University of Louisville
1-0
Purdue
0-1
No. 16 Louisville overcomes mistakes to beat Purdue
September 03, 2017 | Football
Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and compiled 485 total yards.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and compiled 485 total yards Saturday, helping No. 16 Louisville escape with a 35-28 victory over Purdue.
The mistake-prone Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak.
Jackson, of course, was the difference. He went 30 of 46 with 378 yards through the air while running 21 times for 107 yards. He also moved into the top five in school history on TD passes and yards rushing.
And when Louisville (1-0) needed the defending Heisman Trophy winner to be at his best in the fourth quarter, he didn't disappoint.
Jackson hooked up with Dez Fitzpatrick on a 20-yard score with 9:01 remaining to give the Cardinals a 32-28 lead then drove them into field goal position on the ensuing possession to make it a seven-point game.
"Our defense came through," Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. "They (Purdue) did a nice job executing their offense. We had a hard time stopping their outside guys."
Purdue (0-1) couldn't rally in coach Jeff Brohm's debut, losing its eighth straight.
"I thought we showed fight," Brohm said. "But unfortunately we came up short."
Just short.
Louisville blew three scoring chances in the first half - losing two fumbles at the goal line and mismanaging the clock at the end of the half. The Boilermakers converted another fumble recovery in the third quarter into a touchdown and nearly forced a fourth fumble.
Louisville also was called for five false start penalties in the first 16 minutes, finished with nine and had another penalty for an illegal snap. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, an All-American hopeful, got hurt on an ill-advised return off of a blocked field goal, costing the Cardinals 19 yards on a play that nearly resulted in yet another turnover. Alexander did not return.
Purdue took advantage of the miscues by building a 14-10 halftime lead, extending it to 21-13 in the third quarter and then retaking the lead on Elijah Sindelar's 14-yard TD pass to Jackson Anthrop with 10:48 left.
But Jackson put it away by leading Louisville to back-to-back scores.
THE TAKEAWAYS
Louisville: The victory shouldn't fool anyone. While the Cardinals pulled it out and Jackson put up Heisman-like numbers, the Cardinals must make a lot of improvement over the next two weeks to challenge defending national champion Clemson in the ACC.
Purdue: Brohm and the Boilermakers faced long odds but fought hard and played well enough to challenge a team expected to compete for a College Football Playoff spot. It's an encouraging start for the rebuilding program.
UP NEXT
Louisville: Opens ACC play on Sept. 9 at North Carolina, its final tuneup before facing Clemson.
Purdue: Will play underneath the lights Friday night when Mid-American Conference contender Ohio comes to town.
Team Stats
LOU 0, PUR 7
PUR - Jackson Anthrop 26 yd pass from Elijah Sindelar (J.D. Dellinger kick) 3 plays, 36 yards, TOP 0:27
LOU 7, PUR 7
LOU - Davis, Jor. 3 yd pass from Jackson, Lam. (Creque, Bla. kick) 8 plays, 64 yards, TOP 3:44
LOU 10, PUR 7
LOU - Creque, Bla. 23 yd field goal 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:29
LOU 10, PUR 14
PUR - Richie Worship 8 yd pass from David Blough (Spencer Evans kick) 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 4:26
LOU 13, PUR 14
LOU - Creque, Bla. 32 yd field goal 4 plays, 7 yards, TOP 1:05
LOU 13, PUR 21
PUR - Brycen Hopkins 2 yd pass from David Blough (J.D. Dellinger kick) 5 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:50
LOU 19, PUR 21
LOU - Bonnafon, Reg. 10 yd run (Jackson, Lam. rushfailed), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:10
LOU 25, PUR 21
LOU - Thomas, Sta. 61 yd interception (Jackson, Lam. passintercepted)
LOU 25, PUR 28
PUR - Jackson Anthrop 14 yd pass from Elijah Sindelar (Spencer Evans kick) 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:16
LOU 32, PUR 28
LOU - Fitzpatrick, De 20 yd pass from Jackson, Lam. (Creque, Bla. kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:47
LOU 35, PUR 28
LOU - Creque, Bla. 30 yd field goal 9 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:16
