Receiver improves play, scores twice

By Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer

Wide receiver John Standeford received a psychological boost from the Akron game Saturday.

"I felt better out there today," said Standeford. "I was kind of disappointed after the Cincinnati game. I didn't really have a good game."

Standeford caught one pass for 10 yards during Purdue's 19-14 win over Cincinnati on Sept. 2, but on Saturday the sophomore receiver caught five passes for 96 yards and scored two touchdowns as Purdue beat Akron 33-14.

"John was kind of the way the game went," said Coach Joe Tiller, referring to the offense's slow start, which included five consecutive failed drives. "I was disappointed with his play early. … But I thought he responded and came back and competed."

Standeford started the game in the first quarter with no receptions.

"There were several times we thought he might have been hit in the head," said offensive coordinator Jim Chaney.

But after the first quarter, which included a play during which he ran a 3-yard route on a third-and-9 play, Standeford was solid.

"He stopped thinking and started playing, which is a lot of what he did last year because he didn't know much," said Tiller.

In 2000, Standeford led all true freshmen in the nation in receptions (67) and receiving yards (744). Six of his receptions were for touchdowns.

"I think (Standeford) bounced back really well," said senior tight end Tim Stratton. "You've got to have that. I mean, he's a clutch player and he showed that today. He did some good things with the ball."

The Boilers (2-0) were down 7-3 late in the second quarter when redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Hance found Standeford for an 18-yard reception when Purdue was facing third-and-6 in the Boilers' fourth drive of the second quarter.

After a Purdue illegal motion penalty, Standeford caught a first-down pass for 23 yards to set up a Boiler first-and-goal from the Akron 3-yard line.

The next play, Standeford found himself on the receiving side of a Hance pass for his first touchdown of the year.

Standeford's other touchdown came on a 34-yard pass from Hance with 12:16 to go in the game. His 18-yard reception in the fourth quarter set up a one-yard touchdown run by Joey Harris that capped the scoring.

"I was just running my routes hard," said Standeford. "But, one big difference is that we ran more of our offense this game. We were just kind of letting it get together the first game. We felt more comfortable this game and it gave me more of an opportunity to make big plays."

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