PHOTO GALLERY: Pictures From Purdue's 30-16 Win Over Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Purdue football clinched the first Big Ten West title in program history on Saturday with a 30-16 road victory over arch-rival Indiana at Memorial Stadium.
After entering halftime down 7-3, the Boilermakers roared back in the second half, forcing two straight three-and-outs and scoring back-to-back touchdowns to open the third quarter. Sixth-year senior quarterback Aidan O'Connell completed 18 of his 29 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
Sixth-year senior wide receiver Charlie Jones —in his first battle for the Old Oaken Bucket after transferring from Iowa in the offseason — led the team with 143 yards receiving on just four catches, which included a 60-yard strike to take a 24-10 lead and all but put the game away with 9:38 to play.
Redshirt freshman running back Devin Mockobee earned 20 touches and tallied 143 total yards. He slashed through the Indiana defense for a 27-yard score and brought in a team-high five receptions.
The Boilermakers were shaky to start the game, giving up a 71-yard touchdown run to freshman running back Jaylin Lucas, but they held the Hoosiers to nine points in the second half despite giving up 255 total yards.
Redshirt senior cornerback Cory Trice put the game away with an eight-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:17 left on the clock.
Purdue moves on to play Michigan in the Big Ten Football Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Photo Gallery: Purdue 30, Indiana 16
Old Oaken Bucket
Cam Allen
Devin Mockobee
Payne Durham
Cory Trice
Charlie Jones
Old Oaken Bucket
Devin Mockobee
Payne Durham
Jacob Wahlberg, OC Brothers
Defense
Devin Mockobee
Old Oaken Bucket
Jeff Brohm
Cory Trice
Devin Mockobee
Charlie Jones
Kydran Jenkins, Jalen Graham
Aidan O'Connell
Old Oaken Bucket
Related Stories on Purdue Football
- Purdue Defeats Indiana 30-16, Clinches Big Ten West Title: After trailing Indiana 7-3 at halftime, Purdue took control of the game by scoring two straight touchdowns to open the third quarter. Running back Devin Mockobee notched 157 scrimmage yards while wide receiver Charlie Jones made four catches for 143 yards. The team will play Michigan in the Big Ten Football Championship Game next Saturday. CLICK HERE
- Purdue, Indiana Live Blog: Purdue football was on the road against rival Indiana and claimed the Old Oaken Bucket for the second consecutive season while simultaneously earning a Big Ten West title. Recap some of the action from our live blog. CLICK HERE
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D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.