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n o . 2 1 n o t r e d a m e 3 1 , p u r d u e 2 4 purdue vs. notre dame game story A Look Back At saturday's Top Plays and players BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com back at the plays Alook the toploss top Notre and players from Purdue's 31-24 to Dame on Saturday. Top plays No.3 With the game tied at 17 in the fourth quarter after a Purdue punt, the Boilermakers came out and lined up in their 4-3 defense but had their corners in press coverage at the line with only one safety deep. Tommy Rees spotted the matchup and was ready to take a shot. The only real surprise is that he went against Ricardo Allen, instead of opposite cornerback Frankie Williams. Turned out, it was the right call. DaVaris Daniels simply ran past Allen at the line of scrimmage, and Rees delivered a perfect throw over the top of Allen down the right sideline. Allen, still nursing a foot injury, couldn't recover, eventually attempting to dive and knock Daniels' feet out from under him. It didn't work, and Daniels cruised in for an 82-yard touchdown that gave Notre Dame the lead. Less than two minutes later, the Irish appeared to seize control. On third-and-five, Purdue lined up with two running backs in an offset I formation with Rob Henry under center. Shane Mikesky came across the field on a route, and though he was tightly covered by Bennett Jackson, Henry delivered the ball anyway. Jackson simply cut off Mikesky to intercept the Tom Campbell pass and raced 32 yards for Ricardo Allen wasn't able to win the one-on-one battle with DaVaris Daniels on a play in the fourth a touchdown to put the Irish quarter, not getting any bump on Daniels off the line of scrimmage, and it resulted in an 82-yard up two scores with 11:18 to touchdown. play. Henry to making a leaping snag too soon, and the pass fell incomThe Boilermak- before a desperation run. On plete. ers' kept fight- second down, Purdue picked up And the defense couldn't get ing, though, and had the ball a Notre Dame blitz well, but the the ball back in the game's final back with about eight minutes Irish had the receivers blanketed 7:22. to play with a chance to tie the and Henry had to throw the ball After a punt, Purdue's degame. away once pressure came. Then, fense fell victim to its Achilles' But the offense couldn't mus- on third-and-12, Kevin Pamphile heel of the season, being unter another drive. allowed pressure from a three- able to stop Notre Dame on Robert Kugler sailed a snap man rush off the edge, forcing four third downs, as the Irish on first down high, requiring Henry to have to release the ball ran out the clock. No.2 No.1 GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 4 • 22