Purdue Boilermakers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Live Blog: In-Game Analysis

It was the battle for the "Cannon Trophy," as the Purdue Boilermakers visited the Illinois Fighting Illini Saturday afternoon. 

Both teams were looking to notch their first Big Ten victory of the season after starting conference play with a loss. 

Illinois received a huge boost from the return of sophomore quarterback Wes Lunt. Lunt missed last week's 45-14 destruction at the hands of Nebraska due to a knee injury, but the talented QB started against the Boilermakers. In just four games, Lunt had thrown for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Purdue entered the contest with the worst scoring offense in the Big Ten, averaging only 312 yards per game (113th in the NCAA). The Boilermakers were experiencing quarterback issues of their own. Danny Etling had been benched in favor of Austin Appleby.

The opening quarter saw both offenses move up and down the field. Lunt was as good as advertised in the first quarter, throwing for 112 yards and a touchdown. Josh Ferguson added a rushing touchdown. Purdue emphasized the running game, rushing for 72 yards.

The theme of the first half was Purdue's ability to control the ball. The Boilermakers held the ball for almost 20 minutes in the first half, due to 199 yards on the ground. Akeem Hunt scampered for a 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter, giving the underdogs a 17-14 halftime lead.

The third quarter showcased both teams' offensive ability, as the two teams combined for 27 points. Appleby connected on an 80-yard touchdown to Danny Anthrop, as well as a 60-yard run that set up his sneak for a 1-yard touchdown. Lunt led two touchdown drives of his own to set the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter. 

In the end, it was the Boilermakers who made the winning plays in the fourth quarter. Appleby accounted for 278 yards and three touchdowns in his first start, leading Purdue to a 38-27 victory.