Defense benefits Boilers despite loss to Michigan

By Doug Healey
Assistant Sports Editor

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Although the Purdue defense gave up 24 points in a loss to Michigan, it still played well enough to win.

The Boilermakers (4-1, 2-1 Big Ten) created four turnovers and had six tackles for loss, including two sacks, against the Wolverines (5-1, 3-0).

"Our problems with our football team in terms of winning or not winning this football game certainly were not on the defensive side of the ball," said Purdue coach Joe Tiller. "Our defense has proved to be the heads-up unit on our team."

The Boiler defense forced two fumbles and had an interception in the first half.

With Purdue leading 7-0 in the first quarter and the Wolverines driving inside Purdue territory, Michigan wide receiver Marquise Walker fumbled at the end of a double reverse. Sophomore defensive end Shaun Phillips made the recovery.

The Boilers recovered another Wolverine fumble in the second quarter, this time inside the Michigan 15-yard line. Jacques Reeves forced Michigan receiver Ron Bellamy to fumble and Niko Koutouvides recovered the ball.

"We're opportunistic," said defensive tackle Matt Mitrione. "We look for situations like that."

With fewer than two minutes to play in the first half and Michigan driving inside the Purdue 30-yard line, sophomore safety Stu Schweigert intercepted a trick-play pass from Walker that was intended for Bellamy. Schweigert returned it 58 yards to the Michigan 36-yard line.

"We knew watching film that Michigan would do some trickery stuff like that," he said. "So we always expect stuff, and I just made a play on the ball."

After the interception, Purdue lined up for a 57-yard field goal try, but that kick was blocked. Defensive end Akin Ayodele, a member of the field goal unit, made a touchdown-saving tackle at the 6-yard line as time expired.

"When a ball's blocked, you hear that little thump sound," said Ayodele. "I turned around and started sprinting, located the ball, saw (Williams) scoop it up, and somebody had to make the tackle."

The Boilers only allowed one touchdown in the second half, and that touchdown was the result of a Purdue turnover.

With fewer than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter and Purdue down 21-10, the Boilers' defense forced its fourth turnover of the game. Michigan running back Chris Perry, who rushed for 58 yards on 14 carries, fumbled, and Koutouvides made his second fumble recovery of the game.

The Purdue defense only gave up two big plays by Michigan. Both involved Walker. Early in the second quarter, Walker had a 42-yard punt return that set up Michigan's first touchdown. Tiller said Walker was able to get to the sideline because the Boilers had moved their outside contain man to the line as an extra blocker.

Also in the second quarter, Wolverine quarterback John Navarre, who was 21 of 27 for 233 yards, connected with Walker for a 43-yard score over Purdue senior cornerback Ashante Woodyard.

"I just got turned around and I didn’t see the ball. Period," said Woodyard.

Walker had seven catches for 134 yards and seven returns for 112 yards.

"He had a hell of a game. Enough said," said Woodyard.

Schweigert also said Walker had a big impact on the game.

"He had some big-time returns to help their team get good field position," he said. "We knew he was a big-time receiver, making big plays, and he got one on us. But other than the punt return and the long fade, I think we did a pretty good job of containing him."

For the game, the Purdue defense allowed 355 total yards, including 122 rushing yards. It's the third time this season that an opponent has rushed for more than 100 yards against Purdue's defense.

"We let ourselves down today," he said. "We haven't put together an 'A' game yet. We've been playing C-plus games straight through. All I know is that (Michigan) had enough playmakers to win the game and we didn’t."

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Doug Healey

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