WEST LAFAYETTE -
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Joey Elliott passed for 166 yards and ran for 62 yards and a touchdown, and Purdue beat Illinois 24-14 Saturday to avoid a letdown after upsetting Ohio State last week.
Ralph Bolden ran for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Jaycen Taylor ran for 71 yards and a score for the Boilermakers, who rushed for 220 yards on 39 carries.
Mikel LeShoure rushed 15 times for a career-high 122 yards for the Fighting Illini (1-6, 0-5 Big Ten). Illinois lost its fifth straight, and all have been by double digits.
Read: See "The Hawley Three" For This Boilermaker Game
Juice Williams started at quarterback despite Illini coach Ron Zook's decision not to commit to him during the week. Williams completed 9 of 18 passes for 77 yards and ran 14 times for 38 yards.
The Boilermakers (3-5, 2-2) won back-to-back games for the first time this season. It was Purdue's first turnover-free game this year.
Leshoure got off to a good start. He went 65 yards on an option play in the first quarter before Daniel Dufrene scored on a 4-yard run on the next play to make it 7-0.
Taylor's 44-yard run tied the score for Purdue.
Read: Joey Elliott Enjoys Career Day vs Buckeyes
After Williams threw an interception, Purdue went 68 yards in 10 plays to take the lead. Bolden scored on a 3-yard run, his first touchdown since Week 2, and the Boilermakers took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.
Williams was benched and replaced by redshirt freshman Jacob Charest on the next drive, but Illinois went three-and-out. On Purdue's next possession, Elliott scored on a 5-yard quarterback draw to make it 21-7.
Read: Boilers' Early Struggles Are Easy For Illinois to Understand
Illinois had the ball fourth-and-4 at the Purdue 35 when Charest completed a pass to tight end Hubie Graham for 31 yards. A face-mask penalty moved the ball to the Purdue 2-yard line. On second down, Arrelious Benn scored on an end-around, but the play was called back because of holding. Illinois' Matt Eller missed a 23-yard field goal wide left to close the half.
Williams came back to start the second half, and he took advantage by scoring on a 6-yard run to cut Purdue's lead to 21-14.
Purdue's Carson Wiggs kicked a field goal late in the third quarter to extend Purdue's lead to 24-14.
Ralph Bolden ran for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Jaycen Taylor ran for 71 yards and a score for the Boilermakers, who rushed for 220 yards on 39 carries.
Mikel LeShoure rushed 15 times for a career-high 122 yards for the Fighting Illini (1-6, 0-5 Big Ten). Illinois lost its fifth straight, and all have been by double digits.
Read: See "The Hawley Three" For This Boilermaker Game
Juice Williams started at quarterback despite Illini coach Ron Zook's decision not to commit to him during the week. Williams completed 9 of 18 passes for 77 yards and ran 14 times for 38 yards.
The Boilermakers (3-5, 2-2) won back-to-back games for the first time this season. It was Purdue's first turnover-free game this year.
Leshoure got off to a good start. He went 65 yards on an option play in the first quarter before Daniel Dufrene scored on a 4-yard run on the next play to make it 7-0.
Taylor's 44-yard run tied the score for Purdue.
Read: Joey Elliott Enjoys Career Day vs Buckeyes
After Williams threw an interception, Purdue went 68 yards in 10 plays to take the lead. Bolden scored on a 3-yard run, his first touchdown since Week 2, and the Boilermakers took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.
Williams was benched and replaced by redshirt freshman Jacob Charest on the next drive, but Illinois went three-and-out. On Purdue's next possession, Elliott scored on a 5-yard quarterback draw to make it 21-7.
Read: Boilers' Early Struggles Are Easy For Illinois to Understand
Illinois had the ball fourth-and-4 at the Purdue 35 when Charest completed a pass to tight end Hubie Graham for 31 yards. A face-mask penalty moved the ball to the Purdue 2-yard line. On second down, Arrelious Benn scored on an end-around, but the play was called back because of holding. Illinois' Matt Eller missed a 23-yard field goal wide left to close the half.
Williams came back to start the second half, and he took advantage by scoring on a 6-yard run to cut Purdue's lead to 21-14.
Purdue's Carson Wiggs kicked a field goal late in the third quarter to extend Purdue's lead to 24-14.
