After a penalty-plagued first half by both teams, the score remained tied at zero at the break. It was the first 0-0 halftime score in a Purdue game since Sept. 25, 1993, against Notre Dame.
The Boilermaker defense and special teams collectively starred in the first half, bowing up to make six stops in their own territory. The Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-0 B1G) were held to three punts and three field goal attempts.
All three field goal attempts were missed, with the Boilers blocking two of the three. It marked the first time Purdue has blocked multiple kicks in a game since Sept. 3, 2011, against Middle Tennessee.
After the break, Hudson Card and the Boilermaker offense engineered a 13-play, 55-yard drive that took 8:08 off the clock and ended with a Spencer Porath 45-yard field goal, the freshman’s first field goal of his career.
Nebraska answered with a scoring drive of its own, finally getting on the board near the end of the third quarter to take a lead that it would not relinquish.
Purdue’s deficit quickly snowballed after what was a close, hard-fought game through three quarters. Down 28-3 late in the game, the offense found the end zone for the first time. Leland Smith high-pointed a 15-yard pass from Card to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive, scoring his second career touchdown.
Card completed 18-of-25 passes for 174 yards and a score, good for a 135.7 passer rating. He completed 72 percent of his passes, his career-best mark in a Big Ten game. Sophomore wide receiver Jaron Tibbs was Card’s top target as he finished with career highs in catches (five) and yards (46).
Joseph Jefferson II and Dillon Thieneman tied for the team lead in tackles with nine apiece. Thieneman also added a pass breakup on the Huskers’ opening drive, his first of the season and third of his 16-game career.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Winston Berglund notched his first career sack in just his second collegiate game. The Carmel, Indiana, native brought down Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola for an eight-yard loss in the second quarter.
Raiola threw for a touchdown and tallied 257 yards on 17-of-27 passing, ultimately pushing the Boilermakers to 1-3 (0-1) on the season.
UP NEXT
Purdue starts a two-game road trip, first heading to Madison to face Wisconsin next Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon ET on Big Ten Network.
NOTES
• Purdue posted a 0-0 halftime score for the first time since Sept. 25, 1993, against Notre Dame.
• Hudson Card completed 18-of-25 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown, good for a 135.7 passer rating.
• Card completed 72% of his passes, his career-best mark in a Big Ten game.
• Card caught his own pass in the second quarter. He was the first Boilermaker quarterback to catch his own pass since Austin Appleby did it against Illinois in 2014.
• Jaron Tibbs led the receiving corps with five catches for 46 yards, both career highs.
• Purdue opened the scoring on a 13-play, 8:08 drive, the longest of the Walters era in both time and plays. It was Purdue’s longest scoring drive since Purdue took 9:22 against Eastern Kentucky in 2012.
• Devin Mockobee rushed for 41 yards on 13 carries. He moved up to 14th in the school record book in career rush attempts (416). Mockobee also moved up to 11th in career rushing yards (2,096 yards), passing Leroy Keyes (1966-68).
• Dillon Thieneman and Joseph Jefferson II led the defense with nine tackles apiece.
• Purdue’s defense held Nebraska off the board on their opening drive of the game, a feat accomplished by the defense in three of the four games this season.
• The Boilermakers blocked two field goals in the second quarter by Damarjhe Lewis and Joe Anderson, career firsts for both.
• It was the first time that Purdue blocked two field goals in a game since Sept. 3, 2011, against Middle Tennessee. That time it was Kawann Short and Ricardo Allen.
• Winston Berglund recorded his first career sack in just his second collegiate game.
• In his fourth game, kicker Spencer Porath connected on his first career field goal, a 45-yard boot.
• Keelan Crimmins tallied a 43-yard average on six punts with a long of 49 yards.
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