Purdue Holds Off MTSU, 27-24

(AP) Caleb TerBush passed for 219 yards in his first start and threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute to help Purdue beat Middle Tennessee State 27-24 on Saturday. Purdue, trailing 24-20, got a late stop to earn a shot at the win, and TerBush led the Boilers 85 yards in 11 plays. His 35-yard touchdown pass to Antavian Edison came with 49 seconds left. MTSU went for the tie as time expired, but Purdue's Ricardo Allen blocked a 47-yard field-goal attempt. Purdue's Ralph Bolden ran for 120 yards after missing last season with a torn ACL. Read the full AP recap, check out the box score and see the Big Ten scoreboard.

RECAP: Purdue and Middle Tennessee traded the lead all game long, but the Boilermakers went ahead for good in the fourth quarter on Caleb TerBush's 35-yard touchdown pass to Antavian Edison and held on for a 27-24 victory over the Blue Raiders on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. TerBush threw for 219 yards while completing 19 of 33 passes for Purdue. TerBush finished the game with two touchdowns and one interception. TerBush looked for Justin Siller often. He hauled in five catches for 54 yards. The Boilermakers' explosive offense used big plays to take down Middle Tennessee. Purdue had four plays of 20 yards or more on its way to victory. TerBush found Edison open for a 35-yard touchdown pass on the Boilermakers' longest play on the day. All facets of the Boilermakers' offense were in place and it showed against an overmatched Blue Raiders defense. Purdue gained 219 yards passing and 197 yards rushing as it dominated the Blue Raiders' defense. Middle Tennessee's Logan Kilgore was good for 329 yards during the game, completing 27 of 45 passes. Kilgore finished the game with two touchdowns and one interception. Kilgore had a good connection with receiver Tavarres Jefferson. He hauled in seven catches for 61 yards. The Blue Raiders racked up 460 total yards, including 329 yards passing while completing 27 of 47 attempts. Middle Tennessee's running game proved effective, netting 131 yards on 33 rushes.

FOURTH QUARTER: Purdue captured the lead in the fourth quarter and hung on for the 27-24 win over Middle Tennessee. With 49 seconds to go, Caleb TerBush found Antavian Edison open for a 35-yard touchdown pass to give the Boilermakers a 27-24 lead. The Blue Raiders expanded their lead to 17-10 thanks to seven-play 12-yard drive that ended when Alan Gendreau drilled a 43-yard field goal. A punt return put Middle Tennessee at the Purdue 38-yard line to open the drive. The Boilermakers tied the game at 17 after Akeem Shavers ran 30 yards to paydirt to end a 10-play 58-yard drive. The Blue Raiders broke the tie when Benjamin Cunningham pounded in a two-yard touchdown run to cap off a 11-play 60-yard drive, which gave Middle Tennessee a 24-17 lead. The Blue Raiders relied on a run play just two times. A 39-yard drive that ended when Carson Wiggs kicked a 48-yard field goal helped Purdue narrow the deficit to 24-20. The Boilermakers went to the air just two times. TerBush's 35-yard touchdown pass to Edison gave Purdue the lead for good, 27-24, after a 13-play 85-yard drive. The Boilermakers' Ralph Bolden went over 100 yards rushing for the game in the quarter, he finished with 121 yards rushing. Purdue's TerBush went over 200 yards passing for the game in the quarter, he finished the game 219 yards passing.

THIRD QUARTER: The teams combined for zero points and one turnover in an ugly third quarter and the margin is still four, as Middle Tennessee leads 14-10. The Blue Raiders' Logan Kilgore went over 200 yards passing for the game in the quarter, he now has 204 yards passing in the game. Middle Tennessee has possession on Purdue's 33-yard line to start the fourth quarter.

SECOND QUARTER: Middle Tennessee's passing attack looked sharp, as the Blue Raiders threw for 79 yards in the quarter and lead 14-10. Caleb TerBush's two-yard touchdown pass to Jared Crank gave Purdue the lead 10-7 after a 14-play 98-yard drive. Logan Kilgore's 21-yard touchdown pass to Sancho McDonald finished off a nine-play, 95-yard drive and gave Middle Tennessee a 14-10 lead. The Blue Raiders will start the second half with the ball.

FIRST QUARTER: Middle Tennessee's Malcolm Beyah led the offense in the first quarter. He caught a 26-yard touchdown pass and the Blue Raiders lead 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. Middle Tennessee took the game's first lead after Logan Kilgore hit Beyah in the endzone from 26 yards out on the last play of a five-play, 22-yard drive to give the Blue Raiders a 7-0 advantage. A fumble recovery put Middle Tennessee at the Purdue 22-yard line to open the drive. Purdue made the score 7-3 after Carson Wiggs kicked a 49-yard field goal to finish off a a 30-yard drive. The Boilermakers threw just two times. Purdue has possession on the Blue Raiders' 30-yard line to start the second quarter.