purdue bucket

Dexter Williams gave Hoosier Nation so much hope over the last three weeks as IU’s starting quarterback. He gave IU fans hope today after leading an opening drive touchdown. Then, the knee injury changed everything.

Purdue (8-4, 6-3 B1G) would overtake the Hoosiers (4-8, 2-7 B1G) and retain the Old Oaken Bucket, defeating Indiana, 30-16. For the first time, the Boilers won the Big Ten West and will face Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game next week.

After Purdue connected on an opening drive FG, the Hoosiers found the end zone to take the early lead. Williams flipped it to Jaylin Lucas on the option pitch, and once Lucas was in the open field, the Boilermakers had no shot. Lucas, Indiana’s electrifying all-purpose back, finished the game with 100 rushing yards, a career-high.

Then came the devastating moment that will plague IU fans all offseason. On a pass play, Williams rolled to his left, and all of a sudden, he fell to the ground. It felt like time stopped in the middle of the first down play. We will refrain from showing the video in this article.

Per Indiana University, Williams was taken to a Bloomington hospital for further evaluation. The injury was deemed a right leg injury.

Connor Bazelak entered the scene and fired incomplete to Andison Coby on his first attempt. The normally reliable Charlie Campbell hooked the 44-yard field goal attempt, and the score remained 7-3.

IU’s defense brought the intensity to the contest, with Alfred Bryant and Demarcus Elliott leading the charge. Each defensive lineman recorded a sack of Aidan O’Connell.

Purdue, who averaged 408 yards per game of offense this season, was limited to just 133 in the first half by Tom Allen and Chad Wilt’s defense.

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After IU forced a punt with 3:35 to go, the Hoosiers opted to run out the clock after driving from their own 1 out to their own 25-yard line. IU held a 7-3 halftime lead in the Bucket Game.

After the break, Bazelak and the IU offense went through a poorly-timed lull, with consecutive three-and-outs. Meanwhile, Purdue found their stride.

Devin Mockobee, a two-star recruit out of Boonville HS, made multiple catches out of the backfield for moderate gains. Those plays loosened up the IU defense, then O’Connell found his NFL-bound TE Payne Durham for six. It was Durham’s 24th career TD.