IU came into its final game of the regular season looking for a bowl-clinching win and its fourth consecutive victory against Purdue.
On the opening drive, IU junior quarterback Richard Lagow threw an interception that Purdue linebacker Markus Bailey returned to the 1-yard line. Purdue running back Markell Jones punched the ball in for the game’s first score, as Purdue took the lead, 7-0.
The Hoosiers answered on their next drive though, as they drove 68 yards down the field and scored a touchdown on a post route by senior wide receiver Mitchell Paige. IU tied the game with junior kicker Griffin Oakes’ extra point, 7-7.
After forcing Purdue out of field goal range and earning a touchback on defense, IU drove 80 yards and found the end zone on a one-yard run by junior quarterback Zander Diamont. IU took the lead, 14-7, with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Halfway through the second quarter, both teams traded field goals to keep IU’s lead at seven, 17-10.
Purdue received a short punt from IU punter Joseph Gedeon later in the half and started on IU’s 36-yard line. IU junior cornerback Rashard Fant was called for defensive pass interference in the endzone, and David Blough then hit receiver Cameron Posey for the 10-yard touchdown pass.
Junior defensive lineman Nate Hoff blocked the attempted extra point, and IU carried a one-point lead into halftime, 17-16.
On the first drive of the second half, Purdue scored a touchdown on its longest drive up to that point — nine plays, 65 yards. Senior receiver DeAngelo Yancey caught the touchdown pass over Fant to take the lead, 22-17, as the Boilermakers failed to convert on the two-point conversion.
After an IU field goal to pull within two points, the Hoosiers scored again on another long drive that was capped off by a Devine Redding one-yard touchdown run to take the lead with five minutes remaining. Oakes missed the extra point to keep the score at 26-22.
With one minute to go in the game, Purdue quarterback David Blough threw into the endzone, and sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford intercepted the pass.
IU ran down the clock with an intentional safety, and the Hoosiers defeated the Boilermakers, 26-24.
Final stats:
QB Richard Lagow: 11-19, 117 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions
RB Devine Redding: 24 carries, 99 yards, 1 touchdown
QB Zander Diamont: 13 carries, 42 yards, 1 touchdown
WR Ricky Jones: 3 catches, 30 yards
