WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Football dropped a 27-24 heartbreaker to Rutgers on Saturday in Ross-Ade Stadium.
Purdue (2-6, 0-5 B1G) led 17-7 after Devin Mockobee recorded his first receiving touchdown of the season and third of his career. Quarterback Malachi Singleton found him wide open in the end zone for a three-yard score in the third quarter.
But the Scarlet Knights (4-4, 1-4 B1G) stormed back to score two unanswered touchdowns, taking a 21-17 lead with 7:45 left in the fourth. Michael Jackson III then shifted the momentum back to Purdue’s side with a career-long 56-yard kick return.
Quarterback Ryan Browne and the offense capitalized with a seven-play, 41-yard drive and a 14-yard touchdown pass to Nitro Tuggle, giving Purdue a 24-21 edge.
Rutgers took the ball back and went 73 yards on 11 plays to kick a game-tying field goal with just over a minute to go. The Boilermakers had a chance to go down and win the game, but a pass from Browne deflected off a defender and back into the quarterback’s hands. He tried to make a move on the busted play, but the Knights forced and recovered a fumble in Purdue territory.
Rutgers’ Jai Patel then kicked a walk-off 30-yard field goal to spoil Purdue’s Homecoming game.
The Boilers jumped out to an early 10-0 lead thanks to a 56-yard run by Malachi Thomas on the opening drive that set up a touchdown. Mockobee, Browne, Singleton and Antonio Harris also contributed to Purdue’s 217 rushing yards, averaging a season-best 7.8 per carry.
Browne and Singleton combined to go 13-of-23 with three passing touchdowns. Thomas led the receivers with three catches for 50 yards, including one for his first touchdown as a Boilermaker.
Tahj Ra-El paced the defense with a career-high 15 tackles, followed by Charles Correa (13), Hershey McLaurin (12) and Mani Powell (11). The defense totaled a season-high five sacks with one apiece for McLaurin, CJ Nunnally IV, Trey Smith and Jamarrion Harkless, as well as a shared sack by Correa and Powell. McLaurin and Nunnally also each forced a fumble.
Spencer Porath converted his only field goal attempt from 20 yards, improving to 10-of-11 (90.9%) this season.
UP NEXT
The Boilers will travel to Ann Arbor to battle No. 25 Michigan next Saturday (Nov. 1). Kickoff under the lights of Michigan Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.