WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Drew Brees had a productive reunion with Vinny
Sutherland.
Brees completed 32 of 46 passes for 415 yards and two touchdowns, both to
Sutherland, as No. 14 Purdue beat Kent 45-10 on Saturday.
Sutherland, suspended for disciplinary reasons for Purdue's opener, returned
to score three touchdowns and had 192 total yards in the first half.
Brees, who ran for two touchdowns, become Purdue's career leader in total
offense and completions, passing Mark Herrmann in both categories. The senior
also moved into second place on the Big Ten list for total offense, and third
place in completions.
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| Purdue's Vinny Sutherland waltzes through the Kent defense for the first of his three touchdowns.(AP) | |
But, Brees wasn't pleased despite Purdue (2-0) posting its second
consecutive one-sided victory over a Mid-American Conference opponent.
"We didn't put up as many points as we should have," he said. "We gave
three turnovers, which we can't have. We were productive in gaining yards, but
it was like we were going through the motions.
"Our tempo was not as good," he added, comparing it to the opening 48-0
victory over Central Michigan. "We need to break out of the huddle and keep
focused."
The Boilermakers (2-0) built a 24-3 halftime lead with Sutherland
accumulating 71 yards on five receptions, including TD catches of 4 and 5
yards.
The senior receiver also rushed twice for 16 yards, including an 8-yard TD
run. He also had a 39-yard punt return and brought back two kickoffs for a
total of 66 yards. Sutherland added just one catch for 21 yards in the second
half and didn't get a chance to return a punt or kickoff.
"Vinny played well. He actually wore himself out. He started cramping up in
the second half and had to go to the locker room to get an I.V. and get some
fluid in him," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. "I think his greatest
contribution this season will be in the kicking game. He's very intense and
plays like he's on a mission."
Kent (0-2) scored all of its points after recovering Purdue fumbles.
Dave Pavich gave the visitors an early 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal. The
Golden Flashes got the ball on Purdue's 39 when James Harrison recovered Steve
Ennis' fumble on the game's second play.
Brees has 9,283 yards of total offense, 774 completions, 8,857 passing yards
and 69 TD passes in 34 games. He consistently had the defense guessing as he
often had time to double and triple pump while hitting on 18 of 26 passes for
238 yards in the first half.
"The biggest problem we had is that we wanted them to throw short and they
beat us on the long ball," Kent coach Dean Pees said. "Purdue is a very
talented team. To me, they were a great offensive team and have a good
defense."
Purdue took the lead for good as Brees moved his team 44 yards in nine
plays, completing the drive with a 4-yard throw to Sutherland. The drive began
when Landon Johnson recovered a Kent fumble. On Purdue's next possession,
following a 39-yard punt return by Sutherland, the Boilermakers moved 54 yards
in nine plays to score on the 5-yard pass to Sutherland.
Sutherland's 8-yard run made it 21-3 with 2:20 left in the first half, and
Travis Dorsch kicked a 35-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the
period to become Purdue's career field-goal leader with 37.
Kent State moved 73 yards in five plays to score on a 30-yard pass from Zach
Williams to Jurron Kelly.
The Boilermakers responded by going 73 yards in five plays, scoring on a
5-yard scamper by Brees. He later scored from the 3, ending a 12-play, 89-yard
drive that consumed more than five minutes on the clock.
Brees was given the rest of the day off with about six minutes to play with
freshman Brandon Hance taking over. Hance moved Purdue 70 yards in 11 plays,
completing a 5-yard pass to Chris James for the game's final score.
Statistically, the Boilermakers had as big an advantage as the final score.
Purdue finished with 605 yards total offense, compared to 319 by Kent.
Chante Murphy had 101 of Kent State's yards on 20 carries.
"It gives me confidence and confidence in my line," he said. "Next game
we're going to try to mix it up. ... That's when we're most comfortable by
mixing it with both the run and the pass."
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