Purdue holds off W. Michigan, 37-32

BTN.com staff, December 27, 2011

(AP) Purdue recovered two onside kicks and Raheem Mostert returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown before halftime to give Purdue a big lead, and the Boilermakers held on to beat Western Michigan 37-32 Tuesday night in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. The Broncos had the ball with a chance to go ahead, but their comeback hopes ended when quarterback Alex Carder fumbled for his fifth turnover with just under 2 minutes left.

Read the full AP recap, see the box score, check out our photo gallery, get Tom Dienhart's reaction and view our bowl schedule.

Check out our quarter-by-quarter recaps, powered by Narrative Science:

FINAL: Jordan White caught 13 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown, but Western Michigan lost to Purdue 37-32 on Tuesday at Ford Field. The game was a shootout, with the offensive units for both teams putting up big numbers. The teams went wild on the attacking side of the ball, racking up 902 total yards combined. Purdue (7-6) and Western Michigan (7-6) traded the lead all game long. There were four lead changes in the game before the Boilermakers ended up on top for good. Purdue's Caleb TerBush went eight of 13 through the air for a total of 101 yards. TerBush finished the game with one touchdown and no interceptions. TerBush had a trusted receiver in Gary Bush. He caught six passes for 90 yards and one touchdown. Gerald Gooden showed good hands on defense for the Boilermakers, picking off two Western Michigan passes. On a critical drive in the second quarter, he intercepted Alex Carder on second-and-9. Purdue finished with 443 total yards, including 177 yards passing while completing 15 of 21 attempts. The Boilermakers' running game proved effective, netting 266 yards on 56 rushes. The Broncos' Carder was good for 413 yards during the game, completing 31 of 57 passes. Carder finished the game with three touchdowns and four interceptions. Western Michigan's offense finished the game having gained 459 yards, including 413 passing yards on 31 completions. The Broncos rushed 23 times for just 46 yards.

FOURTH QUARTER: Jordan White had a productive quarter for Western Michigan. He caught four passes for 73 yards, but the Broncos were kept at bay in a 37-32 loss. Purdue made its lead 37-25 when Carson Wiggs kicked a 26-yard field goal on the last play of an 11-play, 64-yard drive. Western Michigan made the score 37-32 after Alex Carder found Chleb Ravenell open for a five-yard touchdown pass to finish off a 45-yard drive. The Broncos started in good field position when Western Michigan recovered a fumble.

THIRD QUARTER: Purdue ran for 74 yards in the quarter, and the Boilermakers now lead 34-25. Western Michigan made the score 27-18 after John Potter kicked a 21-yard field goal to finish off a 66-yard drive. The Broncos' drive stalled at Purdue's one-yard line and Western Michigan settled for a field goal. The Boilermakers made their lead 34-18 when Caleb TerBush and Gary Bush combined for a 33-yard touchdown on the last play of a four-play, 80-yard drive. Purdue drove across midfield after Akeem Hunt's 33-yard run from the 28-yard line. The Broncos put the finishing touches on a 29-yard drive when Tevin Drake pounded in a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 34-25. A fumble recovery by Western Michigan set the Broncos up to start the drive. The Boilermakers' Akeem Shavers reached the 100-yard rushing mark for the game thanks to 27 in the quarter, and currently sits with 106 yards in all. Jordan White clinched a 150-yard receiving game with 80 yards in the quarter, part of his nine-catch, 176-yard day through three quarters for Western Michigan. The Broncos' Alex Carder passed for 127 yards in the quarter to put him over 200 yards for the game. Carder has 268 yards through the air so far today. Purdue has the ball at Western Michigan's 34-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.

SECOND QUARTER: Purdue's high-powered offense resulted in 20 points in the second, and the Boilermakers have taken the lead 27-15. Purdue racked up 65 passing yards and 66 rushing yards in the quarter. The Boilermakers' Carson Wiggs booted two field goals in the quarter. The last 17 points have been scored by Purdue. The Boilermakers closed the gap to 8-7 when Robert Marve and Reggie Pegram hooked up for a one-yard touchdown to finish off a 38-yard drive. Purdue started in good field position when Albert Evans intercepted Alex Carder's pass. Wiggs' 49-yard field goal finished off a four-play, three-yard drive and gave the Boilermakers the lead, 10-8. An interception by Gerald Gooden set Purdue up at Western Michigan's 35-yard line to start the drive. A 74-yard drive that ended when Carder threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Josh Schaffer helped the Broncos narrow the deficit to 24-15. The Boilermakers opened up the lead, 27-15, after Wiggs drilled a 19-yard field goal to end a six-play, 42-yard drive. Purdue had to settle for a field goal after failing to reach the endzone from Western Michigan's two-yard line. The Broncos' failure to convert on a fourth-and-1 put the Boilermakers at the Western Michigan 44-yard line to open the drive. Purdue kept the ball on the ground during the drive, throwing only one pass. Western Michigan will have possession to start the second half.

FIRST QUARTER: Jordan White had a productive quarter for Western Michigan. He caught a 49-yard touchdown pass, and the Broncos lead 8-7 at the end of the first quarter. Western Michigan struck first when Alex Carder and White hooked up for a 49-yard touchdown, the final play of a one-play, 49-yard drive. The Broncos started in good field position when Western Michigan recovered a fumble. The Broncos put two points on the board when John Potter ran in from two yards out. Purdue closed the gap to 8-7 when Robert Marve threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Pegram to cap off a 38-yard drive. The Boilermakers began the drive with good field position after Albert Evans intercepted Carder's pass. Purdue has possession on its own 45-yard line to start the second quarter.

http://twitter.com/#!/BTNTomDienhart/status/151834554259357696

http://twitter.com/#!/RyanKerrigan91/status/151832885987512320

http://twitter.com/#!/D_Tardy7/status/151832704906825729

http://twitter.com/#!/Hlas/status/151828283569352704

http://twitter.com/#!/BryanDFischer/status/151828282709512192

http://twitter.com/#!/carminjc/status/151812261298716672

http://twitter.com/#!/BTNBrentYarina/status/151809092120350721

http://twitter.com/#!/slmandel/status/151809137217507328

http://twitter.com/#!/BTNRickPizzo/status/151806246083764224

http://twitter.com/#!/TomFornelli/status/151800652874522624

http://twitter.com/#!/cliffavril/status/151797094527680512

http://twitter.com/#!/BryanDFischer/status/151796660962459648