Weather Conditions: sunny; temperature 55; wind NW 14 mph. Big plays were the order of the day for the Boilermakers up in South Bend. First was RB Jerome Brooks' 100-yard (actually he was 1 yard deep in the end zone) kickoff return for a touchdown. Brooks became only the forth Purdue football player in history to go end zone to end zone for six points. Brooks' performance earned him the honor of Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. Additionally, the kickoff return was selected as the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Week by a fan vote on ESPN.com.
With the Irish 2nd and goal on the Purdue 2 yardline DE Anthony Spencer forced a fumble and DT Brent Grover recovered the ball for the Boilers. Purdue's offense drove 97 yards and scored to give the Boilers a 20-3 lead. In the first half Spencer recorded 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup, and the forced fumble. Unfortunately Spencer was injured at the end of the half. Had he been able to play the entire game he would have been a solid contender for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
To top off a perfect day for Purdue fans Kyle Orton connected with Taylor Stubblefield for a 97-yard touchdown pass. One small detail almost forgotten by all the excitement and celebration is that the Boilermakers were 3rd and 10 on the Purdue 3 yardline. It was the second longest touchdown pass play by a Purdue quarterback. The longest Purdue touchdown pass play is the NCAA record 99-yard Brees to Sutherland play on 9/25/99 vs Northwestern at Ross-Ade Stadium. Orton received another Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award, his third of the 2004 season.
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