West Lafayette, IN (SportsNetwork.com) – Darien Harris’ interception
return for a touchdown with 1:22 remaining helped No. 8 Michigan State hold
off Purdue’s late push and record a 45-31 victory.
Connor Cook threw for 238 yards with three touchdowns and an interception on
19-of-37 passing and Nick Hill ran for two scores and 72 yards on nine carries
for the Spartans (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten), who won their 11th straight game in
Big Ten play.
Jeremy Langford amassed 104 yards on 13 carries, Tony Lippett had a game-high
138 yards with a touchdown on seven catches and Aaron Burbridge and Josiah
Price each hauled in a TD pass in the win.
Austin Appleby completed 24 of his 37 passes for 211 yards with a touchdown
and an interception for the Boilermakers (3-4, 1-2), while Akeem Hunt
scored three times and rushed for 96 yards on 12 carries.
Danny Anthrop led Purdue receivers with 133 yards on nine catches and B.J.
Knauf added a receiving score.
Purdue trailed 38-17 after three quarters, but scored the first 14 points of
the fourth.
After an Appleby fumble at midfield, the Spartans worked the ball down to
Purdue’s 20. But Cook was intercepted by Frankie Williams, who returned it 24
yards, and Hunt broke free up the middle on 4th-and-2 and outran two defenders
for a 52-yard score, making it a 38-24 game with 8:49 to play.
The Boilermakers later took over on downs at Michigan State’s 30 after
Lawrence Thomas was stuffed on a fake punt attempt. Gabe Holmes’ 12-yard catch
moved the chains before Hunt followed up Darian Hicks’ defensive pass
interference penalty with a 3-yard score with 6:19 left.
Michigan State’s offense stalled at midfield on the ensuing drive and Purdue
took over at its 5-yard line. On 4th-and-6, DeAngelo Yancey hauled in an 11-
yard dart to keep the drive alive.
Appleby, however, was pressured on third down and picked off by Harris, who
returned it for a 15-yard score to ensure a Michigan State victory.
Cook connected with Lippett on a perfectly placed 39-yard touchdown strike
down the left sideline to cap off an 8-play, 75-yard opening drive.
Appleby completed consecutive throws to Anthrop on Purdue’s first possession,
including a 36-yard strike down to the Spartans’ 22. Paul Griggs capped the
drive with a 36-yard field goal.
Jamal Lyles and Lippett then made catches of 21 and 27 yards, respectively, to
place the Spartans at the Purdue’s 13. Following a defensive pass interference
call at the 2-yard line, Hill scampered past the left pylon for a 14-3 lead
with under four minutes to play in the first.
After Cook ran 13 yards to the Boilermakers’ 34 on Michigan State’s next
series, Langford shrugged off a defender and burst down the sideline for a 31-
yard pickup before Price caught Cook’s lob in the back of the end zone for a
2-yard touchdown and a 21-3 score early in the second.
Keyante Green’s 36-yard run and Anthrop’s 13-yard catch set up Hunt’s 3-yard
rushing score on Purdue’s next drive. Michael Geiger added a 42-yard field
goal for Michigan State, but Purdue made it a one-score game heading into
halftime.
Appleby had four straight completions, two of which went to Anthrop for a
total of 41 yards, and Knauf caught a short pass and took it nine yards to the
end zone for a 24-17 game.
Midway through the third quarter, Burbridge made a leaping 13-yard catch in
the back of the end zone on third-and-goal, getting one foot inbounds to cap a
13-play, 77-yard drive for Michigan State.
On the Spartans’ next drive, Hill exploded through the right side for a 37-
yard dash and scored from four yards out two plays later for a 38-17
advantage.
Game Notes
Michigan State has won six straight games against Purdue, tying the school
record … Lippett had four catches for 95 yards in the first quarter … It
was the first meeting between the two teams in Ross-Ade Stadium since Nov. 14,
2009 … Michigan State outgained Purdue, 532-340.
