Purdue gives BC first loss of the season

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue coach Jeff Brohm wants losing to hurt his players so much it makes them angry.

After three straight close losses to start the season, the Boilermakers let off some steam on No. 23 Boston College.

Rondale Moore caught two touchdown passes and Purdue had four interceptions, beating the Eagles 30-13 on Saturday.

David Blough passed for 296 yards and three touchdowns for the Boilermakers (1-3), who had stumbled at the start of what was expected to be a promising season.

"It's always tough and no fun when you lose. You want to feel bad," Brohm said. "You want to be ticked off and angry, and you want (losing) to cause you to say we're not going to do this anymore. (Today) was just a great overall effort. I'm very proud of our football team."

The Eagles (3-1) rolled in unbeaten and ranked for the first time in 10 years, but fell flat.

"Purdue played like a team with their back against the wall. They made plays they needed to make," Boston College coach Steve Adazzio said. "I don't know what happened. We had the best week of practice we've had all season. If we weren't ready, that's on me."

Anthony Brown, coming off a career game with five touchdown passes, threw four interceptions. Star tailback A.J. Dillon was held to 59 yards on 19 carries by Purdue.

"Our defense was lights out. It took away the run, it made them throw more than they wanted to and that's not their game," Brohm said. "The turnovers were huge. We did a good job of creating a little more push on the quarterback -- all the small things."

When the Boilermakers weren't picking off Brown, they were disrupting the pocket. Two of Purdue's four interceptions came by way of tipped passes at the line. It was the most interceptions in a game by Purdue since 2015. The Boilermakers sacked Brown four times.

Moore, the freshman, finished with eight receptions for 110 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception, when he bounced off a tackler after a short pass and raced away from the defense. That put Purdue ahead for good in the second quarter.

THE TAKEAWAY

Boston College: The Eagles were ranked for the first time since November 2008, but their stay will likely be short.

Purdue: The Boilermakers had lost their last two games in last-second field goals and gave away their opener against Northwestern with turnovers and penalties. In year two under coach Jeff Brohm, Purdue will head into Big Ten still thinking about another bowl bid.

ROUGH DAY

Purdue kicker Spencer Evans missed an extra point attempt in the second quarter, but that wasn't the last of the senior's woes on Saturday. The Purdue radio broadcast reported that Evans was getting sick in a trash can on the Boilermakers' sideline after the extra point attempt. Evans was taken into the Purdue medical tent behind the Boilermakers' bench before being helped to the locker room by Purdue medical staff with 9:50 left to play in the second quarter. Evans returned to the Purdue sideline in the third quarter but did not enter the game.

"I don't know what's going on with the injury situation," Brohm said. "I do know, lately, he hasn't been as sharp as we would like him to be."

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Boston College's stay in the rankings will be brief.

UP NEXT

Boston College: The Eagles return home to wrap up their nonconference schedule against Temple

Purdue: The Boilermakers are at Nebraska (0-3) for the first of two consecutive road games.

Associated Press