Rutgers cashes in on late fumble, knocks off Purdue 27-24

“It took 60 minutes,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “I’m really proud of our guys. We needed this one. The players believed and kept doing what we asked. It was a physical football game. We got guys walking off on crutches. We need to regroup. If guys keep chopping the way they have, we’ll continue to get better.”

The Boilermakers had taken a 27-24 lead on Ryan Browne’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Nitro Tuggle with 4:43 remaining.

The Scarlet Knights picked up a first down on the Purdue 7, but had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Patel to tie it at 24 with 1:06 left.

Browne caught his own pass and lost the fumble at his own 30 with 59 seconds left, which led to the winning field goal.

Purdue coach Barry Odom said Browne tried to make a play after catching it.

“I don’t know if it got punched from behind on his way down,” Odom said. “He didn’t secure it at that point.”

Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis completed 19 of 27 passes for 359 yards. He ran for one touchdown and passed for another. Antwan Raymond ran for 116 yards on 29 carries with one touchdown.

The Boilermakers took a 17-7 lead on Malachi Singleton’s 3-yard TD pass to Devin Mockobee in the first 2 minutes of the third quarter.

Rutgers followed with 14 consecutive points. The Scarlet Knights narrowed the deficit to 17-14 on a 72-yard TD pass from Kaliakmanis to KJ Duff, then took a 24-17 lead on Kaliakmanis’ 1-yard TD run.

Duff finished with 241 yards on six catches.

“I was raised in a small town in Oklahoma and the values that I learned there are about togetherness, family, love, toughness and resolve,” Odom said. “You don’t make excuses. You don’t give up. You find a way to get it done. I guarantee we’re going to get this turned (around) and we will continue to work.”

The takeaway

Rutgers: Despite five sacks, Athan Kaliakmanis was able to pick apart Purdue’s secondary to improve Rutgers’ all-time record to 3-0 against Purdue.

Purdue: Rutgers outgained Purdue by more than 200 yards, 543 to 345. The Boilermakers were 1-of-9 on third down conversions, but made both of their fourth-down tries. Rutgers was 4-of-14 on third down and 3-of-4 on fourth down.

Quarterback shuffle

Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne had been questionable to start after having to leave last week’s game against Northwestern in the second half with a left shoulder injury. Browne started and completed 11 of 20 passes for 117 yards. Malachi Singleton, who subbed in twice inside the red zone, completed 2 of 3 passes with the two touchdowns.

“Ryan is our starting quarterback,” Purdue coach Barry Odom said. “Malachi is playing well and earned playing time. Anyone who puts us in a position to play winning football, we’re going to find a way to get them on the field.”

Catching on

Rutgers receiver KJ Duff’s 241 receiving yards were the most by a Purdue opponent since Wisconsin’s Al Toon had 252 in 1983. The Scarlet Knights were without Ian Strong, who had one more catch than Duff entering the game. Strong suffered a lower leg injury in last week’s loss to Oregon.

“KJ has been working like a maniac,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “It killed Ian not to play (Saturday).”

Up next

Rutgers: At No. 23 Illinois next Saturday.

Purdue: Visits No. 25 Michigan next Saturday.

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