It's Homecoming week in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers host No. 23 Boston College, ranked for the first time since 2008, Saturday at noon ET at Ross-Ade Stadium.
First ClashDating back Purdue's inaugural season of football in 1887, Boston College will be the 119th different opponent to square off against the Boilermakers on the gridiron. Purdue is 84-31-3 (.725) all-time when facing an opponent for the first time. Boston College is the lone newcomer on Purdue's 2018 schedule. Purdue is scheduled to repay BC's 2018 visit with a trip to Boston on Sept. 6, 2020. While this is the first meeting between Purdue and Boston College, the Boilermakers had the unique experience of facing Boston University at Fenway Park on Oct. 18, 1947.
On This Date: September 22- Record: 6-1-1
- First Game: 1945 – Won vs. Marquette 14-13
- Last Game: 2007 – Won at Minnesota 45-31
Noteworthy: On this date in 1979, the 17th-ranked Boilermakers defeated No. 5 Notre Dame 28-22 before 70,567 fans at Ross-Ade Stadium – at that time the largest crowd ever to witness a football game in the state of Indiana. Trailing 20-7 midway through the third quarter, Purdue rallied with three touchdowns over the next 15 minutes to regain possession of the Shillelagh for the first time since 1974. The win improved the Boilermakers' record to 2-1. Two games later, they were 3-2, prompting head coach Jim Young to call his team "an over-publicized bunch of cream puffs." However, Purdue subsequently won its last six games and Young altered his evaluation to "a tough, hard-nosed team that individually would not be denied." The Boilermakers went 7-1 in the Big Ten – winning the most conference games in school history. A New Year's Eve date with Tennessee in the Bluebonnet Bowl put a bow on the season, and Purdue wrapped up the only 10-win campaign in school annals with a 27-22 victory at the Astrodome in Houston.
Against the ACCThe Boilermakers are 7-8-1 against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents (7-6-1 in the regular season and 0-2 in bowl games), including 6-3-1 at Ross-Ade Stadium. The last ACC school to play at Ross-Ade was Virginia Tech on Sept. 19, 2015. Purdue is scheduled to play at Boston College on Sept. 26, 2020.
| ACC Opponent | Purdue Record |
|---|---|
| Duke | 1-2-1 |
| Louisville | 0-1 |
| Maryland | 0-1 |
| N.C. State | 1-1 |
| Virginia | 1-1 |
| Virginia Tech | 0-1 |
| Wake Forest | 4-1 |
Senior quarterback David Blough set the Purdue game passing yards record (572) and the Big Ten game total offense mark (590) against Missouri (Sept. 15). The previous standards were 546 passing yards by Curtis Painter against Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26, 2007, and 585 yards of total offense by Dave Wilson of Illinois against Ohio State on Nov. 8, 1980. Blough's passing yards rank second in Big Ten history, trailing only Wilson's 621 in that game (he had -36 yards rushing).
Ground Game Among The Top in FBSDespite gaining merely 42 yards on 16 carries against Missouri last week, the Boilermakers rank tied for fifth in the FBS and first in the Big Ten with an average of 7.1 yards per carry heading into the Boston College contest. Individually, senior D.J. Knox ranks first in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with a 7.2-yards per carry average.
Behind Enemy LinesSophomore linebacker Cornel Jones, who led the FBS in tackles for loss through the first two weeks, slipped to second nationally behind North Texas' E.J. Ejiya's 8.0. Still, the first-year starter found himself with a single stop in Missouri's backfield last week to give him at least one TFL through all three games this season and improve his Big Ten-leading total to 7.5 for the year.
Jones' 2018 TFL Tally- 3.0 vs. Northwestern
- 3.5 vs. Eastern Michigan
- 1.0 vs. Missouri
Saturday's Homecoming Game is the 96th in school history. The Boilermakers have a 50-41-4 record in these autumn celebration games, dating to a 3-0 victory over Northwestern on Nov. 5, 1921.
A non-Big Ten Conference school has been Purdue's Homecoming opponent just six times previously: Carnegie Tech (1933, 1935 and 1937), UCLA (1950), Oregon State (1967) and Northern Illinois (2013).
Saturday's Homecoming date is the earliest in school history. The previous earliest was Sept. 23 on three occasions (2000, 2006 and 2017). Purdue has celebrated Homecoming in September only six times before (all since 2000), with a 3-3 record. Homecoming 2019 will be Oct. 12 against Maryland.
Knocking On The DoorSenior running back Markell Jones' seven-yard touchdown reception against Eastern Michigan was the 17th total touchdown of his career (15 rushing, two receiving). That mark leaves him just outside of the top 20 all-time in school history.
| Career Touchdowns | ||
|---|---|---|
| 19. | Jimmy Smith (1979-81) | 18 |
| Calvin Williams (1986-89) | 18 | |
| Antavian Edison (2009-12) | 18 | |
| 22. | Markell Jones (2015-P) | 17 |
With 12 carries for 109 yards against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 8, senior running back Markell Jones moved past two-time consensus All-American and 1968 Heisman Trophy runner up Leroy Keyes on Purdue's career rushing yardage list. Jones has rushed for 2,198 yards in his four-year Boilermaker career and currently sits 10th all-time.
| Career Rushing Yards | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8. | Corey Rogers (1991-95) | 2,436 |
| 9. | Jerod Void (2002-05) | 2,429 |
| 10. | Markell Jones (2015-P) | 2,198 |
| Career Rushing Attempts | ||
|---|---|---|
| 10. | Harry Szulborski (1946-49) | 478 |
| 11. | John Macon (1977-80) | 471 |
| 12. | Markell Jones (2015-P) | 455 |
David Blough's school-record performance against Missouri ranked among the top five individual efforts in the history of Jeff Brohm's head coaching career. A look at where it stands:
Passing Yards- 593, Brandon Doughty at Middle Tennessee (Sept. 13, 2014)
- 572, David Blough vs. Missouri (Sept. 15, 2018)
- 569, Brandon Doughty vs. Bowling Green (Aug. 29, 2014)
- 517, Mike White vs. Rice (Sept. 1, 2016)
- 491, Brandon Doughty at Marshall (Nov. 28, 2014)
- 46, Brandon Doughty vs. Bowling Green (Aug. 29, 2014)
- 43, Brandon Doughty at Middle Tennessee (Sept. 13, 2014)
- 39, David Blough vs. Missouri (Sept. 15, 2018)
- 38, Brandon Doughty at Navy (Sept. 27, 2014)
- 37, Brandon Doughty at LSU (Oct. 24, 2015)
- 37, Elijah Sindelar at Northwestern (Oct. 11, 2017)
- 66, Brandon Doughty at Middle Tennessee (Sept. 13, 2014)
- 61, Brandon Doughty at LSU (Oct. 24, 2015)
- 60, Elijah Sindelar at Northwestern (Nov. 11, 2017)
- 56, Brandon Doughty vs. Bowling Green (Aug. 29, 2014)
- 55, David Blough vs. Missouri (Sept. 15, 2018)
When D.J. Knox (152) and Markell Jones (109) both topped the century mark in rushing yards against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 8, it was the first time a pair of Boilermakers went for 100-plus yards in the same game since 2002 (Brandon Jones, 131, and Joey Harris, 102). It was merely the 27th time in school history that the feat has been accomplished and only the fifth time in the last 35 years. Please see page 101 of the Purdue Records Book for the entire list of the previous 26 100-yard rushing duos. It was the fifth time Jones rushed for over 100 yards in a game in his career and the third, and also a career-high, for Knox.
100-Yard Rushing Duos Since 1984- Sept. 17, 1994 vs. Ball State - Mike Alstott (156) and Corey Rogers (124)
- Nov. 4, 1995 vs. Wisconsin- Mike Alstott (204) and Edwin Watson (194)
- Oct. 26, 2002 at Northwestern - Brandon Jones (165) and Joey Harris (132)
- Nov. 23, 2002 vs. Indiana - Brandon Jones (131) and Joey Harris (102)
- Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Eastern Michigan - D.J. Knox (152) and Markell Jones (109)
True freshman Rondale Moore became a household name when he electrified the nation with a record-breaking performance in his collegiate debut against Northwestern on Aug. 30. With a (still) FBS-best 313 all-purpose yards against the Wildcats (79 rushing, 109 receiving, 125 kickoff return), Moore eclipsed Otis Armstrong's single game school record of 312 yards set Nov. 25, 1972. Moore had a huge first half, racking up 302 all-purpose yards in the initial 30 minutes. That alone would have placed him third in the Purdue record book. With the Boilermakers trailing 14-0 in the first 10 minutes of the opening quarter, Moore hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception from Elijah Sindelar and ripped off a 76-yard scoring run to even the score before the quarter ended.
More on MooreRondale Moore is the first freshman (true or redshirt) in school history to make his Boilermaker debut with a 100-yard receiving game. Moore hauled in a game-high 11 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate game against Northwestern … His reception total was the highest by any player in the Big Ten on the opening week of college football and his yardage tally was second to only Ohio State's Terry McLaurin's 121 vs. Oregon State … Moore's 76-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter against Northwestern was the longest run by a Boilermaker since Akeem Hunt went 82 yards to the house at Indiana on Nov. 29, 2014 … It is also the longest rush by a Big Ten player through the first three weeks of the season … Moore's average of 8.3 receptions per game is tied for fifth in the FBS and first in the Big Ten … Moore ranks fourth in the FBS and first in the Big Ten with an average of 190.3 all-purpose yards per game … Moore ranks fifth in the nation and first in the Big Ten with 25 receptions on the year.
Don't BlinkFreshman Rondale Moore has held the football 39 times in his three-game collegiate career and is averaging 14.6 yards per touch. He has caught a Big Ten-high 25 passes for 262 yards, four carries for 128 yards, eight kick returns for 179 yards and two punt returns for two yards entering the Boston College game.
Moving Up The ChartsFifth-year senior David Blough continues to climb further into the Purdue career record book.
| Passing Attempts | |||
| 4. | Mark Herrmann (1977-80) | 1,309 | |
| 5. | Scott Campbell (1980-83) | 1,060 | |
| 6. | David Blough (2015-P) | 1,048 | |
| Completions | |||
| 3. | Kyle Orton (2001-04) | 786 | |
| 4. | Mark Herrmann (1977-80) | 772 | |
| 5. | David Blough (2015-P) | 623 | |
| Passing Yards | |||
| 5. | Scott Campbell (1980-83) | 7,636 | |
| 6. | Jim Everett (1981-85) | 7,411 | |
| 7. | David Blough (2015-P) | 6,723 | |
| Passing Touchdowns | |||
| 3. | Curtis Painter (2005-08) | 67 | |
| 4. | Kyle Orton (2001-04) | 63 | |
| 5. | David Blough (2015-P) | 47 | |
| Total Offense | |||
| 5. | Scott Campbell (1980-83) | 7,526 | |
| 6. | Jim Everett (1981-85) | 7,284 | |
| 7. | David Blough (2015-P) | 6,987 |
The Boilermakers open the 2018 season with four straight home games at Ross-Ade Stadium. The last time Purdue hosted the first four games of a year was 2006 (Indiana State, Miami (Ohio), Ball State and Minnesota).
Weekly Big Ten HonorsDavid Blough's selection as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Monday marked the second weekly recognition of a Boilermaker through the first three weeks of the 2018 season. Rondale Moore was selected as the co-B1G Freshman of the Week after posting a school-record 313 all-purpose yards in the opener against Northwestern on Aug. 30. For Blough, it marks the second time in his Purdue career to earn the weekly honor. Blough's first recognition came after completing 28 of 43 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns in 55-45 win over Nebraska on Oct. 31, 2015.
Team CaptainsEight Boilermakers were voted captains by their teammates for the 2018 season: junior linebacker Markus Bailey, fifth-year center Kirk Barron, fifth-year quarterback David Blough, fifth-year running back D.J. Knox, junior defensive tackle Lorenzo Neal, senior punter Joe Schopper, junior quarterback Elijah Sindelar and fifth-year safety Jacob Thieneman. Barron and Blough were voted captain for a second consecutive season.
Seeing TripleFor just the fifth time school history, Purdue had three different players reach the century mark in receiving yards in the same game. Freshman wide receiver Rondale Moore, junior tight end Brycen Hopkins and senior wide receiver Isaac Zico pulled off the rare feat against Missouri on Sept. 15. It was the first occurrence for the Boilermakers in 11 years.
100-Yard Receiving Trios- Oct. 3, 1998 vs. Minnesota - Randall Lane (137), Gabe Cox (133) and Cliff Jackson (101)
- Oct. 28, 2000 vs. Ohio State - Vinny Sutherland (142), Seth Morales (115) and Tim Stratton (100)
- Nov. 20, 2004 vs. Indiana - Kyle Ingraham (209), Taylor Stubblefield (138) and Dorien Bryant (131)
- Dec. 26, 2007 vs. Central Michigan - Dustin Keller (150), Greg Orton (136) and Jake Standeford (112)
- Sept. 15, 2018 vs. Missouri - Rondale Moore (137), Brycen Hopkins (136) and Isaac Zico (100)
The 1,220 combined yards amassed by Purdue and Missouri on Sept. 15 were the most shared with a Boilermaker opponent in school history.
1,000-Plus Combined Yard Performances| 1. | 1,222 | Purdue (614) vs. Missouri (608), Sept. 15, 2018 |
| 2. | 1,208 | Purdue (516) at Indiana (692), Nov. 30, 2013 |
| 3. | 1,145 | Purdue (486) vs. Indiana (659), Nov. 28, 2015 |
| 4. | 1,135 | Purdue (514) vs. Notre Dame (621), Oct. 1, 2005 |
| 5. | 1,225 | Purdue (472) at Hawaii (653), Nov. 25, 2006 |
David Blough's one-yard touchdown rush against Missouri on Sept. 15 improved his career total to 11. He needs five more in his final season in the Old Gold and Black to overtake Mark Vitali as the program's leader among quarterbacks.
Purdue Quarterback Career Rushing Touchdowns| Mark Vitali, 1974-76 | 15 |
| Bob Griese, 1964-66 | 14 |
| Drew Brees, 1997-2000 | 14 |
| Curtis Painter, 2005-08 | 13 |
| Bo Bobrowski, 1972-73 | 12 |
| Eric Hunter, 1989-92 | 12 |
| David Blough, 2015-Present | 11 |