Turns out, a visit from Maryland was just that the doctor ordered for an ailing Purdue team.
Thank you, Terrapins.
Entering the day with a 1-4 record (0-2 Big Ten) and riding a three-game looking streak, the Boilermakers’ season was teetering on the proverbial brink. Lose to Maryland, and Purdue Pete could kiss bowl eligibility good-bye and begin playing the maddening what-if game.
Oh, Purdue still had enough road in front of it to still reach six victories had it lost today, but it would have been a very difficult path to navigate. Heck, even with this commanding 40-14 triumph vs. the Terrapins, the Boilers still have little wiggle room to reach bowl eligibility for a third season in success. Check out the remaining slate:
At Iowa
Illinois
Nebraska
At Northwestern
At Wisconsin
Indiana
Do you see four more wins in there for 2-4 Purdue? I do—maybe. And that hope is buoyed by the promise so many of Jeff Brohm’s young players showed on this day. Let’s just come out and say it: 2019 has become all about the kids—the true freshmen and the redshirt freshmen. And the kids are alright.
Injuries have basically gutted this team of its key veterans: QB Elijah Sindelar, LB Markus Bailey, RBs Richie Worship and Tario Fuller, DT Lorenzo Neal. Plus, the squad has had to get along the past two games without its best player: Rondale Moore.
Into the void has stepped youngsters like RB King Doerue, WR David Bell, S Jalen Graham, DE George Karlaftis and WR Milton Wright. Purdue also has seen true freshman DB Cam Allen become a key cog. And today, fellow Class of 2019 members LB Khali Saunders and RB Da’Joun Hewitt got their baptisms.
And how about the redshirt freshmen? Guys like WR Amad Anderson, Jr.? And QB Jack Plummer took a huge step in his development today in his third career start. The same could be said about CB Cory Trice, who may have been the player of the game.
“You guys see the same things I do,” said Jeff Brohm in the glow of victory. “We think that recruiting has gone well. We are trying to get the best players we can who want to come in here and be difference makers and play right away. And, probably, more are getting to play right away than they thought. It’s a chance to go out and learn and get better.”
Oh, they are learning. And developing. And producing. And getting better.
This dominating win vs. Maryland was about an offense that showed life — finally — without Sindelar, as Purdue notched 547 yards. But another big story today was Trice, whose defense pitched a second-half shutout.
Trice had arguably the play of the day when he ran back an interception 37 yards for a TD late in the first half to stake the Boilermakers to an insurmountable 30-14 edge as fans went to the concourse to buy craft beer, foot-long hot dogs and duck bacon burgers at halftime.
On and on its has gone in a season with an ever-evolving storyline. And you know there will be some crazy twist at the end.
“I think we got some good young talent,” said Brohm. “You know what? The time now is for them to play. Our goal is to win now, though. We are gonna try to win now. We will try to improve to get better, but the guys are up due to our situation.”
Youth is being served a heaping helping of opportunity on this Boilermaker squad. And—who knows?—it just may deliver a bowl bid.
Thank you, Terrapins.
Entering the day with a 1-4 record (0-2 Big Ten) and riding a three-game looking streak, the Boilermakers’ season was teetering on the proverbial brink. Lose to Maryland, and Purdue Pete could kiss bowl eligibility good-bye and begin playing the maddening what-if game.
Oh, Purdue still had enough road in front of it to still reach six victories had it lost today, but it would have been a very difficult path to navigate. Heck, even with this commanding 40-14 triumph vs. the Terrapins, the Boilers still have little wiggle room to reach bowl eligibility for a third season in success. Check out the remaining slate:
At Iowa
Illinois
Nebraska
At Northwestern
At Wisconsin
Indiana
Do you see four more wins in there for 2-4 Purdue? I do—maybe. And that hope is buoyed by the promise so many of Jeff Brohm’s young players showed on this day. Let’s just come out and say it: 2019 has become all about the kids—the true freshmen and the redshirt freshmen. And the kids are alright.
Injuries have basically gutted this team of its key veterans: QB Elijah Sindelar, LB Markus Bailey, RBs Richie Worship and Tario Fuller, DT Lorenzo Neal. Plus, the squad has had to get along the past two games without its best player: Rondale Moore.
Into the void has stepped youngsters like RB King Doerue, WR David Bell, S Jalen Graham, DE George Karlaftis and WR Milton Wright. Purdue also has seen true freshman DB Cam Allen become a key cog. And today, fellow Class of 2019 members LB Khali Saunders and RB Da’Joun Hewitt got their baptisms.
And how about the redshirt freshmen? Guys like WR Amad Anderson, Jr.? And QB Jack Plummer took a huge step in his development today in his third career start. The same could be said about CB Cory Trice, who may have been the player of the game.
“You guys see the same things I do,” said Jeff Brohm in the glow of victory. “We think that recruiting has gone well. We are trying to get the best players we can who want to come in here and be difference makers and play right away. And, probably, more are getting to play right away than they thought. It’s a chance to go out and learn and get better.”
Oh, they are learning. And developing. And producing. And getting better.
This dominating win vs. Maryland was about an offense that showed life — finally — without Sindelar, as Purdue notched 547 yards. But another big story today was Trice, whose defense pitched a second-half shutout.
Trice had arguably the play of the day when he ran back an interception 37 yards for a TD late in the first half to stake the Boilermakers to an insurmountable 30-14 edge as fans went to the concourse to buy craft beer, foot-long hot dogs and duck bacon burgers at halftime.
On and on its has gone in a season with an ever-evolving storyline. And you know there will be some crazy twist at the end.
“I think we got some good young talent,” said Brohm. “You know what? The time now is for them to play. Our goal is to win now, though. We are gonna try to win now. We will try to improve to get better, but the guys are up due to our situation.”
Youth is being served a heaping helping of opportunity on this Boilermaker squad. And—who knows?—it just may deliver a bowl bid.
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