Sept. 10. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. on BTN.
The Boilermakers (0-1) held a 31-28 advantage after Chris Jefferson intercepted Penn State (1-0) quarterback Sean Clifford and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown with 8:29 to play. Purdue held Penn State to just seven plays and 14 yards on its next two possessions, taking the ball back on offense with 4:28 on the clock. Penn State's defense forced Purdue to punt with 2:22 remaining.
The Nittany Lions then took eight plays to cover 80 yards in 1:25 with Clifford hitting Keyvone Lee for 10 yards and the game-winning score.
Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell finished the night going 29-of-59 passing for 365 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The sixth-year thrower crossed the 300-yard mark for the ninth time in his career, moving him into sole control of fifth in program history. Running back King Doerue found the end zone twice for his second career multi-score game.
Clifford threw for 282 yards on 20-of-37 passing with four touchdowns and an interception.
Both sides had one giveaway that led to points. Purdue's fumble with 30 seconds remaining in the second saw Penn State score with two seconds left in the first half, while Jefferson's interception return for a touchdown swung the momentum in the fourth.
O'Connell connected with former youth football teammate Charlie Jones in his Purdue debut 12 times. Jones posted a career night receiving with 12 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown.
NOTES
• Penn State leads the all-time series 16-3-1, extending its streak to 10 games against Purdue.
• Purdue outgained Penn State 426 to 406 on the offensive side. The Boilermakers were 5-of-15 on third down to the Nittany Lions' 5-of-14.
• Purdue's defense held Penn State off the scoreboard in the third quarter. The Nittany Lions totaled just 33 yards of offense and went 0-of-4 on third downs in the frame.
• Scotty Humpich, in his Boilermaker debut, recorded Purdue's lone sack of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter.
• Mitchell Fineran split the uprights on a 36-yard kick in the first quarter. He has now made 15 of his last 16 field goal attempts.
• O'Connell connected with eight different receivers on the night with six hauling in multiple passes.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will square off with Indiana State at Ross-Ade Stadium on Sept. 10. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. on BTN.