Purdue's 27 unanswered puts away Southern Illinois

Devin Mockobee ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries Saturday night as Purdue surpassed its 2024 win total with a 34-17 decision over Southern Illinois in West Lafayette Ind.

Quarterback Ryan Browne added 170 yards in the air on 14 of 23 accuracy for the Boilermakers (2-0), throwing for two scores and tossing an interception. Purdue, which went 1-11 last year and lost the final 11 games, outrushed the Salukis 215-81 and controlled the ball for 36 minutes and 46 seconds.

Quarterback DJ Williams hit 20 of 33 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and also rushed for a score. But Southern Illinois (1-1), which entered the game ranked 14th and 15th in the two major FCS polls, managed just a field goal after its two first quarter touchdowns.

The Boilermakers trailed 14-7 after Williams found backup tight end Ryan Schwendeman for a 4-yard scoring strike at the 5:08 mark of the first quarter but rattled off 27 unanswered points, using their size and depth advantages.

Browne connected with Nitro Tuggle for a game-tying 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:33 left in the opening quarter and Purdue took the lead for good on Spencer Porath's 25-yard field goal with 10:41 remaining in the first half. Mockobee powered over from the 1 yard out with 1:21 on the clock before halftime for a 24-14 advantage.

Porath converted from 43 at the 6:15 mark of the third quarter to make it 27-14 and Mockobee ended the game's competitive phase with his second 1-yard touchdown run with 11:48 left in the game. Paul Geelen added a 53-yard field goal with 7:41 remaining for the Salukis.

Looking for its third win in the last four years against an FBS opponent, Southern Illinois ripped 75 yards down the field on the game's first drive, scoring on Williams' 7-yard run at the 10:29 mark. Brown responded quickly, finding Arhmad Branch for a tying 13-yard touchdown pass with 6:34 remaining.

The Boilermakers excelled on third and fourth downs, converting a combined 11 of 17 in those situations.