There goes the ole turnover margin

Conteh takes a pitch on the option and the ball mysteriously disappears from his grasp. First down Purdue on its own 28. BUT the Cats' defense forces a three and out. So no harm no foul, but that's the second turnover in Purdue territory and the fourth overall. 2:01 to go.

Another 3rd down conversion

And the Cats are in business. On a 3rd and 2, Bacher found SUPERback Drake Dunsmore for 12 yards, down to the Purdue 32. NU is 4 of 6 on third downs. 4:11 to go in the half.

Corey Wootton is a manimal

On a 3rd and 18, Wootton got inside a Purdue's right tackle and buried Curtis Painter. And then he got really excited. On the punt, players got chippy and there were offsetting unnecessary roughness calls. Play nice, boys.

Ross Lane is a better receiver than a juggler

Bacher throws to Lane, who juggles the ball a lot ... and right into the hands of Purdue's Dan Bick at the NU 34. Purdue driving now, 2nd and 10 at the NU 49 with 7:39 to go

False Alarm

Sutton's back, and picking up 9 on a draw. Cats are driving, 1st and 10 at the Purdue 44 with 11:20 to go in the half.

Fitz gets animated

So Dorien Bryant came up and fielded a short kickoff from Demos, returning it past the 45. But one of his teammates had called for a fair catch, which would negate Bryant's return and be a 5-yard penalty for delay of game. The refs didn't see this. Pat Fitzgerald did. And then he got pissed. Eventually, the refs got it right and moved the ball back to the 25.

A scoring drive ends in trickery

Bacher completed two 3rd and 10s over the course of a long drive, one to Kim Thompson and one to Ross Lane. Then, Peterman took a reverse from Omar Conteh and took it 15 yards down to the Purdue 11, landing on a felled Kurt Mattes, who softened the blow considerably. Then Conteh took a pitch from Bacher on the option and waltzed into the end zone. Purdue 14, NU 7. 13:14 left in half. Beepbeep ... Beepbeep ...