Purdue Boilermakers vs Toledo Rockets Football Preview

The Mid-American Conference tour continues for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Coach Danny Hope’s crew improved to 2-1 last Saturday with a 24-13 win over Ball State.  Despite losing quarterback Robert Marve to a minor knee injury late in the first half, Purdue was able to hold off Ball State thanks in large part to a 76-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Rob Henry to Cortez Smith that deflected off the hands of a Cardinal defender.

Marve is likely to return this week, when the Boilermakers host another Mid-American Conference opponent, the Toledo Rockets.

Toledo, which was stomped 41-2 by Arizona in its nationally-televised opener, bounced back to win consecutive road games, a pair of conference contests at Ohio and Western Michigan.

Last week, the Rockets took a 21-0 second-quarter lead and rolled to a 37-24 win over Western Michigan.  Austin Dantin completed 11 of 18 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. 

By leading most of the game, Toledo forced WMU into a one-dimensional attack, which saw Broncos quarterback Alex Carder attempt 64 passes.  He completed 43 for 400 yards and one touchdown, but was picked off four times.  Diauntae Morrow had three interceptions for the Rockets.

Toledo’s defense should be tested again this week. Purdue, while still adjusting to life without star receiver Keith Smith, has proven that it has enough weapons to survive. Purdue has shown its ability to move the ball on the ground lately, using a running back-by-committee approach.  The Boilermakers’ top two backs, Dan Dierking and Al-Terek McBurse, have been limited by injuries.  Having rushed for over 200 yards in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2005, it appears to be working. 

Receivers Antavian Edison, O.J. Ross, and Justin Siller, and even backup quarterback Rob Henry, have all lined up at running back.  Edison ran for 55 yards last week, and Ross caught a touchdown pass from the running back position. 

Purdue hopes Dierking’s rib injury is healed enough for him to play this week.  McBurse (turf toe) may be sidelined again.  True freshman Reggie Pegram may see his first action.

Defensively, Purdue was very good last week, particularly against the pass.  True freshman Ricardo Allen made one of the biggest plays of the day when he picked off a pass in the end zone late in the first half.  The Purdue pass rush, led by Ryan Kerrigan and Kawann Short, created heat when it needed to.  It was Kerrigan’s pressure that led to Jason Werner’s fourth-quarter interception.

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