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The final regular season game of the virtual season offered a chance at redemption for Purdue. Last year the Boilers fell to Indiana in double overtime, so our virtual squad went looking for vengeance... and got it.
Virtual season offers a preview of next week? pic.twitter.com/6ryNNHA5RB
— Travis Miller (@JustTMill) December 5, 2020
As usual in this game, when you get momentum on your side things tend to snowball. After both teams punted on their first possessions Jack Plummer led an impressive length of the field drive and King Doerue was able to plunge in from three yards out to make is 7-0 after a quarter. On the next possession the Hoosiers were driving, but Cam Allen intercepted Michael Penix Jr. inside the Purdue 10 and return it to the 18. That set up a 42 yard drive where Kyle Bilodeau scored from 8 yards out.
On the next drive Anthony Watts got a key sack of Penix to force a punt and the Purdue offense continued its efficiency. Plummer found Payne Durham for an 18 yards score, and after another defensive stop, Purdue went in front 28-0 five seconds before the half when Plummer found Jackson Anthrop.
From there Purdue mostly cruised. Indiana’s offense got out of neutral to start the second half and Miles Marshall caught a 27 yard score down the sideline, but Purdue answered with a naked bootleg where Plummer scored easily form eight yards out. Purdue would also add a J.D. Dellinger field goal to make it 38-7 entering the fourth quarter.
The final quarter had offense all over the place. After another field goal drive for Purdue to make it 41-7 the teams started trading haymakers. Indiana would score, then Rondale Moore caught a 22 yard TD after Purdue recovered the onside kick. Stevie Scott III caught a 53 yard TD pass, but Purdue recovered the second onside kick and drove for a 3-yard TD pass to Tirek Murphy.
That’s when Purdue had another special teams breakdown. Whop Philyor got loose and took the kickoff 102 yards for a score, but Purdue recovered the onside kick and kicked another Dellinger field goal with 38 seconds left. Plummer was excellent, going 33 of 45 for 431 yards and 5 TDs with a rushing TD. Rondale caught 7 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. Payne Durham had one of his best games with 5 receptions for 50 yards and a score.
Defensively I tried something new here. Instead of playing Diaco’s 3-4 I shifted back tot he 4-3. You know what, IT WORKED A DAMN LOT BETTER! Purdue sacked Penix four times and in general kept his running at bay.
With Purdue now 11-1 I supposed I should get ready for the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State. If I win that one I think I’ll make Purdue a 4 seed in a mythical playoff.