Late touchdown pass from Sindelar to Mahoungou propels the Boilermakers past Arizona 38-35
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The perfect ending to Purdue’s turnaround season.
The difference between 6-7 and 7-6 was another solid performance by the defense, Elijah Sindelar’s accuracy, a career day from receiver Gregory Phillips along with Markell Jones and D.J. Knox eating up yards on the ground.
And of course, a fantastic trick play and one of the most dramatic endings in program history.
Wednesday night’s thrilling 38-35 victory over Arizona in the Foster Farms Bowl at Levi’s Stadium gives Purdue its first winning season since 2011. And what a way to end this bizarre game.
Under first-year coach Jeff Brohm, the Boilermakers stamped themselves as a program on the rise and one to be reckoned with in the future.
"Our guys played hard, made the game interesting in the end but we found a way to win," Brohm said. "That just shows the fight in our team, the fact that all of our guys hung in there and played with great intensity and they wanted a way to finish this season they did in somewhat dramatic fashion."
Following the game, it was revealed Sindelar played the final 3 1/2 games with a torn ACL. Sindelar finished 33 of 53 for 396 yards and four touchdowns.
TOUGH PLAYER: Torn ACL doesn't slow Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar
After experiencing a handful of dropped passes, Anthony Mahoungou stepped up at the right time, hauling in Sindelar’s 38-yard touchdown with 1:44 to play. Khalil Tate’s fifth touchdown pass gave the Wildcats a 35-31 lead with 3:21 remaining.
The Boilermakers sealed the victory on Jacob Thieneman's interception – Tate’s first mistake of the game – with 1:16 to play.
“Saying we’re 7-6, saying we made it to a bowl game, which was our goal and beating our rivals in Illinois and Indiana, we did all of the goals we set,” Sindelar said during an interview leading up the Wednesday’s game. “All that will help solidify that we’re here to stay.”
This ending didn’t seem possible when Brohm’s took over the program. This was a group of players who won nine games combined the previous four seasons and the cultured need an overhaul.
"This whole season has been one big storybook," said linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley, who was named the defensive player of the game. "It was a whole lot of ups and downs and going out like this is icing on the cake."
The road to respectability happened fast as the Boilermakers started 2-1 and had three wins by the midway point of the season. Back-to-back losses to Rutgers and Nebraska derailed the momentum but winning in a November – a month the Boilermakers hadn’t won a game since 2012 – resulted in a 3-1 record and bowl eligibility.
GRADING THE BOILERS: Purdue 38, Arizona 35
MAHOUNGOU SHINES: Receiver bounces back, makes game-winning TD catch
GAME-CHANGER: Purdue reaches into bag of tricks again vs. Arizona
KNEE INJURY: Torn ACL doesn't slow Purdue QB Elijah Sindelar
Brohm’s team kept its late-season momentum heading into the bowl game.
Although Tate hit the defense with a handful of big plays, the Boilermaker defense kept this potent rushing attack in check. When the offense had the ball, they usually executed.
Sindelar tossed three touchdowns – two to Phillips – in the first half as the Boilermakers built a 31-14 lead. Sindelar also connected with Mahoungou for a 31-yard touchdown on the game’s first series.
But Phillips stepped up in his final game. He caught eight passes for 107 yards and touchdowns covering 42 and 22-yards – all in the first half. He finished with 14 receptions for 149 yards.
Knox and Jones combined for 187 rushing yards, including 101 by Knox. However, a 30-yard run at the end of the first half proved critical. It was a result of another Brohm trick play – the fake kneel down.
After Navon Mosley took the ball away from Tate, Sindelar had the offense in a victory formation late in the first half and the Boilermakers leading 28-14 with 56 seconds on the clock.
Sindelar took the snap and slipped the ball to Knox, who was crouched behind the offensive line. In unison, the entire offense started to roll to the left and Knox sprinted to the Arizona 38-yard line.
Spencer Evans converted a 26-yard field goal as time ran out in the first half, building a 31-14 lead. Those three points proved to be the difference in this wild game.