WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – On a special Homecoming that saw the official dedication of the Tiller Tunnel, the Purdue football team steamrolled to a 44-19 win over Illinois on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers (2-3, 1-1 B1G) outscored the Illini (2-3, 0-2 B1G) 28-6 in the second half to win their fourth straight in the series and keep the Cannon Trophy.
Purdue's defense made a living in the Illinois backfield racking up seven tackles-for-loss, including five sacks from five different players. It was the first time Purdue has amassed five or more sacks in a game since Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Eastern Michigan. Sanoussi Kane led the way with nine tackles (seven solos), one for a sack. The Boilermaker defense stonewalled the Illini on third downs, holding them to 2-of-14 (14.3%).
The defense scored the Boilermakers' first points with a game-changing strip-sack from Markevious Brown. On a 2nd-and-12 from the Illinois 12-yard line, Brown hammered Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer on a backside blitz that jarred the ball loose into the end zone, where Malik Langham fell on the fumble for his first career touchdown.
The offense finished with 406 total yards, going over 400 for the third time this season. Hudson Card was an efficient 18-of-26 for 217 yards and two scores, completing a pass to eight different receivers. Burks led the way with 83 yards and a score on five catches, securing his fourth touchdown of the season.
Purdue ran for 189 yards behind the stable of Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Mockobee and Dylan Downing, with all three of them finding the end zone. Tracy extended his touchdown scoring streak to five games and also eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career, totaling 112 yards on 21 attempts (5.3 yards per carry).
Down 10-6 in the second, Card orchestrated a seven-play, 73-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by Dylan Downing to give the Boilermakers a 13-10 lead. Both clubs connected on field goals to close the first half as Purdue took a 16-13 lead into the break. Julio Macias made a career-long 40-yard kick before Illinois kicker Caleb Griffin hit from 53 yards as time expired.
The Boilermakers continued their third quarter dominance by building the lead to 24 before the start of the fourth. Card hit Garrett Miller for his first touchdown catch of the season on a 28-yard toss on Purdue's opening drive of the half, before Devin Mockobee sprinted his way to pay dirt from three yards out. Card later hit Burks on a dump pass in the final seconds of the period, which the receiver darted in from four yards out. Purdue has outscored opponents 49-14 in the third quarter this season.
The victory improved Purdue to 1-1 in conference play, while also giving head coach Ryan Walters a win over his former team.
DOMINATING THIRD DOWN
The Boilers held Illinois to 2-for-14 on third down (14.3%) and allowed no conversions through the Illini's first 10 attempts. The mark of 14.3% percent was the lowest rate allowed since the Wisconsin game on Oct. 23, 2021. It was the 13th time since 1996 the Boilermakers held an opponent to two or fewer third-down conversions. The defense put Illinois into an average third-down length of 8.4 yards.
The Purdue offense converted 8 of 13 third down attempts, good for a rate of 61.5%.
BACKFIELD MENACES
The Boilermakers made their presence known in the backfield with seven tackles-for-loss, five of which were sacks. Sanoussi Kane, Yanni Karlaftis, Markevious Brown, Sulaiman Kpaka and Kydran Jenkins each had one sack apiece.
Brown's sack that resulted in the fumble recovery touchdown from Malik Langham marked the Boilermakers' first defensive score since Cory Trice logged an 8-yard interception return vs. Indiana on Nov. 26, 2022.
It was Purdue's first scoop-and-score touchdown since George Karlaftis returned a fumble for 56 yards vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 23, 2021.
NOTES
• Purdue now leads the all-time series with Illinois 48-45-6.
• The Boilermakers lead the Cannon Trophy series 42-30-2 and have retained the trophy 24 times in 44 opportunities.
• The defense amassed five sacks, the most since Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Eastern Michigan.
• Purdue's 44 points were the most of the Ryan Walters era.
• Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen caught a 30-yard pass in the second quarter that led to a score, his longest reception of the season.
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. extended his touchdown streak to five games, having scored in every game this season.
• Sanoussi Kane led the defense with nine tackles (seven solos), tying his career high for a second consecutive week.
• Yanni Karlaftis recorded his first career full sack and finished with a career-best eight tackles (three solos).
• Julio Macias converted his only field goal attempt, a 40-yarder to stay perfect on the season. He is 2-of-2 with the 40-yard field goal being his longest.
• The game marked this season's fifth Purdue football game in the month of September, the most since 2007.
UP NEXT
After a three-game homestand, the Boilermakers hit the road for the first time in Big Ten play. Purdue travels to Iowa to battle the Hawkeyes (Oct. 7) in another B1G West showdown. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Purdue's defense made a living in the Illinois backfield racking up seven tackles-for-loss, including five sacks from five different players. It was the first time Purdue has amassed five or more sacks in a game since Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Eastern Michigan. Sanoussi Kane led the way with nine tackles (seven solos), one for a sack. The Boilermaker defense stonewalled the Illini on third downs, holding them to 2-of-14 (14.3%).
The defense scored the Boilermakers' first points with a game-changing strip-sack from Markevious Brown. On a 2nd-and-12 from the Illinois 12-yard line, Brown hammered Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer on a backside blitz that jarred the ball loose into the end zone, where Malik Langham fell on the fumble for his first career touchdown.
The offense finished with 406 total yards, going over 400 for the third time this season. Hudson Card was an efficient 18-of-26 for 217 yards and two scores, completing a pass to eight different receivers. Burks led the way with 83 yards and a score on five catches, securing his fourth touchdown of the season.
Purdue ran for 189 yards behind the stable of Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Mockobee and Dylan Downing, with all three of them finding the end zone. Tracy extended his touchdown scoring streak to five games and also eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career, totaling 112 yards on 21 attempts (5.3 yards per carry).
Down 10-6 in the second, Card orchestrated a seven-play, 73-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by Dylan Downing to give the Boilermakers a 13-10 lead. Both clubs connected on field goals to close the first half as Purdue took a 16-13 lead into the break. Julio Macias made a career-long 40-yard kick before Illinois kicker Caleb Griffin hit from 53 yards as time expired.
The Boilermakers continued their third quarter dominance by building the lead to 24 before the start of the fourth. Card hit Garrett Miller for his first touchdown catch of the season on a 28-yard toss on Purdue's opening drive of the half, before Devin Mockobee sprinted his way to pay dirt from three yards out. Card later hit Burks on a dump pass in the final seconds of the period, which the receiver darted in from four yards out. Purdue has outscored opponents 49-14 in the third quarter this season.
The victory improved Purdue to 1-1 in conference play, while also giving head coach Ryan Walters a win over his former team.
DOMINATING THIRD DOWN
The Boilers held Illinois to 2-for-14 on third down (14.3%) and allowed no conversions through the Illini's first 10 attempts. The mark of 14.3% percent was the lowest rate allowed since the Wisconsin game on Oct. 23, 2021. It was the 13th time since 1996 the Boilermakers held an opponent to two or fewer third-down conversions. The defense put Illinois into an average third-down length of 8.4 yards.
The Purdue offense converted 8 of 13 third down attempts, good for a rate of 61.5%.
BACKFIELD MENACES
The Boilermakers made their presence known in the backfield with seven tackles-for-loss, five of which were sacks. Sanoussi Kane, Yanni Karlaftis, Markevious Brown, Sulaiman Kpaka and Kydran Jenkins each had one sack apiece.
Brown's sack that resulted in the fumble recovery touchdown from Malik Langham marked the Boilermakers' first defensive score since Cory Trice logged an 8-yard interception return vs. Indiana on Nov. 26, 2022.
It was Purdue's first scoop-and-score touchdown since George Karlaftis returned a fumble for 56 yards vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 23, 2021.
NOTES
• Purdue now leads the all-time series with Illinois 48-45-6.
• The Boilermakers lead the Cannon Trophy series 42-30-2 and have retained the trophy 24 times in 44 opportunities.
• The defense amassed five sacks, the most since Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Eastern Michigan.
• Purdue's 44 points were the most of the Ryan Walters era.
• Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen caught a 30-yard pass in the second quarter that led to a score, his longest reception of the season.
• Tyrone Tracy Jr. extended his touchdown streak to five games, having scored in every game this season.
• Sanoussi Kane led the defense with nine tackles (seven solos), tying his career high for a second consecutive week.
• Yanni Karlaftis recorded his first career full sack and finished with a career-best eight tackles (three solos).
• Julio Macias converted his only field goal attempt, a 40-yarder to stay perfect on the season. He is 2-of-2 with the 40-yard field goal being his longest.
• The game marked this season's fifth Purdue football game in the month of September, the most since 2007.
UP NEXT
After a three-game homestand, the Boilermakers hit the road for the first time in Big Ten play. Purdue travels to Iowa to battle the Hawkeyes (Oct. 7) in another B1G West showdown. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.