The Heartland Line
Elijah Brown's first Washington start ends 3-game skid in 38-26 win at Purdue
Elijah Brown threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns in his first start as Washington won 38-26 at Purdue for its first Big Ten win.
Washington lost the turnover battle by four and still won at Purdue. In his first start for the Huskies, Stanford transfer Elijah Brown threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns on Friday night in West Lafayette. The 38-26 win snapped a three-game losing streak and gave Washington its first Big Ten victory of the season.
Brown completed 21 of 27 passes. He was also intercepted three times, the first on the opening snap of the game, ESPN reported. Purdue never made Washington pay enough for those mistakes. The Huskies outgained the Boilermakers 488-371, and Chris Lawson caught six passes for 103 yards. Huskies coach Jedd Fisch summed up the oddity of the night: "You are not usually minus-4 in the turnover battle and win the game."
The game turned late in the first half. Purdue had tied it 17-17 after a Washington punt bounced off the foot of the Huskies' Dylan Robinson, and Fame Ijeboi caught a 10-yard touchdown pass on the next play. Washington answered with a 91-yard drive. A roughing-the-passer penalty on a failed third-and-10 at the Purdue 10 kept it alive, and Brian Bonner Jr. scored from a yard out with 27 seconds left in the half. Washington led the rest of the way. The Spokesman-Review noted that the Huskies ran for 125 yards in the first half alone, more than they managed in full games against Utah State, Minnesota, USC or Iowa.
Brown's 4-yard scoring pass to Dezmen Roebuck put Washington up 31-20 early in the fourth quarter. Ryan Browne's 8-yard touchdown cut it to five, but Purdue's two-point try failed. Trey Cooley then broke a 53-yard touchdown run with 10:30 left and finished with 113 yards on eight carries. That was his first 100-yard game as a Husky, according to the Spokesman-Review, which also reported that he left with an injury. Cornerback Jeron Jones later intercepted a pass, and Purdue's last chance ended with a turnover on downs.
On the other side, the Washington defense held Purdue to 98 rushing yards, and 59 of those came on a single Antonio Harris run. Ijeboi ran for 195 yards against Minnesota the week before. This time he had 19 on 13 carries. Browne went 21 of 41 for 273 yards with two interceptions, per NBC Sports. Purdue coach Barry Odom said his offense goes as far as its running game can take it.
What it means for Oct. 31
Both teams have a bye week before playing on the road on Oct. 31. At 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten, Washington needs two more wins to reach bowl eligibility. The Huskies go to Nebraska, which ESPN's standings list at 5-1 and 2-1 in the league. Before Friday, Washington's losses had come against Minnesota, USC and Iowa, and it gave up 41 points to the Hawkeyes in the most recent of those. Its offense finally had balance in West Lafayette. The question at Nebraska is whether Brown can keep that going without giving the ball away so often, and whether Cooley is healthy.
The loss ended Purdue's two-game winning streak, which included wins at Illinois and at home against Minnesota, and dropped the Boilermakers to 3-4 and 2-2. They now need three wins in their last five games to become bowl eligible. That stretch opens at Penn State, which is 3-3 and still looking for its first Big Ten win. To win there, Purdue will need its running game back.