Purdue 41, Notre Dame 16

1234T
PUR (4-0)101021041
ND (3-2)3013016

Final

2:30 PM ET, October 2, 2004
Notre Dame Stadium
NOTRE DAME, IN

Boilermakers last won at Notre Dame in 1974

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Team Stat Comparison
 
1st Downs2228
Total Yards512536
Passing413460
Rushing9976
Penalties8-707-40
3rd Down Conversions5-108-18
4th Down Conversions0-02-4
Turnovers01
Possession26:4833:12
Individual Leaders
Purdue Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Orton21/3138540
Jones1/12800
Notre Dame Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Quinn26/4643210
Dillingh...3/32800
Purdue Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Void1153016
Jones944017
Orton63016
Notre Dame Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Walker196008
Jenkins220014
Wilson1202
Purdue Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Stubblef...7181297
Williams559028
Ingraham42919
Bryant278056
Notre Dame Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Fasano8155042
McKnight7113140
Shelton361034
Samardzija359041
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTERPURND
FG10:49BEN JONES 31 YD FG
Drive info: 10 plays, 63 yards.
30
FG6:30D.J. FITZPATRICK 26 YD FG
Drive info: 11 plays, 69 yards.
33
TD6:16JEROME BROOKS 100 YD KICK RETURN (BEN JONES KICK)103
SECOND QUARTERPURND
FG11:24BEN JONES 39 YD FG
Drive info: 7 plays, 52 yards.
133
TD1:03ROB NINKOVICH 2 YD PASS FROM KYLE ORTON (BEN JONES KICK)
Drive info: 11 plays, 97 yards.
203
THIRD QUARTERPURND
TD11:51TAYLOR STUBBLEFIELD 97 YD PASS FROM KYLE ORTON (BEN JONES KICK)
Drive info: 3 plays, 97 yards.
273
TD8:54RHEMA MCKNIGHT 40 YD PASS FROM BRADY QUINN (D.J. FITZPATRICK KICK)
Drive info: 7 plays, 63 yards.
2710
TD6:40KYLE INGRAHAM 9 YD PASS FROM KYLE ORTON (BEN JONES KICK)
Drive info: 5 plays, 56 yards.
3410
TD4:17RASHON POWERS-NEAL 1 YD RUN (FAILED 2PT PASS)
Drive info: 7 plays, 76 yards.
3416
TD0:45TAYLOR STUBBLEFIELD 12 YD PASS FROM KYLE ORTON (BEN JONES KICK)
Drive info: 8 plays, 75 yards.
4116

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Purdue's Kyle Orton accomplished something that Drew Brees, Jim Everett and Mark Hermann never did -- win at Notre Dame.

Orton threw four touchdown passes, including a 97 yarder to Taylor Stubblefield, to lead the 15th-ranked Boilermakers to a 41-16 victory Saturday. It was Purdue's first win at Notre Dame Stadium since Ara Parseghian's last year as Irish coach in 1974, when the Irish were ranked No. 2.

Orton was 21-of-31 for 385 yards, third most in his career, to help the Boilermakers (4-0) end a 13-game losing streak at Notre Dame (3-2). Purdue coach Joe Tiller said it might have been Orton's best game.

"I'm not surprised by what No. 18 can do any more," Tiller said. "He does a great job and our team is following his talent."

Orton, who has 17 TD passes with no interceptions this season, was asked after the game if he thought his performance might help his Heisman Trophy chances.

"You guys keep bringing up the Heisman. I don't have a vote on that," he said.

The Irish certainly were impressed, though.

"He was unstoppable," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "A lot of people say he is the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. He's got my vote."

In their last three trips to Notre Dame Stadium, the Boilermakers had come close to beating the Irish but always had a key turnover that cost them. On Saturday, though, the Boilermakers, who have not lost a fumble this year, didn't turn the ball over once against a Notre Dame defense which had forced 16 turnovers in its first four games.

"I told the coach before the game that if we could get 24 points and no turnovers, we would be in good shape," Orton said. "To get 41 points showed we played outstanding today."

Tiller said he was more impressed with the win over the Irish than winning at Notre Dame Stadium.

"I'll be real honest. I don't think too much about winning in this stadium," he said.

The victory also marked the first time Purdue has won a road game at a traditional powerhouse under Tiller, who is in his eighth season. The Boilermakers have lost six straight at Ohio State, they are 0-3-1 at Penn State and haven't won at Michigan since 1966.

Orton said he thought too much was made about Purdue's losing streak at Notre Dame.

"We don't go around thinking about that too much but it's nice for the fans and the program to get a win here," Orton said.

The Boilermakers also got a big play from Jerome Brooks, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown right after Notre Dame had tied the score at 3-3.

Purdue's defense stepped up midway through the second quarter, when Notre Dame had a second-and-goal from the 2. Defensive end Anthony Spencer stripped the ball at the 1 and defensive tackle Brent Grover recovered.

But it was Orton who really hurt the Irish. After the defensive stand by Purdue, Orton drove the Boilermakers 97 yards for a touchdown, taking a 20-3 halftime lead.

On the drive, running back Brandon Jones threw a 28-yard pass to Ray Williams, who was wide open, at the 2. Orton then threw a 2-yard TD pass to defensive end Rob Ninkovich.

The Boilermakers went ahead 27-3 on their first possession of the second half. On third-and-10 from their own 3, Orton lofted a pass up the right sideline, just beyond the reach of cornerback Dwight Ellick. Stubblefield caught the ball in full stride at the 25 and was all alone. He began celebrating at midfield, repeatedly pumping his left arm, and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for excessive celebrating.

He finished the TD by striking a Heisman pose, "for Kyle," he said.

"He looked at me like, whatever, and gave me a smile," said Stubblefield, who finished with seven receptions for 181 yards.

Brady Quinn was 26-of-46 for a career-high 432 yards, the most yards ever at Notre Dame Stadium and the second most in Notre Dame history. Joe Theismann passed for 576 yards at Southern California in 1970.

Quinn threw a 40-yard TD pass to Rhema McKnight in the third quarter. Rashon Powers-Neal added a 1-yard TD run for the Irish. Anthony Fasano caught eight passes for 155 yards, the most yards ever by a Notre Dame tight end.

Orton said he's not worried about losing focus as Heisman talk escalates.

"It feels the same as if I were a nobody," he said. "It's no added pressure."

College Football Scores

Other Scores:

Thursday, September 30th
Navy 24 Final
Air Force 21
Saturday, October 2nd
Purdue 41 Final
Notre Dame 16