Boilering Up (cont.)

Purdue is methodically marching down the field. It has gone 42 yards on 11 plays. But now the drive has stalled, with incompletions on third and fourth down. Chris Summers out to attempt a field goal. And he misses the 37-yarder wide left. Still tied. NU ball at the 20.

Fasten your seat belts

We're getting ready to Boiler Up! Start of the third quarter.

Adventures in football scoring

This is how you score the hook and ladder:

Thompson with a catch for 9 yards. Peterman no catch for 15 yards and a touchdown.

And now numerically:

Bacher - 1 of 1, 24 yards, TD.
Thompson - 1 catch, 9 yards.
Peterman - 0 catches, 15 yards, TD.

Got it? Good. Now explain it to me.

End of the First Half

OK, let's all take a deep breath.

Here's what we (or at least anyone who is at Ross-Ade Stadium or gets the Big Ten Network) saw in the first half:

- More than 350 yards of total offense
- Four turnovers by Northwestern
- 7 rushes for 37 yards by Tyrell Sutton
- 3 picks and a touchdown from C.J. Bacher, who leads the conference in passing.
- And a hook-and-ladder play. Yes, a hook-and-ladder play.
- 7 penalties for 65 yards for Purdue. Temper, temper.

Say what you will about NU. There's never a dull moment.

Purdue 14, NU 14 at the half.

Hook ... and Ladder

See if you follow me. 1st and 10 on the Purdue 24. Bacher completes the ball to Thompson for 9 to the 15. Thompson laterals backwards to Peterman who is streaking to the sideline. Peterman does the rest, diving to the pylon. Purdue 14, NU 14. 0:32 left in the half.

See-saws for sale

And the Cats come back. Starting at the 33, 17 yards to Thompson. On a 3rd and 6, a screen to Sutton with nothing but daylight: 19-yard gain. A sack to Bacher and an incompletion to Sutton sets them back. BUT a late hit on Purdue's Justin Scott gives NU a first down on the 24.

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.