EVANSTON, Ill. – Purdue Football fell to Northwestern 19-0 on the road Saturday.
The Wildcats controlled the game thanks to their time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 38 minutes compared to 22 for the Boilermakers. While Northwestern held a 364-305 advantage in total offense, the home team ran 20 more plays than Purdue.
Mani Powell produced a career-high 20 tackles, the most by a Boilermaker in the last 20 years. His 20-tackle performance is the first by a Big Ten player since 2018 and is one of 13 by a Big Ten player since 2005.
Powell added a forced fumble, the first of his career, and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Tahj Ra-El (11) and Alex Sanford Jr. (10) both produced double-digit tackles. Sanford's total is a career high, and Ra-El tied his career high with three passes defended.
Malachi Singleton went 11-of-19 for 187 yards and added 20 rushing yards in relief of Ryan Browne, who was injured on the first play of the second half.
The Boilermakers forced their third turnover of the season during the fourth quarter when Hershey McLaurin knocked the ball out at the Purdue 18-yard line and Sanford Jr. recovered and returned the ball to the Purdue 28-yard line.
The forced fumble was McLaurin’s second of his career and the recovery was Sanford’s first.
Smiley Bradford followed later in the fourth quarter with Purdue’s second interception of the season and the first of his career. He finished the game with three passes defended.
UP NEXT
Purdue returns to Ross-Ade Stadium to host homecoming against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.