EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Javon Ringer scored two touchdowns and No. 18 Michigan State used a dominating defense Saturday to stay alive in the Big Ten title chase with a 21-7 victory over Purdue.

The Spartans (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten), who are off next week, will rest up for a Nov. 22 showdown at No. 3 Penn State, with at least a share of the conference title on the line.

The Spartans last won a share of the Big Ten crown in 1990.

Purdue (3-7, 1-5) was officially eliminated from bowl contention in coach Joe Tiller’s final season.

Ringer, one of 16 Spartans playing their final home game Saturday, had 121 yards on 32 carries. He entered the game ranked second in the nation at 142.7 yards per game. He is the second-leading career rusher in Michigan State history, trailing only Lorenzo White.

Ringer gave Michigan State a 7-0 lead with a fourth-down, 1-yard touchdown run on the Spartans’ opening possession. His 1-yard TD run early in the second half gave Michigan State a 21-0 lead.

With just 9 seconds left in the first half, Michigan State defensive back Johnny Adams stepped in front of a Justin Siller pass and returned the interception 40 yards to give the Spartans a 14-0 halftime lead.

Purdue, hampered by turnovers all season, never recovered.

Siller started his second consecutive game in place of injured senior Curtis Painter. Siller was shaken up in the middle of the third quarter and replaced by Chris Bennett, but returned to the lineup later in the quarter.

Painter hurt his throwing shoulder Oct. 25 against Minnesota.

The Boilermakers couldn’t generate much offense, particularly when it mattered most.

Purdue avoided a shutout by scoring with less than 1 minute to play on Siller’s 1-yard touchdown run.

Purdue generated only 191 yards of total offense. Siller was 13-of-30 for 83 yards. Kory Sheets had 93 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Michigan State had 300 yards of offense. Quarterback Brian Hoyer was 10-of-22 for 154 yards with two interceptions.

Michigan State gave the Boilermakers chances to stay in the game by missing out on several scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half.

Late in the second quarter, an illegal procedure penalty left kicker Brett Swenson with a 44-yard field goal attempt into a howling November wind. The kick was on target but fell short in a powerful gust.

One Spartans drive ended with an Ashton Leggett fumble inside the Purdue 25. Another ended when Purdue’s Torri Williams intercepted a Brian Hoyer pass at the Purdue 27.

Another second quarter drive ended when Ringer was stopped on a 4th-and-1 run at the Purdue 10.

But the Boilermakers couldn’t capitalize.

The Boilermakers have a 19-game winless streak against teams ranked in the Top 25.

Purdue had won seven of the last nine meetings in the series, including two straight in East Lansing, before Saturday’s loss.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue’s Justin Siller and Greg Orton tossed out Michigan’s generations-long streaks of success.

Siller passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in his first career start, and Orton lateraled to Desmond Tardy after a catch for the final score with 26 left in the Boilermakers’ 48-42 victory over slumping Michigan on Saturday.

The win by Purdue (3-6, 1-4 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak and assured Michigan (2-7, 1-4) of its first losing season since 1967, ending any possibility the Wolverines had to extend their streak of 33 straight bowl appearances.

Michigan, which has lost five in a row, tied the game at 42 with 1:20 to go on the third touchdown run by Brandon Minor.

But Siller, starting in place of injured Curtis Painter, quickly passed 18 yards to Keith Smith and 20 yards to Tardy, taking Purdue to the Michigan 35. After a 3-yard run by Siller, he passed 4 yards to Orton, who flipped the ball to Tardy for the go-ahead score.

Michigan’s desperation heave into the end zone with no time remaining fell harmlessly to the turf, sending the Wolverines to a school-record seventh loss.

Orton also had a touchdown reception. Kory Sheets, who rushed for three touchdowns, had the third TD catch from Siller, who finished 21-of-34 for 266 yards passing.

Sheets rushed for 118 yards, and his four touchdowns tied his career high with the Boilermakers, who kept alive their hopes for a possible 11th bowl bid in retiring coach Joe Tiller’s 12 seasons. It also marked the most points by Purdue and the most combined points in the 54-game series with Michigan.

Siller, a third-stringer until backup Joey Elliott had a season-ending shoulder separation two weeks ago and Painter went down with a similar injury last week, twice rallied the Boilermakers from 14-point deficits. Sheets’ second touchdown run, a 3-yarder late in the second quarter, pulled Purdue within 28-21 at halftime, then a 35-yard pass to Orton set up Siller’s 7-yard pass to Sheets that tied the game at 28 early in the third quarter.

The game was tied again at 35 after a 5-yard run by Sheets late in the third quarter and a 12-yard run by Minor early in the fourth quarter. Midway through the period, Purdue linebacker Anthony Heygood took the snap on a fake punt and ran 61 yards to the Michigan 7, and three plays later Siller hit Orton from 4 yards out for a 42-35 lead.

Minor’s third TD run from 1 yard out tied the game for the final time.

Michigan also got two touchdown passes from Steven Threet and a 73-yard punt return for freshman Martavious Odoms’ first career TD.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Boilermakers are set to host the University of Michigan Wolverines this Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers, under 12th-year head coach Joe Tiller, enter their ninth week of the 2008 season 2-6 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten after falling to Minnesota 17-6 in West Lafayette last Saturday.

Purdue is looking to avoid matching the longest losing streak in the Tiller Era — six straight. Including the current five-game slump, the Boilermakers have lost five straight games only one other time in the 12 seasons under Joe Tiller. In the other instance the Boilers lost six straight games before snapping the skid. Five Consecutive Losses Under Joe Tiller Year – Opponents (Length of Skid) 2005 – vs. No. 13 Notre Dame, vs. Iowa, vs. Northwestern, at No. 19 Wisconsin and at No. 11 Penn State (6)

Purdue’s first seven Football Bowl Subdivision opponents have racked up an impressive 46-11 (.807) combined record 10 weeks into the 2008 season. No. 3 Penn State (9-0) is one of just eight FBS schools remaining with an undefeated record. Meanwhile, No. 20 Minnesota (7-1) has lost just once, and No. 13 Ohio State (7-2), Northwestern (6-2), No. 23 Oregon (6-2), Central Michigan (6-2) and Notre Dame (5-2) have but two losses each. The week’s opponent, Michigan, is the first school that Purdue has played this season with a losing record heading into the contest; however, Michigan owns a 41-12 advantage in a series that dates back to 1890 and has won the last five meetings between the two.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue’s Homecoming events will include a full week of activities for students and the public, including the traditional pep rally, parade, fireworks and family activities.
The week’s events run Monday (Oct. 20) through Saturday (Oct. 25) and include the noon kickoff Homecoming game on Saturday, in which Purdue takes on Minnesota.

“We are excited to be able to bring so many events into the Homecoming mix this year,” said Kirk Cerny, executive director and CEO of the Purdue Alumni Association. “Our students have new events for their entertainment, including a charity date auction. The public and Purdue family can enjoy the many displays, activities and charitable events associated with Homecoming, such as our blood drive. The week is truly a chance for everyone to get caught up in Boilermaker pride.”

The week before activities start, student organizations will help get the campus in the mood for Homecoming by painting the windows of businesses in the campus area. The groups are encouraged to include this year’s theme of “Purdue Sports Classics” in their decorations.

Homecoming-themed shirts are available for purchase at Follett’s bookstores on campus. The shirts feature a design highlighting the Purdue-Minnesota game on the front and a list of Purdue Student Union Board homecoming events on the back. The shirts sell for $15, with $2 of the price benefiting the board.

The festivities get under way with the Homecoming Kick-Off Cook Out at noon on Monday (Oct. 20). Purdue Student Union Board will pass out hot dogs, chips and drinks free of charge to Purdue West Lafayette students on Memorial Mall who show their Purdue identification card. Games and inflatables also will be set up.

On Tuesday (Oct. 21) a new event, the CandiDATE auction, is slated for 7 p.m. on the ground floor of the Purdue Memorial Union. Audience members are encouraged to bid on dates with Homecoming King and Queen candidates. The highest bidders will receive gift cards donated by local restaurants and businesses to take their candidates on a date. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Lafayette Boys and Girls Club.

A blood drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 22) in the Purdue Memorial Union’s South Ballroom. The drive is part of the Purdue vs. Indiana University Blood Donor Challenge, and all donations collected on that day will go toward Purdue’s total. The public is encouraged to attend. In addition, student groups participating in spirit week will gain points for the competition through donations.

Gutter Ball the Gophers is scheduled from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 23). The Union Rack and Roll will offer $2.50 per hour billiards, $1 bowling games and free shoe rental for all Purdue students with a Purdue ID. Other games, prizes and music will round out the evening at the bowling alley and billiard center located in the Purdue Memorial Union.

Also on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., lawyer, writer and actor Ben Stein will headline the Krannert School of Management’s eighth annual Leadership Speakers Series. Tickets are sold out, but media are invited to attend. Journalists who wish to cover the dinner should contact Tim Newton, Krannert School director of external relations and communications, at (765) 496-7271, tnewton@purdue.edu; or Tanya Brown, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu. For more information, go to http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/081013CosierLead.html

The 8th Annual Boilermaker Night Train parade will begin at 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 24) on McCormick Road by Purdue Village. The parade route will begin at the corner of McCormick and State Road 26 (State Street), head north on McCormick Road, turn east on Third Street, head north on Martin Jischke Drive, turn west on Stadium Avenue and end at Slayter Hill. The parade will feature floats by student and community groups and will include both walking and motorized entries.

A pep rally will follow on Slayter Hill around 9 p.m. The Purdue “All-American” Marching Band and Purdue cheerleaders will perform. Fireworks are scheduled to begin immediately following the pep rally.

The Homecoming king and queen will be announced and crowned during the pep rally and will be introduced during halftime of the Purdue-Minnesota game on Saturday (Oct. 25).

To view a list of Homecoming court members, go to http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008b/081010H-PSUBHomecoming.html.

From 9-11 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 25) the celebration on the Purdue Mall will feature more than 40 tents housing displays by colleges, schools, departments and divisions as well as the dedication of two new landmarks on the Purdue campus.

During an invitation-only ceremony at 9 a.m., the “Unfinished Block P” sculpture will be dedicated. The sculpture is designed to symbolize that all people are works in progress and are never completely finished in the process of growing and learning. Rita and Rick Hadley, from Moments in Bronze in Otterbein, Ind., crafted the sculpture. Journalists wishing to attend the event should contact Christy Jones, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu.

At 10 a.m., the graduating classes of 1958 and 1959 will dedicate an arch and make other announcements involving support for the university. The “Gateway to the Future” arch and other announcements are gifts to Purdue from the two classes on the 50th anniversary of their graduating years. Journalists wishing to attend the event should contact Tanya Brown, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu.

Among the displays on the mall will be a children’s activity area featuring a “big bounce house” with inflatables and an obstacle course. A balloon artist and face painters also will entertain children.

The Discovery Park tent will include a laser-cutting machine that manufactures football key chains. Visitors can keep a keychain and play games for a chance to win glow-in-the-dark footballs. Many tents will offer trivia games and other challenges.

Performances by musical groups and other artists will be featured on the stage between Schleman Hall and the Heine Pharmacy building on Stadium Mall Drive. Scheduled acts include the Purdue Juggler and Unicycle Club, the Black Voices of Inspiration and the Purduettes.

Five area restaurants – Pizza Hut, Subway, Dairy Queen, Sgt. Preston’s and Moe’s Southwest Grill – will operate the Boiler Food Court near the stage.

Purdue President France A. Córdova will make remarks on the stage at 11 a.m.

The Purdue Mall festivities will end with President Córdova and first gentleman, Chris Foster, leading Purdue’s “All-American” Marching Band and Purdue alumni and friends to Ross-Ade Stadium for the noon kickoff.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Kory Sheets broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run with a minute left in the game to lift Purdue to a 32-25 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday.

Central Michigan (2-2) appeared set to pull off an upset after taking a 25-24 lead with 1:18 to go on a 6-yard touchdown pass by Dan LeFevour followed by a 2-point conversion pass to Antonio Brown.

But the Boilermakers (2-1) got a 39-yard kickoff return from Desmond Tardy and the Chippewas were hit with a 15-yard facemask penalty. On first down, Sheets took a handoff from Curtis Painter, made a cut that faked out several defenders and raced into the end zone. Painter followed with a 2-point conversion pass to Greg Orton.

Purdue’s Dwight Mclean intercepted a pass by LeFevour with 27.7 seconds left to clinch the win for Purdue against a pesky Mid-American Conference opponent.

After LeFevour’s 6-yard TD pass to Ontario Sneed brought Central Michigan within a point at 24-23, Chippewas coach Butch Jones opted to go for two points. The 2-point pass completion to Brown was reviewed before officials ruled it a catch, rather than a trap.

Sheets’ game-winning TD gave him the school record for career touchdowns. His total of 43 surpassed Mike Alstott, who scored 42 from 1992-1995. Sheets finished with 91 yards on 17 carries.

The win also gave Purdue coach Joe Tiller the school record for career wins. His 85 victories tops the previous mark of 84 set by Jack Mollenkopf from 1956-1969.

It was the third meeting between the teams in 13 months. Purdue won 45-22 last September, then won again 51-48 in the Motor City Bowl.

Painter, who threw for a school record 546 yards in the Motor City Bowl win, passed for 261 yards and a touchdown Saturday. LeFevour passed for 291 yards and two touchdowns and ran 24 times for 112 yards and another score.

With the score tied at 10 in the third quarter, Purdue’s Mike Neal hit LeFevour as he threw and forced the ball to pop into the air. Frank Duong intercepted the wobbly pass and raced 58 yards for a touchdown to give the Boilermakers a 17-10 lead.

LeFevour scored on a 13-yard run early in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 17.

Painter came up big on Purdue’s next possession. On a third-and-10, he found Aaron Valentin on a slant pattern, and he broke away for a 57-yard gain. Painter found Tardy for a 2-yard touchdown with 7:34 left, and the Boilermakers took a 24-17 lead.

Purdue could have put the ball away, but on a third-and-1 at the Purdue 49, Painter fumbled the snap, recovered and tried to drive for the first down. Central Michigan’s LaVarus Williams stripped Painter, and Sean Murnane recovered to give the Chippewas another chance. That led to Sneed’s touchdown.