The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

By the Numbers: Purdue

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TNS
Purdue tight end Cole Herdman runs into the end zone with a 20-yard touchdown reception during the first quarter against Minnesota at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (Elizabeth Flores/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

After a bad loss to Wisconsin, Iowa will return to Kinnick for its last home game of the season to face Purdue, which sits at 4-6.

The Boilermakers, who started the season with a 2-1 record, have won just two more games since Sept. 16. However, they still have a chance at being bowl-eligible if they can put together wins over Iowa and Indiana to finish the season.

Iowa, on the other hand, will try to bounce back after last week and finish the regular season on a high note.

In recent years, Iowa has been dominant over Purdue, winning nine of the last 11 matchups. The last time the two caught sight of each other was in 2016, when the Hawkeyes traveled to West Lafayette and the teams combined for 1,025 yards in Iowa’s 49-35 victory.

Purdue quarterback David Blough threw for 458 of the Boilermakers’ 505 yards with 5 touchdowns. Although Blough did not graduate, Iowa will not see him on the field this year after a season-ending ankle injury two weeks ago.

Purdue was also a game in which Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley saw some action; a true freshman at the time, Stanley hit 2-of-3 passes for 15 yards.

 

Players with 100+ receiving yards: 9

Purdue quarterbacks have had no shortage of options in 2017.

Elijah Sindelar and Blough have combined to find 17 receivers, 9 of whom have each garnered 100 or more yards.

Jackson Anthrop leads the Boilermakers with 37 receptions for 353 yards. The freshman wide receiver has also slashed into the end zone 5 times for touchdowns. Anthony Mahoungou, Brycen Hopkins, an Cole Herdman each have added 3 touchdowns along with 347, 303, and 284 yards, respectively.

Across the board, Purdue receivers average 11.1 yards per reception; Herdman averages 17.8 yards on 16 receptions, and Hopkins averages 15.2 on 20.

 

Sindelar quarterback rating: 116.8

Throughout most of the season, Sindelar and Blough split quarterbacking duties. That is no longer the case; Blough went down on Nov. 4 and will not return for the rest of the season.

Sindelar has completed 55.7 percent of his passes in the first 10 games; he is 117-of-210 for 1,315 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The junior has struggled in a couple of areas, though. Sindelar has thrown 6 interceptions in tandem with the 9 touchdowns — his quarterback rating of 116.8 is near the bottom of the NCAA, ranking No. 107.

Sindelar has also had trouble with getting out of trouble on his feet. On 20 attempts, he has rushed for minus-28 yards, losing an average of 1.4 yards every time he holds on to the ball.

 

Average interception return yards: 31.3

While Purdue doesn’t have a Josh Jackson nabbing numerous interceptions a game, the team has definitely had some luck returning the ones they’ve grabbed.

The Boilermakers have picked off 7 passes, and all 7 have been by different defenders. The players have combined for 219 yards and 1 touchdown on a 76-yard return put together by Jawhan Bentley.

Purdue’s defense also adds 8 more turnovers to its résumé on fumble returns. Of the forced fumbles, the team has created, there has been just 1 that that offense has recovered.

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