GAME SNAPSHOT
KICKOFF: Saturday, noon ET
SITE: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: ESPN2
SERIES: First meeting
RANKINGS: Boston College No. 23
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Eagles
–QB Anthony Brown threw five touchdown passes in the win at Wake Forest, joining Doug Flutie (1984) as the only Eagle with at least five touchdown passes (Flutie had six) and no interceptions in a game. It was BC’s first five-TD passing game since Matt Ryan did it in 2007.
–RB AJ Dillon, a preseason All-American, carried the ball only six times in less than a quarter against FCS Holy Cross on Sept. 8, but gained 149 yards and was named ACC Running Back of the Week. Then, five days later against Wake Forest, he ran for 185 yards on 33 carries, scored a touchdown and was again lauded with the honor. He has reached 100 yards before halftime in two straight games.
–DE Wyatt Ray, who happens to be Nat King Cole’s grandson and Natalie Cole’s nephew, had a career game at Wake Forest. He set a BC record with four sacks and had eight total tackles and a quarterback hurry. His performance earned him the Walter Camp defensive player of the week award and ACC top defensive linemen honors. He leads the nation with 1.67 sacks per game.
–S Lukas Denis joined Dillon in preseason national accolades, claiming a second team All-American spot. He had seven interceptions in leading the BC defense last year. He had 22 passes defended over the last two seasons and picked off a UMass pass on the final play of the first half in Game 1, returning it 59 yards for a touchdown. He had nine tackles, seven of them solo, in Week 3.
Boilermakers
–QB David Blough had a career game against Missouri, but the Boilermakers don’t need him to match those numbers against Boston College (though it would be appreciated). They need the poise he showed in helping his team rally from an early 27-10 deficit, and his ability to find his second or third option when the first (i.e. freshman Rondale Moore) is covered.
–DT Lorenzo Neal forced a fumble, but also had a key 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty in the fourth quarter and was credited with just two tackles. It’s a testament to how much he is needed that he sat out only one play following the penalty, but it’s his second such flag through three games. He will need to do a better job of playing under control, and if he’s not at his best, the defensive line will struggle to stop the Boston College rushing attack.
–LB Markus Bailey has been unexpectedly quiet this season, and it’s no coincidence that this has been accompanied by the defense struggling. He will need to be at his best for this team to slow down the Eagles.
–DB Kenneth Major looks like he’s supplanted Tim Cason in the secondary. The redshirt freshman picked off a pass in the loss to Missouri, and though he’s still learning, he’ll likely to continue to play a key role in both pass defense and run support this week.
KEYS
TO THE GAME
One team appears on the rise. The other is struggling.
That looks to be the situation when No. 23 Boston College visits Purdue Saturday.
Kickoff at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., is noon ET on ESPN2.
The Eagles (4-0) are ranked for the first time since 2008 and are seeking their first 4-0 start since 2007 — with a home game against Temple waiting the following week.
On the flip side, the Boilermakers are 0-3 for the first time since 1996 and could sink to 0-4 for the first time since 1987.
BC coach Steve Addazio is taking nothing for granted, however.
“They’re a team that’s very explosive,” Addazio said. “Obviously, their quarterback broke the school’s single (game) passing record, which is quite a statement. Speaks to their ability to throw the ball down the field. Very talented.”
That explosiveness was evident even in last week’s loss to Missouri when backup quarterback David Blough threw for a school-record 572 yards and set a Big Ten single-game record with 590 yards in total offense. A fellow by the name of Drew Brees held the former school record.
“They remind me of us a year ago,” Addazio said. “It’s a developing football team that is scary. Their coach is a tough guy, a talented guy and that’s a tough place to go play.”
Playing for the injured Elijah Sindelar, injured during the week, Blough was 39 of 55 for three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 18 yards on six carries and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Interestingly, as of early this week, Purdue coach Jeff Brohm wasn’t committed to a starter for this week’s first matchup between the programs.
“You guys saw the game. I think we feel very confident in the progress David made,” Brohm said. “He played a very good game. He hung in there and made throws and sometimes he hung in there longer than he has in the past and made throws, which was huge progress. That was great to see.”
Sindelar, who threw four touchdown passes and amassed 396 passing yards in a bowl win over Arizona despite a torn ACL, still wasn’t throwing and there was no word on his status.
Addazio had no such decision to make.
After cruising through local opponents Massachusetts and FCS school Holy Cross, the Eagles went down to Winston-Salem and avenged last year’s home loss to Wake Forest. Quarterback Anthony Brown threw five touchdown passes, AJ Dillon ran for 185 yards and three TDs, and Wyatt Ray set a school record of four sacks.
All three were honored by the ACC and Ray was named the national Walter Camp defensive player of the week. He leads the nation with 1.67 sacks per game.
Both Brown and Dillon, a preseason All-American, played fewer than three quarters in the two opening wins, and Dillon was named ACC running back of the week the previous week after just six carries (149 yards) in less than a quarter. Despite his lack of playing time in the first two games, the sophomore is fifth in the country with 144 yards per game.
BC is 10-2 since Dillon joined the starting lineup during his freshman season.
Brohm knows what he’s facing in the Eagles.
“They are going to try to run the football first and they have a great rushing attack and that’s what they are going to feed off, so that’s what we have to stop,” he said.
Addazio said he will deal with his players’ mental state and make sure there’s no complacency with the program being back in the top 25.
“I think our guys are wired pretty good,” the coach said. “They know that’s like Kool-Aid, don’t drink that now. Just go about your business. They’ve been through the meat grinder, this team, right? They know where they started last year.”
