SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 29, 2012
Purdue 51, Marshall 41: Caleb TerBush threw four touchdown passes - three to Gary Bush - and the host Boilermakers' defense returned two interceptions for scores to stop the high-powered Thundering Herd.
Ricardo Allen (39-yard return) and Josh Johnson (74) picked off passes and scored 1:42 apart in the second quarter to cap a string of 28 unanswered points and give Purdue (3-1) a 42-14 lead at halftime.
Marshall's Rakeem Cato, who recorded his third 400-yard passing game of the season, was 45-of-68 for 439 yards with five touchdowns - three to Gator Hoskins - and three interceptions. Sophomore Tommy Shuler had a school-record 19 receptions for 200 yards for Marshall (2-3).
TerBush finished 27 of 37 passing for 294 yards while Antavian Edison had a touchdown catch and extended his streak of games with a reception to 25. Akeem Shavers added a rushing score as the Boilermakers shredded a Thundering Herd defense which entered the game third-worst among FBS teams in allowing 42.8 points per game.
Hoskins' third touchdown catch of the game - a 1-yarder with 12:53 left - cut Purdue's lead to 45-35. The Boilermakers responded with a 13-play, 78-yard drive, capped by Bush's 7-yard touchdown catch with 6:38 left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Marshall coach John Holliday suffered a cut on his face when he collided with an official and an assistant coach while running down the sideline. Holliday was encouraging Derek Mitchell during his 35-yard return of a blocked punt, which brought the Thundering Herd to within 42-28 with 6:09 left in the third quarter. ... Purdue senior DT Kawann Short tied a school record with his fifth career blocked field goal. ... Allen has four interception returns for a touchdown in his career.