Wisconsin Badgers vs Purdue Boilermakers Match Player Stats On Nov 08, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 8, 2014

Wisconsin 34, Purdue 16: Heisman Trophy hopeful Melvin Gordon went over the 200-yard rushing mark for the fourth time this season to lead the visiting Badgers over the Boilermakers.

Wisconsin (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten), winners of four straight, kept its West Division hopes alive behind Gordon, who rushed for 205 yards and accounted for two touchdowns, including his second TD reception of the season. Joel Stave finished 19-of-29 for 219 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while completing passes to eight different receivers.

Austin Appleby was 17-of-37 for 204 yards and completed a 79-yard touchdown pass to Akeem Hunt that cut the Badgers' lead to 24-16 with 9:35 left in the third quarter. But Purdue (3-7, 1-5) couldn’t get any closer as Wisconsin's run defense limited the Boilermakers to just 26 yards.

Wisconsin took control of the game in the second quarter with 17 unanswered points then put the game out of reach when Tanner McEvoy’s 13-yard touchdown run gave the Badgers a 31-16 lead with 1:05 left in the third quarter. Stave hooked up with Gordon on a 27-yard touchdown reception then, with 32 seconds left in the first half, hit Alex Erickson for a 9-yard touchdown and a 24-6 lead.

The Boilermakers took a 3-0 lead on Paul Griggs' 40-yard field goal with 8:18 left in the first quarter, but it was short-lived after Gordon scored on a 14-yard run to give the Badgers a 7-3 lead. Griggs added a career-long 53-yarder just minutes into the second quarter, but Wisconsin took a 10-6 advantage on Rafael Gaglianone’s 24-yard field goal.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Griggs’ field goal marked the first time Purdue scored on its opening drive since the Michigan State game on Oct. 11. … Gordon has 18 100-yard rushing games, which ties him with John Clay and James White for sixth-most in Badgers’ history. … Purdue S Landon Feichter recorded an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery.