Freshman kicker Jacobo Echeverria Lozano booted three field goals and Antonio Harris scored a late touchdown on a 1-yard run as Purdue defeated Illinois 24-17 Saturday in a Big Ten Conference game.
asserted
Purdue → boot → game
Lozano was perfect from 30, 34 and 33 yards, making him 11 for 12 for the season, as the Boilermakers (2-3, 1-1) won in Champaign for the first time since 2022 and brought the Cannon Trophy home after losing to Illinois the past two seasons.
asserted
Boilermakers → make → Illinois
The win also snapped Purdue’s 19-game Big Ten losing streak.
asserted
win → snap → streak
The Boilermakers last won a conference game in 2023.
asserted
Boilermakers → win → 2023
“I’m excited for our team, everybody associated with our program and our great fans,” said Purdue’s second-year coach Barry Odom.
asserted
coach → ’m → program
He’s made some big-time kicks.
asserted
He → make → kicks
We’ve had really good snaps, great holds and really good protection for him.”
asserted
We → have → him
Purdue’s Ryan Browne was 18-for-27 passing for 255 yards and a TD.
asserted
Browne → pass → yards
Assad Waseem caught three passes for 98 yards and Fame Ijebol rushed for 65 yards on 19 carries.
asserted
Ijebol → catch → carries
Katin Houser completed 21 of 37 for 225 yards and two TDs for Illinois (2-3, 0-2).
asserted
Houser → complete → Illinois
Collin Dixon caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a score, but called the loss “disappointing and embarrassing” because the Illini lost The Cannon on their home field.
asserted
Illini → catch → field
“Purdue created big plays when they needed them.
asserted
they → create → them
We had some opportunities, and didn’t make them,” said Illinois coach Bret Bielema.
asserted
Bielema → have → them
Ka’Lil Valentine, Illinois’ leading rusher, left the game in the first quarter with a right leg injury.
asserted
Valentine → lead → injury
Bielema said Valentine’s injury will end his season.
asserted
injury → say → season
Down 13-0, Illinois scored on an 11-yard pass from Houser to Dixon with 21 seconds to go in the first half.
asserted
Illinois → score → half
It was Dixon’s eighth TD reception this season at Gies Memorial Stadium, extending his Illinois record.
asserted
It → extend → record
All eyes were on the Illinois defense after former defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck and head coach Bret Bielema mutually agreed last weekend following a 42-19 loss to No. 7 Ohio State that Hauck should resign.
asserted
Hauck → agree → State
The unusual 3-5-5 defensive scheme that Hauck installed at Illinois was plagued by serious communication issues between players and coaches during the ex-Montana coach’s four-game tenure.
asserted
Hauck → instal → tenure
The communication was better and so was the defense, but the offense was shut down most of the game.
Purdue:
asserted
offense → shut → game
Purdue’s defense was the worst in the Big Ten coming into the game.
asserted
defense → come → game
It gave up 139 points in consecutive losses to Wake Forest, No. 23 UCLA and No. 3 Notre Dame.
asserted
It → give → Forest
When Illinois’ Ethan Moczulski missed a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter, it was the first time this season the defense stopped an opponent from scoring inside the red zone.
asserted
defense → miss → zone
The second time was with 13 seconds left in the third quarter when Wisdom Sims knocked down a fourth-down pass from the Purdue 17.
asserted
Sims → leave → Purdue
Illinois punted four times.
asserted
Illinois → punt → ?
It had punted just six times in its first four games.
asserted
It → punt → games
Almost a grand
Browne totaled 739 yards of offense in two previous starts against Illinois (599 passing and 140 rushing).
asserted
Browne → total → 599
His total increased to 996 yards in the victory.
asserted
total → increase → victory
Seventeen Purdue receivers have caught a pass this season.
asserted
receivers → catch → pass
The group includes nine wide receivers, four running backs and four tight ends.
asserted
group → include → receivers
Streak continues
asserted
Streak → continue → ?
Hudson Clement has caught a pass in 32 straight games, the fifth longest active streak in the nation.
asserted
Clement → catch → nation
He had four catches for 72 yards against Purdue.
asserted
He → have → Purdue
Up next
Illinois: At Michigan State on Saturday.
Purdue: Hosts Minnesota on Saturday.
asserted
Purdue → host → Saturday
The Aporia
