LIVE BLOG: Follow Saturday's Purdue-Oregon State Game in Real Time; News & Analysis
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The 2021 college football season is here for the Purdue Boilermakers, and its first matchup of the season comes against the Oregon State Beavers at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Purdue finished the 2020 season with a 2-4 record, while Oregon State ended the year at 2-5. Both programs are trying to flip the script this season, and it would start with a win on Saturday.
The game is now scheduled to kickoff at 7:15 ET. Here's a look at how to watch the game, including TV information and point spreads on the game. CLICK HERE
Here's how our LIVE BLOG works. We'll keep you updated on everything that goes on in the game in real time, keeping you up to date on injuries, scoring plays and trends. Throughout the game, I'll provide my own analysis as well.
The most recent items are at the top, so simply refresh the article to see the latest updates.
We're off, so let's have some fun:
10:50 p.m. ET, FINAL — Purdue football hangs on for a 30-21 victory in its season opener over Oregon State. The offense surged late in the fourth quarter, recording two touchdowns to all but seal the game.
10:40 p.m. ET — On third down, Jack Plummer thrusts the dagger into Oregon State by finding tight end Payne Durham wide open over the middle for a 50-yard touchdown.
Durham has both touchdown receptions for the Boilermakers in the fourth quarter, and is up to seven receptions for 120 yards. Purdue leads 30-21 with 2:09 left in the game.
10:33 p.m. ET — After Cory Trice made what was possibly the play of the game on a 4th-and-1 pass breakup, he gets burnt down the left sideline for a huge gain. Oregon State bolted down the field in seven plays, picking up 75 yards and a touchdown.
Purdue leads the game 23-21 with 3:13 left on the clock, and the Boilermakers have no more timeouts remaining.
10:23 p.m. ET — Payne Durham took over in the passing game on Purdue latest scoring drive. He recorded three receptions in the team's six-play drive, including a five-yard touchdown.
Durham is up to six catches, 70 yards and the touchdown. It was Purdue's first touchdown since the first quarter, resulting in a 23-14 lead with 4:56 left to play.
10:19 p.m. ET — Yet again, it's the defense coming up big for Purdue. Oregon State elects for a play action fake on 4th-and-1 inside their own territory, but Cory Trice tracks the deep ball and knocks it away.
Boiler offense takes over.
10:01 p.m. ET — The Beavers makes a quarterback change early in the fourth quarter, bringing in Chance Nolan. He orchestrates a quick, seven-play, 75-yard drive after the Purdue field goal to help Oregon State reach the end zone.
Wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey scored on a seven-yard rushing attempt, cutting into the Boilermaker lead. Purdue still leads 16-14 with 13:05 remaining in the fourth quarter.
9:48 p.m. ET — David Bell collects his seventh catch of the night to put Purdue inside the 10-yard line, but three straight runs by the Boilermakers doesn't result in a touchdown. On the third run, Jack Plummer attempted a pitch to running back King Doerue, who bobbled the ball.
Purdue settles for yet another field goal, this time a 22-yarder, to take a 16-7 lead with 1:19 left in the third quarter.
My thoughts: Time and time again, the Purdue defense is setting up the offense for success, but the Boilermakers can't punch it in for any meaningful scores. The Beavers have 178 yards of total offense, but one big play could flip the whole game upside down.
Purdue has to be more aggressive on offense to match its defense or else Oregon State will have a chance to win it.
9:37 p.m. ET — Oregon State elects to run a designed quarterback run on fourth down, but the play is shut down by George Karlaftis. He hasn't made many splash plays tonight, but he's been close on a number of occasions.
The offense takes over at the Beavers' 47-yard line, another prime opportunity to put points on the board.
9:24 p.m. ET — The Purdue offense was once again stymied deep in Oregon State territory. After calling in the special teams unit, the Boilermakers reset into an odd-looking formation — a trick play for holder Jack Albers that was intended for Payne Durham.
What appeared to be a completed pass setting up 1st-and-goal turned out to be an interception for Oregon State. Durham had the ball wrestled out of his arms on the play.
Another critical missed opportunity that keeps the Beavers in the game.
8:48 p.m. ET, END Q2— With 11 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Jack Plummer appeared to find wide receiver Jackson Anthrop for a 22-yard touchdown pass, but a review reverts the call. Instead of a touchdown pass to end the half, Mitchell Fineran comes in and hits a 39-yard field goal.
Purdue will take a 13-7 lead into the locker room. The Boilermakers will receive the second-half kickoff.
My thoughts: The Purdue defense and special teams have provided the offense with plenty of opportunities to take full control of this game, but untimely penalties and other missed opportunities means that the Boilermakers will settle for a mere six-point lead.
Zander Horvath is handling the majority of the carries out of the backfield, but he's averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Jack Plummer has been effective with time, and coach Jeff Brohm is deploying quality play calls for his team. The Boilermakers cannot feel comfortable with this lead, at it'll be up to the offensive line to help create a rhythm in the second half.
8:41 p.m. ET — Purdue's defense has been stepping up big time tonight, this time it comes in the form of a Cam Allen interception on third down. He sets the offense up with great field position toward the end of the second quarter.
It's the first takeaway by either team on the night, and the Boilermakers have allowed the Beavers to record just 140 total yards so far in the first half.
8:24 p.m. ET — The Boilermakers executed an eight-play, 47-yard drive to set up transfer kicker Mitchell Fineran for a 48-yard field goal. He nailed the attempt, giving Purdue its first lead of the night.
Some chunk plays in the passing game were critical on the scoring drive. Jack Plummer now 12-of-17 for 123 yards. Six different Purdue players have caught a pass so far in the first half. David Bell leading the way with three receptions for 56 yards.
Purdue leads 10-7 with 8:19 left in the first half.
8:09 p.m. ET — Purdue had a beautiful play design drawn up for Broc Thompson coming shallow over the middle, he was well on his way for a big gain, but a pass interference penalty by tight end Payne Durham on the play negates the whole thing.
The Boilermakers settle for a swing pass on third and long, followed by yet another Jack Ansell punt.
8:03 p.m. ET, END Q1 — Purdue and Oregon State will go into the second quarter tied up a 7-7. Purdue has possession of the football and will have 2nd-and-5 from its own 16-yard line.
7:54 p.m. ET — Marshall transfer wide receiver Broc Thompson makes his first catch as a Boilermaker, good for 17 yards. Two plays later, Purdue gets some help from a roughing the passer penalty by Oregon State outside linebacker Cory Stover.
Stover was subsequently ejected for targeting. On the next play, running back Zander Horvath broke a tackle and burst up the middle for an 11-yard score.
Purdue ties it up, 7-7, with 3:43 left in the opening quarter.
My thoughts: The Purdue offense is managing to push the ball down the field, but the offensive line is struggling to give Jack Plummer a clean pocket. Quick passes, screens and play action are helping.
7:40 p.m. ET — First catch of the season for David Bell goes for 42 yards. Sets up Purdue with good field position at the 33-yard line. Five plays later, and not much to show for it. The Boilermakers get held up just inside the red zone.
They have to settle for a field goal, but a delay of game — coupled with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty — backs Purdue to the 36-yard line. After a timeout, the team decides to punt the ball.
My thoughts: Unsportsmanlike conduct was called on a Purdue coach, which absolutely killed a scoring chance for the Boilermakers. However, freshman punter Jack Ansell — who came from Australia this offseason — pinned Oregon State at the one-yard line. A chance for the defense to come up big.
7:27 p.m. ET — Beavers reach into their bag of tricks on offense, throwing a lateral pass to wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey, who then hurls the ball downfield to tight end Tagan Quitoriano for 34 yards. The play set up a first-and-goal from the nine-yard line, and on the following play, running back B.J. Baylor waltzes into the end zone.
Oregon State leads Purdue 7-0 with 10:10 left in the first quarter.
7:23 p.m. ET — Run, run, pass for the Boilermakers on offense results in a three-and-out as well. Two teams trade punts on their opening drives.
7:19 p.m. ET — First drive for the Purdue defense went well. It allows Oregon State to go for just three yards in a three-and-out, which was aided by a penalty. Punt over the head of returner Jackson Anthrop rolls into the end zone for a touchback.
7:15 p.m. ET — Showers were expected for tonight's game, but the weather has cleared up and the field at Ross-Ade Stadium looks dry. Purdue won the coin toss and elected to defer. Oregon State will receive to start the first half. Here we go.
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