On a sun-splashed afternoon in West Lafayette, the Purdue Boilermakers started the season with a bang, delivering a win in head coach Barry Odom’s debut.
During the first half, Purdue owned the starts of the first and second quarters, while Ball State dueled the home team to a draw for the rest of the first half.
The Boilermakers started steaming hot out of the gate, taking a 14-0 lead in the first 5 minutes and 13 seconds.
To gain the quick advantage, Purdue mixed tempo and play action passing for
chunk plays to do some damage before the visitors could settle in.
New starting QB Ryan Browne was instrumental to the early success, going 4-4 for over 100 yards passing including a 49-yard strike on a deep post to WR Arhmad Branch for the first points of the year.
With nothing open, Browne finished off the second scoring drive on a short TD run around right end.
Purdue started the second quarter as they did the first, this time engineering a 91-yard drive capped on a direct snap five-yard run by program great Devin Mockabee to extend the lead to 21-0.
Ball State’s best drive of the first half came later in the second quarter, keyed by several impressive runs highlighted by a 21-yard scamper by Kennesaw State RB transfer Qua Ashley.
The nine-play, 60-yard drive ended without points, a theme on the night for the visitors who were unable to finish some golden opportunities. Key to the stop for Purdue on this drive was a sack by Mani Powell on a delayed double blitz from the offense’s right side, which may have confused the blocking back about who to block.
Undaunted, the Cardinals’ offense went back on the attack with another long drive opening the third quarter, this time 13-plays covering 48 yards. Unfortunately for BSU, the drive did not result in points as a 45-yard FG attempt doinked off of the right upright.
For the third-straight quarter, Purdue’s opening possession resulted in a touchdown, this time a thriller of a drive capped off by a 14-yard post pass from Browne to Michael Jackson III.
The game was likely over in the win-loss column, but to their credit, the Cardinals continued to fight until the end. In the fourth quarter on fourth-and-two in its own territory, Kelly connected on a touch pass around left end to former Boilermaker WR Elijah Jackson for their biggest gain of the contest (37 yards.)
A few plays later, BSU was unable to avoid the shutout when a 29-yard Carson Holmer kick was off the mark.
NOTES:
- Although the Cardinals were not able to get the win for Mike Uremovich in his head coaching debut, the squad showed some toughness and promise.
- Ball State’s offense, for instance, strung together some offensive drives in the last three quarters but just couldn’t find a way to finish.
- QB Kiael Kelly and the Cardinals are clearly going to rely on his running ability, with a variety of called runs and scrambles. Kelly led the club with 63 yards rushing will adding 87 yards passing.
- Kelly also did a good job on the day with ball security, avoiding any turnovers.
- The Cardinals debuts of RB Qua Ashley and WR Eric Weatherly showed some athletic skills that should pay dividends in the coming weeks.
- The Cardinals defense struggled in the first five minutes and had a few more breakdowns throughout but were overall encouraging, looking improved over the 2024 version based on early returns.
- DE Nathan Voorhis was one of the BSU standouts at times and figures to be a guy to watch going forward.
- Purdue ran a few timely blitzes to good effect throughout the game but were really able to contain Kelly fairly well while getting heat on the passer with only four or five rushers, which helped the secondary in pass coverage.
- Purdue has to be excited about the QB/RB combination they displayed today. Starter Ryan Browne hit almost 70 percent of his passes for 311 yards and two passing touchdowns, while adding a rushing score.
More than today’s stats today, Browne has an impressive size and athletic ability which can be used to good effect as Browne can do a lot of different things to keep defenses guessing. - Purdue RB Devin Mockabee was fun to watch, reminiscent of Toledo Rockets all-time great runner Bryant Koback in stature and style. Both were also complete, smart players, with Mockabee impressive today, like when he stoned the middle linebacker on a blitz pickup. Mockabee finished the contest with 104 yards rushing and receiving with the five-yard rushing score.
- Former Akron Zip DE CJ Nunnally recorded a tackle in QB hit in his Purdue debut.
Out of the frying pan into the fire for the Cards as they head to Auburn next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time to tangle with the Tigers, while Purdue hosts Southern Illinois under the lights at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
