In a game that saw its two teams combine for 99 points, the most important play of the game was executed by a kicker — good news for Purdue, bad news for Central Michigan.
Boilermakers kicker Chris Summers split the uprights on a 40-yard field goal as regulation time expired to secure a 51-48 win for Purdue in a wild Motor City Bowl.
The Summers kick capped off a seven-play, 38-yard drive which began at the Purdue 39-yard line with 1:04 remaining in regulation. As had been the case for the entire game, Boilermakers quarterback Curtis Painter marched the team down the field, completing four of five attempted passes for 41 yards before kneeling in the middle of the field to set up what would become the game-winning field goal.
Painter completed 35 of 54 passes for 546 yards and three touchdowns in the game, doing much of his damage early in the game. Painter’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Jake Standeford with 13:20 left in the third quarter gave Purdue a commanding 21-point lead. But while the lead was commanding, it was proven not to be insurmountable.
Led by quarterback Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan rallied to score 21 consecutive points and tie the game up — in the third quarter. LeFevour accumulated 56 of his 107 rushing yards and 150 of his 292 passing yards as the Chippewas rallied in the third period.
Despite momentum shifting to the virtual home team late in the game, Purdue would not go away. After forcing Central Michigan to go three-and-out on its first fourth quarter drive, the Boilermakers responded with a 12-play, 76-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 13-yard Jaycen Taylor touchdown run. The junior’s jaunt allowed Purdue to reclaim a seven-point lead.
While it would come late — though not late enough in retrospect — the Chippewas would have an answer. On what would turn out to be its final drive of the game, Central Michigan would tie the game as LeFevour scrambled twice for 18 yards and completed all three of his attempted passes — including the game-tying 20-yard touchdown toss to sophomore Bryan Anderson — for 56 yards. The drive, which began with 2:15 remaining, took only 61 seconds off of the clock, leaving plenty of time for Painter and Purdue’s eventual response.
The win lifts Purdue to an 8-5 record to finish the year, while the Chippewas fell to 8-6.
UPDATED CDDYHARFCS RECORDS:
NCAA Football 08 (4-3)
Merrill Park Superstar (3-4)
Holiday Bowl Predictions:
NCAA Football 08: Texas
Merrill Park Superstar: Texas
