Freshman Touchdown Streak Reaches 19
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Injuries this season have forced Purdue freshmen into bigger roles earlier than expected. And boy, have they answered the call.
The class of 2019, which was ranked the No. 26 recruiting group in the nation heading into the season, has played a pivotal role on both sides of the ball in Purdue’s four wins this season.
For a team that lost its two most important offensive weapons — quarterback Elijah Sindelar and wide receiver Rondale Moore — to injuries, the freshman have picked up the slack, accounting for the last 19 Boilermaker touchdowns over a span of seven games.
To find the last non-freshman touchdown, you have to flash back all the way to Purdue’s fourth game of the season against Minnesota in September. Coincidentally, that was the same game that both Sindelar and Moore went down with their injuries in the first quarter — on the same play. The touchdown was a second quarter 7-yard pass from Sindelar’s replacement, Jack Plummer, to sophomore running back Zander Horvath.
Since then, it’s been all freshmen.
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of the freshmen touchdowns and who’s scored them:
Minnesota (Sept. 28)
After Horvath's touchdown early in the second quarter, the Purdue scoring came from one person — King Doerue — the rest of the way. The freshman running back racked up a career-high three touchdowns on the day, including his first career score. In the third quarter he ran one in from 8 yards out, and then in the fourth quarter added another 2-yard rushing touchdown and a 13-yard receiving touchdown.
Penn State (Oct. 5)
The Penn State game was a low-scoring one for Purdue. They were able to find the end zone just once all day on a 15-yard pass from Plummer to redshirt freshman Amad Anderson Jr. It was a beautiful back-shoulder throw by Plummer, and Anderson was able to adjust and make a play on the ball.
Maryland (Oct. 12)
The home game against Maryland, which ended up being Purdue’s first Big Ten win of the season, was the most explosive offensive performance of the season by the freshmen. Four different Boilermakers found the end zone in a game in which they were able to put up 40 points. Wide receiver David Bell, arguably Purdue’s best freshman, got the scoring going early on a 23-yard pass from Plummer. Later in the first quarter, Doerue found the end zone from 4 yards out.
In the second quarter Purdue got scoring from the fourth and fifth different freshmen during this stretch. Wide receiver Milton Wright caught a huge 59-yard touchdown for his first score of the season, and then later in the quarter, a Purdue freshman scored on the defensive side of the ball. As the half was winding down, cornerback Cory Trice intercepted a pass and took it 37 yards for the score. It was Trice's first career interception and first career touchdown. Near the end of the game, Bell tacked on another touchdown, this time from 8 yards out.
Iowa (Oct. 19)
Purdue managed just two touchdowns against Iowa, one from Bell, and one from a new face, redshirt freshman tight end Payne Durham. Bell scored a phenomenal touchdown near the end of the first half, adjusting to an underthrown ball and making a catch while laying on the ground. Durham grabbed a 1-yard touchdown with just 24 seconds remaining in the game.
Illinois (Oct. 26)
Much like the Penn State game just two weeks earlier, Purdue struggled mightily. In a game affected by heavy rains, the Boilermakers were able to find the end zone just once. Once again, in the fourth quarter, Durham was able to score a touchdown, but this time from Aidan O’Connell rather Plummer.
Nebraska (Nov. 2)
This game was Purdue’s biggest win of the season, beating a Nebraska team that had high hopes entering the season. The Boilermakers were able to score four touchdowns, with three different names accounting for the scores.
Doerue grabbed two touchdowns on a 3-yard pass and 7-yard run. Touchdown machine Payne Durham scored for the third straight game on a 16-yard pass, and in the closing moments of the game, Bell took a pitch from O’Connell 9-yards to the end zone for a game-winning touchdown.
Northwestern (Nov. 9)
Purdue won back-to-back games for the first time this season after a last-second field goal against Northwestern. It was the freshmen, not surprisingly, who kept them in the game. Three different freshman added touchdowns in the win, Doerue, Anderson and Bell. Bell scored on a 12-yard run, Anderson on an 11-yard reception, and Bell on a 13-yard reception.
To get 19 straight touchdowns by freshmen is something that's unheard of in college football. For Purdue, it's something to take away from a season that hasn't gone as planned.
On offense, touchdowns have come from King Doerue, Amad Anderson Jr., Milton Wright, Payne Durham and David Bell. The majority of those touchdowns too, were freshman-to-freshman connections on passes thrown by redshirt freshman Jack Plummer. On defense just Cory Trice has found the end zone, but don't get things twisted, he's just one of the many outstanding freshman on that side of the ball for Purdue, as well.
It may just seem like a crazy stat, but it isn't. It shows just how special this young group of talent is for Purdue.
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