Victory boosts Purdue football grades behind strong defense, coaching at Illinois
· Yahoo Sports
CHAMPAIGN, IL − Purdue football got tired of being the kid who was picked on during recess by the schoolyard bully.
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In Memorial Stadium on Saturday, the Boilermakers ended years of futility and losing streaks.
When the final seconds ticked off on Purdue's 24-17 victory over Illinois, Purdue (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten) found itself on the winning side of the scoreboard against a Big Ten opponent for the first time since Nov. 25, 2023, also the last time the Boilers beat a Power Four opponent.
It's Purdue first road win since Sept. 9, 2023 at Virginia Tech and first Big Ten road victory since Nov. 26, 2022 at Indiana.
The Boilermakers leave Champaign with a report card to be proud of.
Red zone offense holds Purdue football back
OFFENSE GRADE: B-
The Boilermakers have to figure out how to sustain offensive success once they get inside the red zone. Purdue can look like a well-oiled machine and revert to a rusty clunker once it gets inside the 20. On a day where Purdue's defense had unquestionably its best performance of the season, the offense managed to do just enough in the points department.
Chauncey Magwood gives Purdue some extra credit with that miraculous snag at the 1 late. When you aren't accustomed to winning, it's tough to make game-winning plays. Nice nod to Antonio Harris to let him run the wildcat from the 1 and finish the job on a day where his tough running moved the chains on a couple occasions.
At some point, Purdue will have to re-establish a run game to complement what looks like a potent aerial attack. The ground game did enough to get by this time.
Purdue defense withstands pressure-packed moments
DEFENSE GRADE: B+
Coordinator Kevin Kane has been a piñata with angered Purdue fans wielding sticks. Only they didn't seem to be swinging blindfolded. Each Monday, Kane would stand at the podium and have to answer for repeated poor defensive performances.
This game showed there's still a ton of room to get better, but give credit where it's due. The Boilermakers stood tall in some pressure cooker moments
But teams are still converting at an alarming rate on third-and-long. The late Illini touchdown with 1:26 to go did just enough to instill fear this string of losses could seemingly continue. But the Boilers handled the onside kick, assuring Purdue didn't waste a much improved day defensively.
Special teams remains a bright spot for Purdue
SPECIAL TEAMS GRADE: A
The dynamic duo of placekicker Jacobo Echeverria Lozano and Dylan Drennan continue to be bright spots. While Purdue would prefer to finish drives in the end zone, Echeverria Lozano's reliability has at least allowed Purdue to complete them with points. Drennan averaged 49 yards per punt. And can we talk about Bisi Owens' snag on the late onside kick attempt? Not as easy as Owens made it look.
Purdue coach Barry Odom and staff earn honors
COACHING GRADE: A
On Illinois' touchdown to end the first half, Barry Odom was well onto the field signaling for a timeout. Officials never granted it, but Odom was heads up enough to know Purdue was disadvantaged. Does the defense come up with a solution if the timeout is granted? We don't know, but Odom and his staff were pulling the right strings more than they weren't. That hasn't always been the case this season.
I like the decisions to be aggressive late. After playing conservative midway through the fourth offensively, Purdue let Ryan Browne air it out. Though it nearly led to a crucial turnover, Browne and Magwood made a highlight reel play to seemingly shut the door. And with a lead, Kane's attack mode defense looked a heck of a lot more to the description we've been given.
Sure, there were moments, but we won't criticize harshly. This was a long time coming.
Charles Correa steps up to lead Purdue defense
GAME MVP: CHARLES CORREA
Charles Correa appeared nearly in tears at the postgame press conference following Purdue's Sept. 12 double-overtime loss to Wake Forest when the Boilermakers were one stop away from a win. The defensive captain and middle linebacker helped assure there would be no such heartbreak on Saturday. Correa finished with half a sack, 1.5 tackles and 6 total tackles, including 3 solo..
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Victory boosts Purdue football grades behind strong defense, coaching at Illinois