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GoldanDBlack express • volume 25, express 2 • 22 BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com H ere's a look back at the top plays and players from Pur- due's 43-34 victory over Western Michigan Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. Top plays No.3 Trailing 14-13 mid- way through the second quarter, Purdue needed a spark. Junior Frankie Williams deliv- ered. Western Michigan lined up on a third-and-four near midfield in an empty set. Quarterback Zach Terrell had time against a four- man rush and saw tight end Eric Boyden, who started the play in the slot on the right side, break open in the middle of the field. What Terrell couldn't account for was Williams' closing speed. Purdue was playing zone cov- erage, but Williams got a great break from a deep safety spot and stepped in front of Boyden to make the interception. But Williams wasn't done with only the pick, weaving his way toward the left sideline, briefly back to the middle and then again down the sideline for a 56-yard return. He was tackled at the four-yard line, and that set up a touchdown that snatched the lead back. No.2 But the Broncos kept fighting, eventually using a 12-play, 81-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter to pull within 37-34. Purdue's offense needed to answer. B.J. Knauf and Justin Sinz made sure it did. Facing a third-and-10 early in the drive, Danny Etling lined up with three receivers, a back and a tight end. He stepped up in the pocket to evade some pressure and unleashed a pass downfield. B.J. Knauf overcame tight cov - erage by coming back to the ball and making a leaping catch for a 20-yard gain and the first down. Three plays later, the Boilermakers needed another conversion. Sinz converted it when he turned a pass well short of the marker into a catch, made a quick move and got the first down. No.1 Akeem Hunt made sure to seal it. On second down from the 38-yard line, Hunt had tight end Jordan Jurasevich lined up as his fullback with Gabe Holmes and Sinz on the right side. On the snap, Holmes latched onto the defen- sive end and held the point, Sinz reached an outside linebacker for a seal, right tackle J.J. Prince raced over to knock a cornerback wide and Jurasevich was the leader, taking another cornerback out of the play to usher Hunt into the end zone. Hunt wasn't even touched on the play that gave Purdue a 43-34 lead. j Tom Campbell Frankie Williams' interception in the second quarter helped turn the momentum toward Purdue in its 43-34 victory over Western Michigan. Williams, playing his first game as a safety, also had two pass breakups and seven tackles. p u r d u e 4 3 , w e s t e r n m i c h i g a n 3 4 A Look BAck At sAturdAy's toP PLAys And PLAyers purdue vs. wesTern michigan game sTory