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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 12 • 18 BY STACY CLARDIE SClardie@GoldandBlack.com A look back at the top plays and players from Northwestern's 38-14 victory over Purdue on Sat- urday at Ross-Ade Stadium. TOP PLAYS No.3 Purdue forced a turnover on Northwestern's second play of the game, seemingly a great start to senior day. The feeling didn't last long. On the Boilermakers' third snap, a third-and-three, Austin Appleby first looked for Trae Hart on a screen to the left side, but it wasn't open. So Appleby moved to his next progression, and Dol- apo Macarthy had settled in the middle of the zone, open. But Appleby was getting pressure by that point, and the pass was tipped at the line, then clanked off Purdue left tackle David He- delin's helmet and snatched by Northwestern's Jimmy Hall. Five plays, including a huge 44-yard run, later, the Wildcats scored and led 7-0. No.2 It was only a sign of things to come for the Boilermakers. After, mercifully, having only a three-and-out on its next series, Purdue returned to the field for its third and seemed to solve Northwestern's de- fense, moving from down to the Wildcats' 29-yard line. On third- and-10, Appleby completed the ball to Akeem Hunt on the right side and two defenders converged. The second, Hall, punched the ball out of Hunt's arms and then raced to recov- er it to get the ball back to the Wildcats near midfield. Nine plays, including a 19- yard pass on fourth-and-14, lat- er, the Wildcats scored and led 14-0. No.1 C o n s i d e r i n g how bumbling the Boilermakers were on of- fense — they had two more turnovers in the first half and another in the second — North- western seemingly sealed the game with its third score, even if it was only early in the second quarter. After another three-and- out, Thomas Meadows punted into the wind. It wasn't a good kick. T h e l i n e d r i v e w a s m o r e t o w a r d t h e m i d d l e o f t h e f i e l d , n o t i n s i d e t h e h a s h e s o n t h e r i g h t s i d e w h e r e h i s p u n t s a r e i n t e n d e d t o g o, a n d To ny J o n e s f i e l d e d i t e a s i l y. A n d t h a t 's s a y i n g s o m e t h i n g a f t e r h e h a d t h r e e d r o p s t h e p r e v i o u s w e e k a g a i n s t N o t r e D a m e. Jones seemed wrapped up by Anthony Brown soon after the catch, but he shook Brown and raced away from the rest of Purdue's defenders. Mead - ows had probably the last best chance, but he was chucked out of the way by a block, and Jones cruised the rest of the way to finish a 64-yard punt return TD for a 21-0 lead. N O R T H W E S T E R N 3 8 , P U R D U E 1 4 A LOOK BACK AT SATURDAY'S TOP PLAYS AND PLAYERS PURDUE VS. NORTHWESTERN GAME STORY