Field Level Media
Sep 18, 2021
Jack Coan threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns as No. 12 Notre Dame pulled away for a 27-13 win over visiting Purdue on Saturday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.
Kyren Williams had a rushing and receiving touchdown for Notre Dame (3-0), which posted its biggest win of the season. Avery Davis led Fighting Irish receivers with five catches for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Jack Plummer completed 25 of 36 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown for Purdue (2-1). Milton Wright had the lone touchdown reception for the Boilermakers.
It was the 105th win at Notre Dame for head coach Brian Kelly. He tied Knute Rockne as the winningest coach in school history.
Notre Dame's defense frustrated Purdue for much of the afternoon. The Fighting Irish finished with three sacks, five tackles for loss, two interceptions and eight quarterback hurries. Defensive back Kyle Hamilton helped set the tone with 10 tackles, one interception and two pass break-ups.
Purdue opened the scoring with 9:58 left in the first quarter when Mitchell Fineran made a 34-yard field goal.
Notre Dame got on the scoreboard with 13:51 to go in the second quarter. Coan zipped a pass to Williams, who scampered 39 yards for a touchdown.
The Fighting Irish increased their lead to 10-3 on a 28-yard field goal by Jonathan Doerer with 8:49 left in the half.
Purdue pulled within 10-6 early in the second half on another 34-yard field goal by Fineran.
Coan connected for another big passing touchdown with 9:59 remaining in the third quarter. He completed a pass to Davis, who sprinted into the end zone for a 62-yard touchdown to make it 17-6.
The Boilermakers answered with a 2-yard scoring pass from Plummer to Wright with 7:08 left in the third quarter. That cut Purdue's deficit to 17-13 entering the fourth.
Notre Dame stretched its lead to 20-13 on a 30-yard field goal by Doerer with 10:54 remaining.
Williams padded the Fighting Irish's advantage to 27-13 with 6:05 to go. He took a handoff and sprinted through the middle of the offensive line, breaking a pair of tackles on his way to a 51-yard touchdown.
Williams finished with 12 carries for 91 yards to lead Notre Dame.
--Field Level Media